This is a quick and easy to understand guide to learn some popular information about furnitures. If you have a term or phrase that you want to learn more about, click on its beginning letter down below.
This glossary of common furniture terms may help familiarizing yourself with furnitures. It may also help improving your product knowledge on different kind of furnitures, and on furniture construction as well.
Furniture terms
Scalloped - A curved ornamentation, many times in the shape of the scallop shell.
Secretary - A tall case pieces with drawers on the bottom, a drop down writing desk in the middle and, possible, small compartments or a cabinet on the top.
Serpentine - The utilization of two curves giving a soft flow to the furniture reminiscent of a serpent's movement; typically found on fronts or tops of case pieces, tops of sofas, etc.
Settee - A small sofa or bench.
Shaker - A simple, clean line design created by members of the Shaker religious group. Free from any ornamentation, the true beauty of this style is that it is virtually devoid of style and created with function in mind rather than beauty.
Sheraton - Straight lines and smoothly elegant proportions are characteristics of this design style.
Shoji Screens - Standing Oriental screens, many times used as room dividers.
Skirt - The piece of fabric that is applied to the bottom edge of an upholstered pieces, hiding the legs; the three most popular are Gathered skirts used in Country styles, Dressmaker skirts used in more formal applications and Waterfall skirts for more casual or transitional styles.
Sheaf-back Chairs - The back is designed with spindles coming together in the middle inserted into a piece of wood and then flaring out again to the bottom of the chair; made to resemble a sheaf of wheat, representing home, hearth and warmth.
Sideboard - Similar to a buffet table, but usually longer and more narrow, it is used in the dining area as a serving piece, many times ornamented with a brass rail along the back edge, called a "gallery", to keep things from falling off the back.
Sinuous Springs - Also known a "S" coils and "Zigzag wire" the Zigzag wire attaches to the front and back rails of the upholstered piece seat area or top and bottom rails of the upholstered piece back and are used in place of actual coil spring units.
Sisal - A natural and durable fiber often used in rugs.
Slat Back - Chair designed with flat vertical pieces of wood as the back.
Slip Match - Produced by slipping sheets of veneer into a side-by-side position to form specific patterns, such as diamond, reverse diamond (or sun burst), herringbone, checkerboard, etc.
Slip Seat - A dining chair whose seat is easily removable in order to change the upholstery.
Spade Foot - Tapered to the base leg design usually found in Hepplewhite styles.
Spindle - A slender, turned piece of wood used for chair backs, headboards, footboards and decoration.
Spiral Leg - A leg carved in the shape of a rope twist or spiral.
Splayed Leg - Legs that slant outward from the piece of furniture to which they are attached.
Spring Down - A type of cushion constructed of coil springs wrapped in polyurethane and covered with down batting.
Staining - The step in the finishing process that applies color to a piece of furniture while allowing the grain to show through.
Stretcher - Supports that are attached to the legs of furniture pieces such as chairs, cocktail tables, etc., to add additional support.
Swivel Chair - A chair that revolves on a stationary platform or on legs.
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