Furniture Terms

• Diamond Tufting
  Button tufting in a series of diamond-shaped patterns.
• Day Bed
  A bed with arm rests and a back rest, which can be used for seating during the day, then for sleeping at night.
• Dresser
  A wide, short piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothing.
• Door Chest
  An armoire with two doors at the top and drawers underneath.
• Drawer Chest
  A dresser with drawers used to store clothing.
• Drawer Glide
  The metal track inside a drawer, which allows the drawer to slide in and out.
• Double Sided Mattress
  A mattress with padding on both sides, allowing it to be flipped when one side starts to wear out.
• Drop Leaves
  The extended leaves of a table that can be folded down when not in use.
• Distressing
  A finishing process which has intentional imperfections in order to give the furniture a more rustic look.
• Desk Lamp
  A small lamp with a moveable neck that allows the light to be repositioned.
• Davenport
  A compact writing desk; alternatively, another name for a sleeper sofa.
• DVD Rack
  A tall storage rack with slots for holding CDs and DVDs.
• Decorative Bowl
  A bowl that is used to store fruit, candy, or decorative items for display on a table.
• Dacron
  Upholstery made from polyester fiber.
• Damask
  Upholstery made from a tightly woven fabric that has the pattern visible from both sides.
• Dentil Molding
  Decorative molding made from evenly spaced blocks resembling teeth.
• Dovetail Joint
  An interlocking joint made with fan-shaped teeth that hold with extra strength.
• Dowel
  A round wooden pin or rod used to hold two pieces of wood together, particularly in ready-to-assemble furniture.
• Denim
  Upholstery made from a strong, tightly-woven fabric.
• Down
  Padding or stuffing made from duck or goose feathers.
• Demilune
  A type of crescent shaped or half-moon table.
• Dished Corner
  A hollowed-out space on the corners of a poker table, used for holding money.
• Distressed Leather
  Leather upholstery which has been processed to mimic the appearance of aged leather.
• Drum Dyed
  Leather upholstery which has been dyed by full immersion in a drum, which helps ensure the dye is fully absorbed.
• De-hairing
  A process by which hides are treated with a lime solution, which removes the hair and fats from the leather.
• Dumbwaiter Table
  A serving table with several tiered circular trays mounted on a central shaft, with the trays arranged from the smallest at the top to the largest at the bottom.
• Dobby Weave
  An upholstery weave with a decorative, geometric design.
• Dash Top
  A round tabletop with a raised outer rim.
• Duchesse Brisee
  A matched set of armchairs and an ottoman that can be nested together to form a chaise lounge.
• Director’s Chair
  A folding armchair with a sling seat.
• Divan
  A sofa without arms or a back, usually placed against the wall with cushions.