Furniture Terms

• Microfiber
  Super thin fibers used to make more resilient and stain-resistant material.
• Massage Chair
  A recliner with electric massage units built directly into it.
• Master Bedroom
  The main bedroom of the house, usually belonging to the parents of the family.
• Metal Bed
  A strong bed made from a sturdy metal frame.
• Media Chest
  A piece of furniture designed to hold televisions and electronics, with storage drawers and compartments.
• Mattress
  The thick, padded support of a bed where a person sleeps. May be made with coiled springs, memory foam, or air chambers for the sleeper’s support.
• Memory Foam Mattress
  A mattress made from a resilient foam that conforms to the body’s shape and helps distribute a sleeper’s weight more easily.
• Magazine Table
  A small table with drawers or racks meant to hold magazines.
• Magazine Rack
  A rack with one or more compartments that holds magazines, newspapers, or books.
• Mantel
  A shelf across the top of a fireplace, where pictures and collectibles can be stored.
• Muntin
  A supporting bar or strip of wood between adjacent panels of glass, such as on a china cabinet’s doors.
• Magnolia
  A light-colored wood used to make furniture.
• Mahogany
  A high quality wood often used in cabinet making.
• Maple
  A lightweight, pale hardwood, usually found in cheaper furniture.
• Marquetry
  A decorative technique of applying small, flat pieces of wood in elaborate patterns on a veneered surface.
• Molding
  A decorative strip of wood used for ornamentation.
• Mortise-and-tenon
  A technique in which a hole is cut into one piece of wood and a matching peg carved into another so they can be fit together in a secure joint.
• Medallion
  An ornamental relief pattern in a circular frame, such as in a mirror.
• Miter Joint
  A joint that fastens two pieces of wood at a 90 degree angle.
• Mesquite
  A dark hardwood used in furniture making.
• Metal Laminate
  Durable, easy to clean laminates used for countertops and tabletops. Similar to other laminates, but with a thin layer of metal on top in a variety of finishes.
• Marble
  An expensive white, veined stone used for tabletops and countertops.
• Mineral Tanning
  A tanning process using mineral agents which is faster than Vegetable Tanning, and results in a more stretchable leather.
• Matte Finish
  A low-gloss finish which is applied to leather for enhanced texture.
• Micropigment
  A finishing process that colors the hide with clear, transparent pigments for a more uniform shade.
• Milling/Tumbling
  A leatherworking process where hides are tumbled in heated drums to increase softness.
• Marbling
  A decorative technique using finish or paint to create streaks of color similar to those found in marble.
• Mule Chest
  A type of chest with drawers underneath and a hinged top above with a storage compartment.
• Meridienne
  A type of sofa that has one arm higher than the other.
• Mohair
  A type of upholstery made from a lustrous cotton-wool blend.
• Motif
  The theme or dominant feature of a furniture design, such as a repeated design feature found in all pieces of a matched set.