Glossary - Hevan

Furniture and home decor listings are full of terms that are easy to skim past. A product page might mention a veneer top, a mortise and tenon frame or a tufted back without saying what any of that means. The Hevan Editorial Team put this glossary together to explain 25 terms you are likely to meet while shopping.

The definitions are general and neutral. They describe what the words usually mean in the furniture trade, not what any particular product delivers. For how we use product details in our own guides, see our Editorial Policy.

Accent chair: A chair chosen mainly to add color, pattern or shape to a room rather than to serve as the main seating. It is often placed in a corner or beside a sofa. Accent chairs can be upholstered or made of wood, metal or woven materials.
Armoire: A tall freestanding cabinet with doors, traditionally used to store clothing. Many modern armoires also hold a television or household goods. It is often used in rooms that lack a built-in closet.
Bookcase: A piece of furniture with horizontal shelves for books and other items. Some have adjustable shelves, and some have a back panel or doors. Bookcases may be freestanding or fixed to a wall for stability.
Cabriole leg: A furniture leg with a double curve, bowing outward at the top and curving inward toward the foot. It is closely tied to traditional European styles such as Queen Anne. It can be found on chairs, tables and cabinets.
Chesterfield: A style of sofa with a tufted back and arms of the same height, usually upholstered in leather or fabric. The deep buttoned pattern is its best-known feature. The name refers to the design, not to one particular maker.
Console table: A narrow table designed to stand against a wall, often in an entryway or behind a sofa. It is typically used to hold lamps, keys, mail or decorative items. Some versions include a shelf or drawers.
Credenza: A low cabinet, usually with sliding or hinged doors, used for storage and serving. The word is often used in offices and dining rooms. It is similar to a sideboard, and the two terms overlap in everyday use.
Daybed: A piece of furniture sized like a twin bed that works as both a sofa and a place to sleep. It usually has a back and two sides. Many daybeds are used as extra seating in guest rooms or living spaces.
Dovetail joint: A woodworking joint in which interlocking wedge-shaped pegs and sockets hold two pieces together. It is commonly used at the corners of drawers. Its shape resists the pieces being pulled apart.
Engineered wood: A broad term for boards made by bonding wood fibers, strands, chips or layers with adhesive. Plywood, particleboard and MDF all belong in this group. Engineered wood is widely used in furniture because it is made in large, flat sheets.
Futon: A thick cushion or mattress placed on a frame that can be arranged as a sofa or a bed. The frame is typically made of wood or metal. Futons are often chosen for small spaces and guest rooms.
Hardwood: Wood that comes from broadleaf trees, such as oak, maple and walnut. The term refers to the type of tree, not to how hard the wood is. Hardwoods are commonly used in furniture frames and tabletops.
Loveseat: A small sofa that seats two people. It is often used in smaller rooms or as a second seat alongside a full-sized sofa. Loveseats come in many of the same styles as larger sofas.
MDF: Short for medium-density fiberboard, a board made from fine wood fibers pressed together with resin and wax. It has a smooth surface that takes paint well. MDF is often used for cabinet doors, shelving and flat-pack furniture.
Mid-century modern: A design style linked to the middle of the twentieth century, known for clean lines, simple forms and tapered legs. It often combines wood with other materials. The term is now used widely to describe both original pieces and newer designs inspired by them.
Mortise and tenon joint: A joint in which a projecting piece of wood, the tenon, fits into a matching hole, the mortise. It is one of the oldest ways to join wood. It is often used where a leg meets a rail or a tabletop frame.
Ottoman: An upholstered seat or footrest without a back or arms. Some ottomans open up for storage or hold a tray on top. They are commonly placed in front of chairs and sofas.
Particleboard: A board made from small wood chips and sawdust pressed together with adhesive. It is generally less dense than MDF. It is often covered with a veneer or laminate for appearance.
Plywood: A board made of thin layers of wood, called plies, glued together with the grain of each layer turned at a right angle to the next. This cross-layering gives the sheet strength. Plywood is used in furniture frames, drawer bottoms and cabinet sides.
Sectional: A sofa made of separate sections that can be arranged in different shapes. Common layouts include an L shape or a U shape. Some sectionals include a chaise, which is an extended seat for stretching out.
Sideboard: A long, low piece of dining room furniture with cabinets and drawers, used to store tableware and linens. The top is often used to serve food or display decor. It is closely related to the buffet and the credenza.
Solid wood: Furniture made from pieces of natural wood throughout, rather than from engineered boards. It may still use joined or glued pieces. Solid wood can be sanded and refinished, and it can change slightly with humidity.
Tufting: An upholstery technique in which fabric or leather is pulled down at set points and held in place, often with buttons, to form a pattern of folds. It is used on sofas, headboards and ottomans. Chesterfield sofas are a well-known example.
Upholstery: The padding, springs, webbing and fabric covering used on seating furniture. It also refers to the craft of applying those materials. The covering may be fabric, leather or a synthetic material.
Veneer: A thin layer of real wood glued to a core of another material, such as plywood or MDF. It gives the look of solid wood on the surface. Veneer is common on tabletops, cabinet doors and drawer fronts.