Furniture Terms Glossary

Terms — S

Saddle

A chair seat with hollowed out sides in the shape of a saddle.

Saddle Stitched

A type of decorative sewing on seat cushions, used for purely ornamental purposes.

Salon Set

A term for a complete, matched set of furniture for an entire room.

Sandstone

Cream, grey, red, or brown stone used in flooring.

Sash Bars

The metal or wooden frames that hold glass panels in cabinet doors.

Satin

A type of upholstery that is tightly woven and highly lustrous.

Satinwood

A close-grained, hard, and durable wood in a yellow or brownish color.

Sauvage/kela

A two-toned leather upholstery where a darker color has been applied over a lighter one.

Scallop

An ornamental skirt border made from a series of small semi-circles.

ScotchGuard

A protective product applied to upholstery to prevent staining.

Scroll

A decorative wood pattern designed to look like rolled parchment.

Seat Cushions

Removable seat cushions which are placed on hard wood or metal chairs for added comfort.

Secretaire

A writing desk with a drop-down writing surface.

Sectionals

Sofas made of modular units that can be rearranged into various different combinations.

Segmental Corners

Rectangular wood panels with the corners broken into curves, which are decorated for aesthetic purposes.

Semainier

A tall bedroom chest with seven drawers.

Semi-Aniline

Aniline dyed leather which has been coated with sealant and pigmentation, resulting in lighter color and grain.

Semi-attached Back

A sofa with cushions attached at the back, but not on the sides.

Serpentine

A decorative pattern in wooden furniture with a sinuous curve across the length.

Serving Cart

A wheeled cart used to transport food from the kitchen to a serving area.

Serving Table

A long, narrow table, with small storage drawers.

Serving Tray

A tray with handles, used to carry food from the kitchen to be served.

Settee

A long, upholstered bench with a back and arms.

Shagreen

A type of leather made from the skin of sharks, rays, and dogfish.

Shaker

A furniture style with simple lines, tapered legs, and commonly having features like ladder backs and woven seats.

Shellac

A natural resin that is commonly used as a wood finish.

Shesham

A rich medium brown wood which is highly durable and commonly used for cabinet making.

Shield Back

A chair back shaped like a shield with an arched top and ellipsed bottom.

Shoe Rack

A piece of furniture with multiple compartments for holding many pairs of shoes.

Shoji Screens

Room partitions designed in a Japanese style, usually made from translucent rice paper.

Side Chair

A dining room chair with no arms, which is usually placed along the sides of the table.

Sideboard

A wide cabinet with drawers, used for storage in the dining room.

Silk

An expensive, but strong and resilient upholstery.

Single Pillowtop Mattress

A mattress with extra padding on only one side, creating only one sleeping surface.

Single Sided Mattress

A mattress which only has padding on a single side, creating only one sleep surface.

Slate

A fine-grained gray, green, or blue rock that is commonly used in countertops and tabletops.

Sleep Set

A common term used for a matching mattress and box spring combination.

Sleeper

A sofa with a foldaway mattress that can be extended to convert it into a bed.

Sleigh Bed

A bed designed to look like a sleigh, with a high, curved headboard and a shorter, also curved footboard.

Slip Seat

A removable, upholstered dining chair seat.

Slipcovers

Cloths placed over furniture for protection.

Slipper Chair

A small, upholstered chair with a high back and a low seat.

Slub Yarn

Yarn in irregular sizes which creates upholstery with irregular patterns.

Snack Table

A small, portable table, used for a single person to eat while sitting on a couch.

Snake Foot

A chair or table foot designed to look like a snake�s head with a pointed end.

Soaking

A process by which leather is immersed in water to remove the salt content and make it more pliable.

Sofa

An upholstered, cushioned piece of furniture that usually seats up to three people.

Sofa Table

A narrow table a bit taller than a coffee table, which is placed behind the couch.

Soft Mattress

A mattress designed with softer padding for added comfort.

Spade Foot

A chair or table foot designed with a tapered, rectangular shape.

Spanish Foot

A chair or table foot with a hoof-like appearance and a curved shape.

Spindle Back

A chair back made with wooden spindles between the seat and the top rail of the frame.

Spiral Leg

A table or chair leg that has a twisted, spiral design like a rope.

Splat Back

A chair back made from a broad, flat piece of wood, possibly carved with decorative designs.

Split Foundation

A mattress base that comes in two pieces to support a larger mattress.

Split Leather

Leather that has the top grain removed.

Spruce

A strong, lightweight wood.

Stain

A liquid that is painted onto wood. When absorbed by the wood, it darkens and alters the color while keeping the natural appearance of the wood.

Stationary Loveseat

A small, solid or straight-backed sofa designed for two people.

Stationary Sofas

Solid or straight-backed sofas that often come as part of a living room set.

Stenciling

A type of decoration made by tracing designs onto the wood.

Stile

The vertical, outer uprights on panel back chairs.

Stone Laminate

Laminate designed with a thin layer of stone over top, to give the look and feel of stone countertops at a lower price.

Storage Locker

A tall, metal cabinet for storing clothes and other items.

Storage Ottoman

An upholstered foot rest or low stool with a hinged top and a storage compartment inside.

Strapwork

Furniture decoration made by gluing long, narrow strips of wood or leather in an ornamental pattern.

Stretchers

Horizontal braces that reinforce the legs of a chair or table.

Stump Bedstead

A bed without a canopy or posts.

Suede

Less durable than Top Grain Leather, made from the lower layer of a split hide.

Surface Abrasion

A measurement of how well an upholstery is able to withstand wear and tear.

Swatch

A sample piece of upholstery fabric.

Sweetgum

A reddish brown wood commonly used in veneers.

Swivel Chair

A chair on a rotating base that can revolve 360 degrees.

Swivel Rocker

A rocking chair that also swivels on a rotating base.