Learn the language of interior design with our free glossary
Architectural Elements
Design Styles
Furniture Types
Lighting
Decorative Techniques
Decorative Objects
Window Treatments
Historical Periods & Movements
Technical Terms
Space Planning & Layout
A single wall in a room that is highlighted differently from the other walls, using a contrasting paint color, wallpaper, or material to create visual interest.
The general, overall illumination of a space. It provides a comfortable level of brightness without glare, and allows people to move safely and comfortably.
A design principle in which the two sides of a composition are different, but balance is achieved through visual weight distribution rather than mirror-image symmetry.
A design style of the 1920s–1930s characterized by geometric shapes, bold lines, luxurious materials like chrome and lacquer, and a glamorous aesthetic.
A German art and design school (1919–1933) that emphasized function over decoration, combining fine art with craft and manufacturing.
An approach to interior design that incorporates natural elements — plants, natural light, water features, organic materials — to connect occupants with nature.
Furniture or cabinetry that is constructed as part of the room's architecture, such as bookshelves flanking a fireplace or bench seating.
The SI unit of luminous intensity. Used in lighting design to measure the intensity of a light source in a specific direction.
A structural element that extends horizontally beyond its support point, appearing to float. Common in modern architecture and furniture design.
A Western interpretation of Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions, featuring intricate decorative motifs in furniture, wallpaper, and ceramics.
The practice of combining two or more contrasting solid colors in large sections to create a bold, graphic effect.
A design approach that mixes elements from different periods, styles, and cultures into a cohesive, curated look.
The science of designing spaces and furniture to optimize human comfort, efficiency, and safety.
A warm, casual aesthetic that combines rustic wood tones, shiplap, neutral colors, and vintage-inspired pieces with modern functionality.
An ancient Chinese practice of arranging space to promote the flow of positive energy (chi) and achieve harmony between people and their environment.
The dominant element of a room that immediately draws the eye — a fireplace, large artwork, or statement furniture piece.
A mathematical ratio (approximately 1:1.618) found in nature that designers use to create proportions perceived as naturally pleasing and harmonious.
A design aesthetic inspired by warehouses and factories, featuring exposed brick, concrete, metal, and open layouts.
A dyeing technique used to create patterns in fabric by resist-dyeing yarns before weaving. Creates a distinctive blurred, feathered pattern.
A hybrid design style blending Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics — clean lines, natural materials, muted tones, and a focus on functionality and calm.
A hard, high-gloss finish applied to furniture or walls that creates a smooth, reflective surface. Popular in Asian and Art Deco design.
The use of multiple types of lighting (ambient, task, accent) to create depth, dimension, and flexibility in a room.
A design philosophy that embraces more — more color, pattern, texture, and decoration — with the idea that excess and abundance can coexist beautifully.
A design style from the mid-20th century (1945–1969) characterized by clean lines, organic forms, minimal ornamentation, and integration of natural materials.
A design approach that strips away excess, focusing on functionality and a limited color palette, simple forms, and negative space.
Furniture made from individual sections that can be configured in multiple ways, allowing flexible arrangement and easy reconfiguration.
The empty or open areas around and between objects in a composition. Used intentionally to create breathing room and highlight the focal point.
A set of tables of graduated size that can be stacked beneath one another when not in use, offering flexible surface space.
A style that blends clean, contemporary lines with natural textures and curved, organic forms — balancing sleekness with warmth.
An upholstered piece of furniture used as a footrest, extra seating, or coffee table when topped with a tray.
The collection of colors chosen for a design. A cohesive palette creates harmony; a contrasting palette creates drama.
The surface quality that develops over time through aging, use, and exposure — often valued in antiques for adding character.
A wall-mounted light fixture that provides ambient or accent lighting without taking up floor or table space.
A sofa composed of multiple joined pieces arranged in an L, U, or curved shape to maximize seating in a space.
A single bold, distinctive item — a chandelier, artwork, or chair — that becomes the visual centerpiece of a room.
A composite flooring material made from chips of marble, granite, or glass set in concrete or resin, then polished smooth.
The surface quality of materials — rough, smooth, matte, glossy — that adds tactile and visual dimension to a space.
A porous limestone commonly used in flooring and walls. Its natural pitting and veining give it an organic, timeless quality.
A short decorative drapery or board fixed across the top of a window to conceal curtain fixtures while adding a finished look.
A small, carefully curated arrangement of objects — on a side table, shelf, or mantel — that tells a cohesive visual story.
A Japanese aesthetic philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness — embracing natural materials, aging, and asymmetry.
Decorative wood paneling applied to the lower half of a wall, typically paired with paint or wallpaper above.