Decorating Terms: Defined and Explained
Decoding the Language of Decor
There sure is a lot of terminology associated with interior design and home furnishings! The world of interior design is constantly changing and evolving as new trends come and go, and classics stick around. It’s a part of human culture, history, and tradition, and the terms can be enough to make your head spin! Luckily we’ve got a helpful cheat sheet here to help you navigate interior decor lingo:
Credenza
Not to be confused with the very similar “sideboard” or “buffet”. A credenza is essentially a long low cabinet. They are often used as TV stands but can go in the dining room or office as well.Breakfront
A breakfront is a large cabinet or bookcase with one defining feature. The center on a breakfront projects out - like the bow on an icebreaking ship.Console Table
This is simply a narrow table, that is designed to be placed against a wall. These will often be found in hallways or entranceways.
Sideboard
Similar to a credenza, a sideboard is a long, low cabinet, although a sideboard is usually a little larger than a credenza. On a sideboard, the cabinets often extend all the way to the ground.Banquette Dining table
A banquette dining table is essentially a long dining table that comes with a bench instead of chairs to maximize seating.Coffee table
Most readers will recognize this one! A low, long table designed to go in front of the sofa or in the middle of the living room.
COM
This stands for “Customer’s Own Material”. The term is used in the furniture design process when a customer wants a certain material they have already chosen used on the furniture.Custom
In the world of interior design, ‘custom’ is a term used to refer to anything that is tailor-made. Usually, the customer is heavily involved in the design process.