Interior Design

Interior Decorating Words You Should Know

If you are decorating your home, building a new home, or are interested in interior decorating or interior designing, you may run into some decorating words that you may not know. 

Some interior design words and acronyms are used to communicate precisely with architects, to display credentials, or to describe fabric and furniture. 

Here is a small glossary of terms interior designers and interior decorators commonly use but you may not know.

AFF

AFF is a designer, architectural, and builder abbreviation for "above finished floor".   AFF is often used to note the location of light switches, electrical outlets, and the height of a chandelier or pendant light fixture.  For example, a chandelier might be hung 60" AFF.

Antique

An antique is any item that is at least 100 years old.  Do not confuse with vintage.

Armoire (pronounced arm wahr)

An armoire is a large piece of furniture with doors and maybe drawers that can hold clothes, a TV, or other items.

ASID

ASID refers to the American Society of Interior Designers.  Professional interior designers list ASID after their name.  Designers who have completed school, but not all of the requirements to become a professional interior designer (rigorous testing and more) list Allied ASID after their name.  Designers who do not have an interior design degree and are not professional interior designers list Associate ASID after their name.

Banquette (pronounced bank ette)

A banquette is a built in bench, often used in a breakfast room along a wall with a pedestal dining table.

Bolster Pillow

A bolster pillow is a decorative cylindrical pillow.

Buffet

A buffet is a storage cabinet in a dining room that is approximately 30" high where the top is used to serve food.

Cabriole Leg (pronounced cab ree ole)

A cabriole leg is a leg in a slight S shape.

Case Goods

Case goods are any unupholstered piece of furniture, such as a wood table or metal night stand.

Chair Rail

A chair rail is a piece of molding applied to the wall approximately 30" above the floor.  Chair rails are most often used in a dining room because they were originally intended to protect the wall from chairs bumping against it.  Chair rails are now mostly used for decorative purposes, so they are seen in other rooms in the home.

Chaise Longe - also called Chaise or Chaise Lounge (pronounced Shaze Long or Chase Lounge)

A chaise long is a comfortable lounge chair with and extended seat forming a leg rest...................