Furniture Terms Glossary

Terms — B

Baby Furniture

Furniture for use in a nursery, such as cribs, playpens, high chairs, etc.

Backbones

Natural marks in leather upholstery that appear along the backbone of the hide.

Bail

A type of handle made from a loop or ring.

Baize

A soft fabric similar to felt, such as might be found on a poker table.

Baker�s Rack

An open-fronted set of shelving, used for kitchen storage.

Ball Foot

A round, ball-shaped foot, usually found in 17th century style furniture.

Bamboo

A hollow-jointed wood used to make chairs, tables, and other furniture.

Banquette

A long upholstered bench.

Bar Height Stool

A stool that stands between 30 to 32 inches, for use at a full sized bar.

Bar Height Table

A table that stands between 30 to 32 inches, the same as the size of a bar. Often matched with bar height chairs.

Bar Stools

Tall seats which can come at either countertop height or bar height.

Barcelona Chair

An armless, leather upholstered chair with a stainless steel frame.

Barley-sugar Twist

Furniture legs that have been shaped in a twisted spiral design.

Baroque

A furniture style with oversized, bold details and sweeping curves.

Barrel Back

A chair where the back and arms are made of a single, continuous piece of curved wood.

Bas-Relief

A type of decorative carving that extends only slightly from the background.

Baseball Stitching

On cushions or upholstery, a double row of stitching along both sides of a seam, to reinforce the seam and add decoration.

Basket Weave

Furniture made from weaving cane or rushes together similar to a basket. Can also refer to a type of fabric woven with a similar appearance.

Basswood

A common hardwood with a creamy white or brown color.

Bathroom Rack

A storage rack for use in the bathroom, sometimes designed to fit over the back of the toilet.

Beading

A decorative border of embossed beads strung together in a row.

Bean Bag Chair

A seat made from a vinyl or cloth sack filled with stuffing that conforms to a person�s body shape.

Bed Frame

The metal support structure underneath a bed, which holds the box spring.

Bedding

Any kind of blankets, sheets, quilts, and comforters that are laid over a bed.

Bedding Set

A matched set of blankets, sheets, pillow cases, and other bedding.

Bedroom

A room containing a bed, dresser, and other furniture, where someone sleeps at night.

Bedroom Bench

A bench with storage compartments for storing quilts and blankets.

Beech

A strong hardwood, often used in tables and chairs.

Bench

A long, low seat for two to three people.

Bentwood

Wood that has been bent and curved using steam, such as to make the curved bottom legs of a rocking chair.

Bergere Chair

An upholstered chair with an overstuffed cushion and a curved design to the frame and legs.

Bevel

A sloped or slanted decorative edge around the border of a piece of furniture or a mirror.

Bi-cast Leather

Leather upholstery made with split leather covered with a layer of polyurethane for a glossy appearance.

Bibliotheque

A bookshelf.

Birch

A type of light colored wood used to make furniture and plywood.

Bird�s Eye Maple

A valuable type of maple wood covered with small spots that resemble bird�s eyes.

Bistro Table

A small, round table used in dining nooks.

Blanket Chest

A low chest with a hinged top, use for storing blankets and comforters.

Blended Fabric

A type of upholstery made from different types of fibers woven together.

Blind Tooled Leather

Leather that has been decorated with heated tools to create embossed patterns and texture.

Blockfront

A chest of drawers divided into three sections, with the center section set further back than the ends.

Board and Batten

Cabinets made with thin strips of wood (battens) placed over the seams between attached boards.

Boiserie

A style of decorative woodworking with rich carvings, usually used as wood panels.

Bolster

A long, thick, cylindrical pillow.

Bombe

A style of chest that bulges outward at the top and narrows at the bottom.

Bonded Leather

Upholstery made from a mixture of leather and either polyurethane or vinyl. Has the same appearance as genuine leather, but at a lower cost.

Bonnet Top

A cabinet with a broken pediment in the shape of a flame or urn.

Bookcase

A piece of furniture with shelves, used for storing books and other items.

Bookmatched Veneer

Veneer laid out with matching pieces that mirror each other identically.

Bow Back

A chair back with a single, continuous piece for the arms and back, reinforced with spindles.

Bowfront

A dresser or chest with a convex, or outward curving front.

Box Joint

An interlocking finger joint in drawers, made from complementary rectangular cuts that fit together.

Box Spring

The lower support of a bed, on top of which the mattress rests.

Boxwood

A dense, light colored wood commonly used for inlays.

Bracket Foot

A decorative foot to a chest or armoire, which extends at an angle from each corner of the furniture.

Brass

A yellowish metal alloy commonly used for drawer handles, knobs, hinges, fasteners, and other decorative furniture pieces.

Brass Plated

Furniture made from steel pieces that have been plated with a thin layer of brass for aesthetic purposes.

Breakfront

A type of cabinet divided into three sections, with the center section extending further outward than the ends.

Brewster Chair

A 17th century style chair made of multiple vertical and horizontal spindles and posts.

Brocade

A type of upholstery made from thick fabric with a raised design.

Broken Pediment

An arched or drowned top of a cabinet or armoire, in which the two sides don�t meet at the peak and leave an open top.

Buffet

A dresser or cabinet used in the dining room to store kitchenware.

Buffing

Leather upholstery smoothed by a mechanical buffer to reduce blemishes.

Bullet/Peninsula Desk

A desk which is rounded on one side, with the other side flat and placed up against the wall.

Bun Foot

A foot similar to a ball foot, but flatter and wider like an oval.

Bunk Ladder

A ladder attached to a Bunk Bed or Loft Bed in order to climb into the upper bunk.

Bureau

A chest of drawers used for storing clothing.

Burl Veneer

A type of veneer with a rough and irregular pattern made from knotted wood.

Butler�s Table

A small table with folding legs, and sides that can be folded up so it can be carried like a tray.

Butterfly Table

A table with folding leaves that can be extended or folded in to change the size.

Butternut

Also known as white walnut, a light brown wood that is easy to work with.

Button Tufting

Upholstery that is decorated with a geometric pattern of cloth-covered buttons.