The Ultimate Glossary of Interior Design Terms | DIY Home Comfort

The 7 elements of interior design refer to the basic building blocks that designers use to create spaces.

They include the following:

The principles of design refer to the guidelines that interior designers use to create a harmonious and balanced space.

They include the following:

Understanding the elements and principles of interior design is essential in creating a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

By using these guidelines, interior designers can create a space that reflects the user's needs and preferences while also creating a sense of visual harmony and balance.

Interior design styles, each reflecting unique time periods and cultural influences, are key to creating functional and visually appealing spaces.

Here are some of the key interior design styles:

• Art Deco Design: A modernist style originating in France, known for its geometric patterns and luxurious materials.
• Art Moderne Design: Features streamlined, geometric forms and a preference for a monochromatic color palette.
• Art Nouveau Interior Design: Characterized by flowing lines, natural forms, and intricate patterns inspired by nature.
• Asian Décor Interior Design: Incorporates elements from various Asian cultures, often focusing on simplicity, natural materials, and harmony.
• Asian Zen Interior Design: Emphasizes minimalism, natural materials, and a tranquil, meditative atmosphere.
• Bauhaus Design: A style named after the German art school, emphasizing simplicity and the principle of "form follows function."
• Biophilic Interior Design: Integrates natural elements and processes into the built environment to enhance human connection to nature.
• Bohemian (Boho) Design: A free-spirited aesthetic that combines various patterns, colors, and textures for an eclectic look.
• Chinoiserie Design: A blend of Eastern and Western styles, featuring intricate designs and bold colors.
• Coastal Interior Design: Inspired by the beach, this style uses light colors, natural light, and airy fabrics.
• Contemporary Design: Rooted in the present, featuring sleek lines, neutral colors, and minimal clutter.
• Eclectic Design: Combines elements from multiple styles for a unique, personalized look.
• Farmhouse Interior Design: Evokes a warm, cozy atmosphere with rustic elements and vintage decor.
• Feng Shui Design: A Chinese practice focusing on arranging spaces for optimal energy flow and harmony.
• French Country Interior Design: Characterized by warm colors, distressed woodwork, and soft patterns.
• Gothic Interior Design: Features dark colors, medieval influences, and dramatic accents.
• Green Design: Prioritizes environmental sustainability using eco-friendly materials and practices.
• Hollywood Glam Interior Design: Glamorous and opulent, with bold colors, metallic finishes, and luxurious fabrics.
• Industrial Design: Inspired by early 20th-century factories, using raw materials like metal and exposed brick.
• Japandi Design: A fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian styles, focusing on minimalism and functionality.
• Maximalist Interior Design: Embraces bold patterns, vibrant colors, and an abundance of decorative details.
• Mediterranean Interior Design: Features warm colors, ornate furniture, and influences from Southern Europe.
• Mid-Century Modern Design: Combines traditional and modern elements, characterized by sleek lines and organic shapes.
• Minimalist Design: Centers on simplicity and functionality, often using neutral colors and open spaces.
• Modern Design: Originating in the mid-20th century, it emphasizes functionality with a minimalist approach.
• Organic Interior Design: Focuses on natural materials and organic forms, often with an emphasis on sustainability.
• Retro Futuristic Interior Design: Combines retro aesthetics with futuristic elements, often featuring bold colors and unique shapes.
• Rustic Design: Inspired by nature, using raw and often unfinished elements like wood and stone.
• Scandinavian Design: Originating from Nordic countries, it emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and light.
• Shabby Chic: A vintage-inspired style mixing antique furniture with pastel colors and feminine florals.
• Southwestern Interior Design: Features earthy colors, rough textures, and handcrafted items, inspired by the American Southwest.
• Sustainable Design: Also known as eco-design, it aims to reduce environmental impact through thoughtful design.
• Traditional Design: A classic style blending elements from various historical periods with ornate furniture and rich colors.
• Transitional Design: Mixes traditional and contemporary styles, marked by clean lines and a neutral color palette.
• Universal Design: Makes spaces and products accessible to all, focusing on inclusive design principles.
• Victorian Interior Design: Known for its ornate and highly decorative elements, rich colors, and intricate details.
• Wabi Sabi Design: A Japanese aesthetic celebrating the beauty of imperfection and transience, valuing simplicity and authenticity.

If you're eager to explore these diverse interior design styles in more detail, dive into our comprehensive guide on home interior design ideas!

Color theory is the study of how colors interact with each other and how they can affect mood and emotions in a space.

Here are some terms related to color theory:

• Analogous Colors: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
• Chroma: The intensity or purity of a color.
• Color Relationships: The interaction and visual behavior of colors mixed together or side by side.
• Color Wheel: A circular diagram of colors used to show relationships between primary colors, secondary colors, and more.
• Complementary Colors: Colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel.
• Cool Colors: Colors such as blue, green, and purple, which are associated with calm and soothing feelings.
• Hue: The basic identity of a color, determined by its wavelength of light.
• Monochromatic: A color scheme based on variations of one particular color.
• Neutral Colors: Colors not usually found on the color wheel, such as black, white, grey, and sometimes brown and beige.
• Primary Colors: The three colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors together (red, blue, yellow).
• Saturated: A color that is vivid, rich, and intense.
• Secondary Colors: Colors created by mixing equal parts of two primary colors together (green, orange, purple).
• Shade: A color made darker by adding black.
• Split-Complementary Colors: A color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary color on the color wheel.
• Tertiary Colors: Colors made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
• Tint: A color made lighter by adding white.
• Tone: A color made softer by adding grey.
• Triadic Colors: Three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel.
• Value: The lightness or darkness of a color.
• Warm Colors: Colors such as red, orange, and yellow, which are associated with warmth and energy.

Furniture and decor are essential components of design.

Here are some terms related to furniture and decor:

• Accent Piece: A decorative item that is used to add interest to a room
• Armoire: A tall, freestanding cabinet with doors traditionally used for storing clothes.
• Bolster Pillow: A long, narrow pillow that is commonly used to support the head or back.
  
• Cabriole Leg: A cabriole leg is a furniture leg with an S-shaped curve, commonly used in classic and elegant furniture designs like French Rococo and English Baroque styles.
• Case Goods: Case goods are furniture items designed for storage, including dressers, cabinets, bookcases, and chests with hard exterior shells encasing compartments, shelves or drawers for organization and storage purposes.
• Chaise Lounge: A long, low-slung chair designed for relaxing.
• Chinoiserie: A European artistic style that incorporates Chinese design elements and emerged in the 17th century.
• Console Table: A narrow table placed against a wall, typically in a hallway or entryway, used for decorative or functional purposes.
• Countertop: A flat surface used for food preparation, storage, or other activities and mounted on top of cabinets, usually found in kitchens or bathrooms.
• Credenza: A low cabinet, often with a broad top and sliding doors, typically used for storage in dining or living areas.
• Etagere: A freestanding piece of furniture with multiple open shelves for storing or displaying objects, typically found in living rooms and home offices.
• Feng Shui: A Chinese practice of creating a harmonious environment by arranging objects and furniture for optimal energy flow, based on the belief that our physical environment impacts our well-being.
• Ottoman: A low upholstered seat or footstool that can serve as extra seating or a surface for a tray.
• Parson's Table: A simple, rectangular table with square legs positioned flush with the corners of the tabletop.
• Patina: A thin layer that forms on the surface of an object over time as a result of natural aging, oxidization or exposure to the elements, giving the object a unique aesthetic and enhancing its value as it ages.
• Settee: A small upholstered sofa with a back and arms that seats two or more people, often found in living rooms, dining rooms, or hallways.
• Sideboard: A long, low-storage piece typically used in a dining room.
• Veneer: A thin layer of decorative wood, often high-quality or exotic, adhered to the surface of a less expensive material, typically used in furniture-making or interior design to achieve a desired aesthetic.
• Wallpaper: A decorative material, often printed with designs, used to cover and adorn the walls of rooms.

Architecture and structure play a significant role in design.

Here are some terms related to architecture and structure:

• Arch: A curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening, typically supporting the weight above it.
• Architrave: The molding around a door or window.
• Beam: A long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building.
• Balustrade: A railing supported by balusters, typically found on a staircase or balcony.
• Column: A vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below.
• Cornice: A decorative crown molding that is typically used at the junction of a wall and ceiling.
• Crown Molding: A decorative trim used to transition between a wall and the ceiling.
• Dormer: A roofed structure, often containing a window, that projects vertically beyond the plane of a pitched roof.
• Interior Wall: a wall that separates two interior spaces in a building and is not part of the building's structural support, generally made of drywall or plasterboard fixed to a wooden or metal frame.
• Facade: The exterior front or face of a building.
• Frieze: A decorative band that runs along the upper part of a wall, typically between the cornice and ceiling.
• Gable: The triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches.
• Joist: Horizontal structural elements used to support floors or ceilings.
• Marquetry: The art of applying veneers of wood, ivory, shell, or other materials in intricate patterns to furniture or other objects.
• Loft: An open, spacious room or apartment often located in a converted industrial building with high ceilings and large windows.
• Parquet: A geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative flooring, characterized by repeating patterns.
• Pediment: A triangular decorative element that is typically used above a door or window.
• Portico: A porch or covered walkway with columns, often leading to the entrance of a building.
• Terrazzo: A composite material used in flooring and walls, made by embedding pieces of marble, granite, quartz, glass, or other materials in a cementitious binder, polished to a high sheen.
  
• Transom: A window that is located above a door or another window to allow light to enter a space.
• Wainscoting: A type of decorative paneling that is installed on the lower half of interior walls, usually made of wood, and serves both aesthetic and functional purposes.

Textiles and fabrics can add texture, pattern, and color to a room.

Here are some terms related to textiles and fabrics:

• Applique: A needlework technique in which pieces of fabric are sewn or stuck onto a larger piece to form a picture or pattern.
• Bouclé: A type of fabric, known for its unique looped texture and soft feel, often used in upholstery and cozy clothing.
• Brocade: A rich fabric with raised patterns woven into it, often used for upholstery and drapery.
• Chenille: A soft, tufted fabric with a velvety texture, commonly used for throws and upholstery.
• Chintz: A printed multicolored cotton fabric with a glazed finish, typically used in upholstery and draperies.
• Damask: A reversible fabric that features a pattern woven into thin layers of the fabric using a Jacquard loom.
• Gingham: A lightweight cotton fabric that features a check pattern.
• Herringbone: A distinctive V-shaped weaving pattern usually found in twill fabric, resembling the skeleton of a herring fish.
• Ikat: A dyeing technique used to pattern textiles to resist the dyeing of the yarns before weaving the fabric, creating a blurred, feathered edge design.
• Jacquard: A fabric with intricate patterns woven into it, created using a special loom.
• Jute: A long, soft, shiny plant fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads, commonly used in making burlap, hessian, or gunny cloth.
• Kilim: A flat tapestry-woven carpet or rug traditionally produced in countries of the former Persian Empire, known for its bold, geometric patterns.
• Linen: A fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant that is known for its durability and texture.
• Muslin: A lightweight, plain-woven cotton fabric, often used for making patterns in dressmaking.
• Sateen: A smooth, glossy fabric made from cotton and woven in a satin-like finish.
• Taffeta: A crisp, smooth fabric that is typically used for formal wear and drapery.
• Toile: A fabric printed with intricate scenes or patterns, often depicting pastoral scenes.
• Tweed: A rough, woolen fabric with a woven, mixed-color effect.
• Upholstery: The process of covering furniture with materials such as fabric, padding, and springs to create both comfort and visual appeal.
• Velvet: A luxurious fabric with a plush pile that can add texture and depth to a space

Lighting plays an essential role in creating a warm and inviting space.

Here are some terms related to lighting and fixtures:

• Accent lighting: A concentrated light used to highlight specific areas or objects, such as artwork, architectural features, or other decor elements, adding depth and dimension to a space.
• Ambient Lighting: Ambient lighting provides overall, general illumination in a space, creating a comfortable level of brightness without glare.
• Candelabra Bulb: A type of light bulb shaped like a candle flame, often used in decorative fixtures.
• Canopy: Part of a light fixture that attaches it to the ceiling and hides the wiring.

• Center Pipe: A pipe that can be decorative or hide wiring, typically found in ceiling fixtures.
• Chandelier: A decorative pendant light fixture that is typically hung in a dining room or foyer.
• Downlight: A light fixture that directs its output downward, typically embedded in ceilings (also known as recessed lights).
• Flush Mount: A light fixture that is mounted flush to the ceiling without any gap.
• Halogen Bulb: A type of bulb that uses halogen gas to increase light output and rated life.
• Incandescent Bulb: A traditional type of light bulb that produces light by heating a wire filament.
  
• Kelvin: The color temperature of a light source is measured on the Kelvin scale, where higher Kelvin ratings indicate cooler, more blue-toned light, while lower Kelvin ratings signify warmer, more yellow-toned light.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode): A highly energy-efficient type of lighting technology.
• Light Fixture: A device that houses an electrical lamp meant to provide illumination.

• Lumens: A measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source.
• Pendant Light: A suspended light fixture that features a single bulb or shade.
• Recessed Lights: Lights that are installed into openings in the ceiling, focusing light downward.
  
• Sconce: A wall-mounted light fixture that can provide ambient or task lighting.
• Semi-Flushmount: A light fixture that is partially attached to the ceiling with a short stem.
• Task Lighting: Task lighting is focused, targeted illumination designed to aid in the completion of specific activities, such as reading, cooking, or working on a computer.
• Torchiere: A floor lamp with an upward-facing shade that can provide ambient lighting
• Track Lighting: A lighting system that features a series of adjustable light fixtures that can be moved along a track.
• Uplight: A light source that directs its output in an upward direction, often used for accent or decorative purposes.
• Wall Washer: A lighting technique that illuminates a large surface or wall, providing even lighting.
• Wattage: The amount of electricity consumed by a light bulb.

These are general terms that relate to interior design and don't fit into any of the other categories:

• Acknowledgment: Confirmation of a request or order.
• Bottom-up/ Top-down: Design approaches either starting from specific details (bottom-up) or overall concepts (top-down).
• Interiority/ Exteriority: Terms referencing the inside and outside of a structure.
• Lead time: The time between the initiation and completion of a production process.
• Mood Board: A visual tool that communicates our concepts and visual ideas. It is a well thought out and planned arrangement of images, materials, pieces of text, etc., that is intended to evoke or project a particular style or concept.
• Negative/ Positive space: Negative space is the empty or open space around objects, and positive space is filled with objects.
• Ornate: This refers to something that is elaborately or excessively decorated, often with complex details and patterns.
• Paint Sheen: Paint sheen refers to the level of shine in a paint finish, ranging from flat (no shine) to high gloss (intense shine), with each sheen type offering unique aesthetic and functional characteristics for interior design.
• Proposal/ Quote: An estimate given for a design project.
• Purchase order (PO): An official document issued by a buyer to a seller indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services.
• Push/ Pull: A principle of design about manipulating spatial volume.
  

• RFQ (Request For Quotation): A process of inviting suppliers to provide quotes for services/products.
  
• Served and Servant: ‘Served’ spaces are areas like rooms, while ‘servant’ spaces support them (hallways, staircases).
• Sidemark: A label identifying a product's destination within a design project.
• Solid/Void: A principle of design where solid and void spaces are carefully balanced.
• Specs/ Spec'd/ Specified: Detailed description of the design elements.
• Timeless: This refers to something that is not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion, remaining universally appealing and relevant.
• Transparency/ Opacity: Refers to the visibility or invisibility of certain elements in a design
  
• Trompe L’oeil: A French term meaning "deceive the eye," it's a painting or design technique that creates an optical illusion, making flat images appear three-dimensional.