What is a Sconce?
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15 Interior Design Terms that
You Should Know
You know why you’re here. You are obsessed with innovative design. It’s like fashion for your home.
Maybe you’re ready to begin the exciting process of remodeling or building out your new home.
Or maybe you’ve hired an interior designer, but you don’t have the first clue of how to communicate what you want.
Don’t fret.
Here are 15 of the most common terms that people ask us about. Use this as a guide to become one step closer to expertly communicating with design professionals!
Furniture Terms
#1. Sconce
Lighting installed directly to the wall (not ceiling). Sconces often frame doorways or line hallways. Because they are so versatile they can be placed anywhere where you need an extra pop of light!
#2. Console
Don’t get confused with this one - this piece of furniture is not for “comforting a person during their time of grief”, rather it is a narrow table or cabinet designed to hold your household items. A console can usually be found under a TV or an in an entryway, albeit at different heights.
#3. Credenza
Typically a low cupboard that will store your various dining and living items. Can be kept anywhere for extra storage!
#4. Estimate vs Quote
Request an estimate from a furniture company when you are trying to figure out how much the customization or white glove shipping (see #8) will cost.
Request a quote when you are ready to purchase, so you can move forward with your order.
Shipping Terms
#5. Sidemark
Interior designers add sidemarks (shortened to “SM:”) to the “ship to” address when placing an order to help easily identify which project and room a package is being delivered to (without fully opening the box).
#6. Made to Order
If a piece of furniture is “made to order”, this means the product is not “in stock” and ready to ship immediately. Rather, the designer will start crafting a product as soon as an order is placed.
#7. Lead Time
The time it takes for a company to prepare your order for shipment. Lead times can account for the time it takes to assemble components to the time it takes to fully make a product from raw materials.
#8. White Glove
A type of high-end shipping service where your order is brought straight into your home and all packaging (including crates) is removed.
#9. CBD
No, your shipping carrier is not going to be delivering you some of that new hemp-based craze. “CBD” to shipping and warehousing companies means “call before delivery”. Not going to be home? Ask if your shipping carrier can CBD.
Advanced Terms
#10. FF&E
Simply defined as “Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment”, this interior design term is used freely when discussing all the products that are being put inside a home. Essentially if you turned a home upside down and shook the house, FF&E is everything that would move or fall out.
#11. Patina
Some materials such as leather and certain metals (most commonly brass and copper) will patina over time. This is a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the oils in our hands as we touch these materials. The material will darken over time, giving the piece a more distinguished character.
#12. K
(aka Kelvin)
“K” describes the color of light emitting from a light fixture.
> If the number is high (ex. 4200K) then the light will emit a cooler/bluer tone.
> If the number is lower (ex. 2600K) it will emit a warmer/yellower tone.
#13. OAH
(short for “overall height”)
Usually used in reference to lighting fixtures that are hanging from the ceiling. The height (H) dimensions that you see are for the main part of the fixture and do not include the cord connecting the chandelier to the ceiling. The OAH does include this extra cord height.
#14. COM / COL
(“customer’s own material” / “customer’s own leather”)
One key benefit of ordering from independent designers, is they produce your order when it is paid for (see #6 - Made to Order), so typically there are a lot of customization options available. Especially when dealing with seating, there’s a chance you can use your ideal upholstery on the lounge chair of your dreams.
#15. Elevations
Drawings used to plan and illustrate the height for architectural and decorative elements in rooms. Elevations can include windows (+ their treatments), art, wallpaper, mirrors, and sconces… ;)
Yes, there’s more industry lingo out there…
…they don’t have interior design degrees for nothing! But now that you can understand these terms, you can use them like a pro. Ask your interior designer if your shipping carrier is going to CBD (hint: see #9) - it’s your time to shine 🌞
What interior design terms have you come across that are confusing?
