Interior Design Explained

Colorwashing is a decorative wall painting technique that creates a subtle blend of colors.

Ragging off is a decorative paint technique that involves creating texture by removing wet glaze or paint with a rag.

A tieback is a decorative accessory used to hold back curtains or drapes.

Ruching is a decorative technique that involves gathering fabric in a repeat pattern to create texture and volume.

An apron is a decorative or structural panel fixed beneath a surface such as a tabletop, window ledge, or countertop.

Vintage refers to items, especially furniture and decor, from a previous era that have a sense of history and timeless appeal.

A footboard is a decorative or functional panel at the foot of a bed.

A piece of American furniture characterized by its painted finish, stenciled decorations, and rush or caned seat.

Wallpaper is a material used to decorate the interior walls of a room.

Embossed refers to a surface decorated with a raised or recessed design.

In interior design, a decorator focuses on enhancing the aesthetic appearance of a space.

A large wooden chest, often richly decorated, used historically in Italy for storage and as a dowry trunk.

Gimp is a decorative trim or braid

Chased, in interior design, refers to a method of decorating by engraving or indenting a design onto hard surfaces.

Acorn turning is a decorative woodworking technique.

A decorative element that tops a lamp, piece of furniture, or architectural structure.

Gothic Revival is a design style that reinterprets the architecture, interiors, and decorative arts of the Gothic period.

A crest rail is the uppermost part of a chair's back, often decorative and providing structural support.

Pinch pleats are a style of drapery folds, where fabric is gathered into groups of tight folds at the top to create a decorative header.

Glaze is a coating applied to surfaces for decorative or functional purposes.

Friese refers to a decorative border or panel

French Regence is a decorative style of interior design developed in France between 1715 and 1723.

Spanish Renaissance refers to a period and style in interior design characterized by ornate decorations, rich colors, and intricate details.

A Cassapanca is an Italian Renaissance chest, often ornately decorated and used for seating as well as storage.

A canapé is a small, decorative sofa, typically designed to seat two to three people.

Decoupage is a decorative technique where cutouts are glued to a surface and then varnished.

A gallery rail is a type of railing or molding designed to display artwork or decorative objects.

A Modillion is a decorative bracket used in classical architecture.

Filling, in interior design, refers to the material used to provide volume, shape, or softness to various decorative objects.

Parquet is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative flooring.

Spattering is a decorative painting technique that creates a speckled or textured effect.

Molding is the use of decorative strips to enhance architectural features and spaces.

A bed skirt is a decorative fabric panel that hangs between the mattress and the floor.

A thumbpiece is a decorative or functional element, often found on the lids of metal or ceramic containers, that assists in lifting or opening.

Intaglio is a decorative technique where the design is engraved into a material.

Rococo is an elaborately ornamental late baroque style of decoration prevalent in 18th-century continental Europe.

Plaster is a building material used for coating, protecting, and decorating walls and ceilings.

Guilloche is a decorative technique involving intricate, interlacing patterns.

A decorative feature resembling a bed or rest area for angels.

A Byzantine chair is a style of decorative, often ceremonial seating that originates from the Byzantine Empire era.

Tufted refers to a type of fabric treatment where threads are inserted on a base fabric to create patterns, texture, or decorative design.

A decorative motif featuring a symmetrical scroll with curves that meet in the middle.

Wainscoting is a decorative wall paneling used primarily in the lower section of a wall.

An inlay is a decorative technique that involves embedding pieces of one material into another to create patterns or designs.

Marquetry is the art of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs, or pictures.

Certosina is an intricate decorative technique involving the use of contrasting materials.

A decorative cloth that runs along the length or width of a table.

Lining paper is a type of wallpaper used to create a smooth surface for painting or the application of decorative wallpaper.

Fretwork is a decorative design carved into wood or metal.

Frieze refers to a wide, decorative band, typically found near the ceiling on walls, or on the exterior of buildings.

A decorative technique with fabric buttoned into a pattern resembling diamonds.

Liming is a decorative technique that lightens wood while also highlighting its grain.

Dentil molding is a decorative architectural element featuring a series of closely spaced, rectangular blocks.

Window treatment refers to the decoration and functionality added to windows.

Low relief is a decorative carving that protrudes slightly from its background.

An Ogee Bracket Foot is a decorative furniture foot style characterized by a curved s-shape.

A stylized lily or iris, used as a decorative design or symbol.

A chandelier is a decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture.

Coving is a decorative molding applied at the junction of walls and ceilings.

Mosaic tiles are small, often decorative, pieces of tile used in creating images or patterns on floors, walls, and other surfaces.

A central element of the backrest in a chair, typically wooden, that provides both support and decorative value.

A roundel is a circular decorative element used in architecture and design.

A cocktail table is a low table designed primarily for the living room for the placement of drinks, books, and decorative items.

Welting is a decorative edge used in upholstery and soft furnishings.

A dust ruffle is a decorative piece of fabric designed to cover the lower portion of a bed frame and the area underneath.

Trompe l'oeil is a decorative painting technique that creates the optical illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface.

A mantel clock is a small, decorative timepiece designed to sit on a fireplace mantel.

Art glass is a decorative material primarily used for its aesthetic appeal.

A vase is a container, traditionally made of glass or ceramic, used primarily for holding cut flowers or as a decorative piece.

A bracket foot is a decorative foot on a piece of furniture, characterized by its curved or scrolled outline.

Greek Style refers to the design and decoration principles originating from ancient Greece.

Embossing is a decorative technique where a design is created on a surface so that it stands out in relief.

Polychrome refers to the practice of decorating architectural elements, sculptures, or artworks in a variety of colors.

Strapwork refers to a decorative motif featuring interlaced straps or bands.

Baguette, in interior design, refers to a long, thin decorative molding.

Overlay in interior design refers to a decorative or functional layer added on top of another material or surface.

A bed canopy is a decorative covering suspended over a bed.

Interior decorating involves enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functionality of a space using various decorative elements and design principles.

A soft, padded textile item designed for support or decoration.

A decorative finish creating a cracked pattern on surfaces.

A headboard is a panel located at the head of a bed, often decorative and serving both aesthetic and functional purposes.

A bead is a small, decorative object that is pierced for threading or stringing.

A decorative element used in various aspects of interior design.

Reeding is a decorative technique involving narrow grooves carved into the surface of wood, metal, or stone.

Rosemaling is a traditional Norwegian decorative painting technique.

Decorative arts is a term that encompasses a wide range of arts and crafts designed to embellish interior spaces and objects.

Dragging is a decorative painting technique used to create a striated effect on walls or furniture.

Banding refers to the decorative detail created by applying strips of material to the edges or borders of furniture, textiles, or architectural features.

A bedspread is a decorative fabric covering that is placed over a bed when it is not in use.

Bagging is a decorative wall finish obtained by applying a thin cement-based layer to walls and then manipulating it with a sponge or cloth.

Bullion fringe is a type of decorative trim used in interior design to add texture and elegance.

Beading is a decorative detail characterized by a series of small, rounded shapes or beads lined up in a row.

A decorative small wooden molding featuring a series of round beads.

An urn is a decorative container often used for displaying flowers or for ornamental purposes.

A small, decorative pillow often used for interior decoration.

A quatrefoil is a decorative element consisting of a symmetrical shape which forms the overall outline of four partially overlapping circles of the same diameter.

A Lit à la Polonaise is a type of decorative bed characterized by its domed or arched canopy supported by three or four posts.

A decorative top piece on furniture that resembles the shape of a bonnet.

Cresting is a decorative motif often featuring a series of repetitive shapes or forms.

A corner block is a decorative or structural element used at the corner joints of furniture.

A radiator cover is a protective decorative casing placed around a radiator.

Spiral Turning is a decorative woodworking technique that creates twisted patterns along the length of a piece of wood.

Wrap Group refers to a methodology of grouping furniture and decor items to create a cohesive and visually appealing arrangement.

Feather banding is a decorative technique used in woodworking.

Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn.

Pattern refers to the repeating of a decorative design.

Appliqué is a decorative design technique involving the attachment of cutout pieces of material onto a larger piece to create patterns or designs.

Baroque is a highly decorative and theatrical style of architecture, art, and design that originated in the early 17th century in Europe.

Crown molding is a decorative trim installed where the wall meets the ceiling.

A coverlet is a lightweight, decorative bedspread.

Contrasting welt is a decorative edge detail used in upholstery and soft furnishings.

Rice carved posters are decorative elements found on furniture, showcasing intricate designs carved into wood that resemble stalks of rice.

A small hole with reinforced stitching or metal surrounding it, used for decoration or functionality in fabrics.

Rattan is a natural, renewable material often used in furniture and decor.

A throw pillow is a small, decorative cushion commonly used on sofas, chairs, or beds.

Channeling is a distinctive decorative technique used in upholstery and furniture design.

Debossing is a decorative technique involving the creation of recessed designs on a surface.

Cockbeading is a decorative moulding used in fine cabinetry.

Piping is a decorative design element, consisting of a strip of folded fabric, used for trimming or outlining the seams of furniture or soft furnishings.

A decorative element that surrounds the base of a candle or candelabra to catch wax drippings.

Acanthus is a decorative motif used in interior design and architecture, characterized by stylized leaves of the Acanthus plant.

Amorini are decorative motifs featuring cherubic children, often depicted with wings.

Palmette is a decorative motif resembling the fan-shaped leaves of a palm.

Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts, that was most popular between 1890 and 1910.

Brocade is a rich, decorative fabric often woven with a raised pattern.

A valance is a decorative piece of fabric used to conceal curtain rods or hardware at the top of a window treatment.

A lambrequin is a kind of decorative drapery or wood paneling that extends down the sides of a window or arch, often used in conjunction with curtains or blinds.

Hand distressing is a decorative technique used to give new furniture or materials an aged or weathered appearance.

An escutcheon is a decorative or protective plate around a keyhole, door handle, light switch, or faucet.

Claw & Ball is a decorative motif featuring a claw, paw, or talon grasping a ball, typically used in furniture legs.