50+ Decorating Adjectives That'll Help You Find Better Furniture on Facebook Marketplace

When I first started writing about interior design I was 25 and not very experience with the world of home decor. So, I created my own interior design dictionary, or glossary, of all of the decorating words I came across. I did this both to help solidify my new interior design vocabulary, but also so that if I was writing about something, but at a loss for a way to describe it beyond “pretty” and “modern,” I had something to reference.

While this practice was definitely helpful early on in my career, it’s also served me in a different way now that I’m older, and an avid (and experienced) decorator myself: I’m a wizard on Facebook Marketplace.

You see, the thing with Facebook Marketplace is that the better you can describe what you’re looking for, the better your results are. This is where it pays to know how to talk about something, because if you’re looking for a very specific type of dining chair but don’t know what it’s called, you’ll have a harder time finding it than someone who knows it’s a chinoiserie Hollywood Regency bamboo dining chair.

That one is pretty specific, but even understanding some of the basic terms can be helpful.

So, I’ve repurposed some of my very own interior design dictionary from my early years as an editor to help you learn a little more design speak in the hopes that it’ll help you unearth a treasure trove on Facebook.

I included everything from adjectives used to describe interior design styles, to the names of common furniture and furniture styles.

Interior Design Dictionary

I’ve broken this up as best as I could by word category, so words to describe overall decorating styles, ones used to talk about furniture, color words, etc.

Interior Design Words for Different Styles

Coastal design style. Image via Serena & Lily

There are a set of core interior design styles that set the tone for most of the trends out there today, which are often a combination of two or more design styles. Below, I’ve listed out the key styles.

Art Deco: Characterized by rich colors, bold geometry, and decadent detail work.
Bohemian: A whimsical style with a care-free, layered look full of patterns, textures, and colorful fabrics.
Coastal: Inspired by the ocean, featuring cool, neutral tones paired with blues and greens.
Contemporary: Defined by simplicity, subtle sophistication, deliberate use of texture, and clean lines.
Eclectic: Involves a mix of textures, time periods, styles, trends, and colors.
Farmhouse: Incorporates rustic charm, distressed furniture, country-inspired touches, and a neutral palette.
French Country: Warm, earthy colors, wrought iron furnishings, and a rustic feel. Similar to farmhouse, but with more of a feminine flourish.
Hollywood Glam: Characterized by luxury, opulence, and a flair for the dramatic.
Industrial: Focuses on raw, unfinished materials, exposed brick, metals, and a monochrome color scheme.
Mid-Century Modern: Characterized by refined lines, minimalist silhouettes, and natural shapes from the mid-20th century.
Minimalist: Emphasizes simplicity, using monochromatic color schemes and uncluttered spaces.
Scandinavian: Inspired by the simplicity of life in Nordic countries; white with touches of color, minimalistic, and functional.
Traditional: Reflects classic European decor, with deep wood tones, architectural details, and elegant furnishings.
Transitional: A blend of traditional and modern styles, incorporating clean lines with classic comfort.
Rustic: Embraces nature-inspired textures, simple and earthy colors, and ultimately an unpretentious, organic warmth.
Shabby Chic: Uses vintage elements, distressed furnishings, and soft, opulent, yet cottage-style decor.

Interior Design Terms: Furniture Styles, Details & Techniques

An example of a bentwood dining chair. Image via Pottery Barn

8-Way Hand-Tied Construction: A traditional, high-quality technique for sofa suspension, offering durability and comfort.
Acapulco Chair: A 1950s design classic with a round frame and woven seat, perfect for outdoor use.
Applique: Decorative surface detail, often ornamental, added to furniture for aesthetic enhancement.
Armoire: A tall, freestanding cabinet with doors that hide shelves and drawers.
Arts & Crafts: Focus on craftsmanship and simple forms, reaction against industrialization.
Ball Foot: A spherical, often turned, foot style used at the base of furniture legs.
Barcelona Chair: A modernist chair designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, known for its sleek, chrome frame.
Bevel: An edge that is cut at an angle less than 90 degrees, often found on mirrors or furniture.
Bentwood: Furniture made from wood that is mechanically bent into curved shapes, offering elegant lines.
Bergere Chair: An upholstered armchair with closed sides, originating from 18th-century France.
Brutalist: Architectural style using raw, exposed concrete and large-scale, blocky appearance.
Burlwood: Wood from a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner, highly valued for its beauty.
Cabriole: A curved furniture leg, typically terminating in a foot, characteristic of Queen Anne and Chippendale styles.
Cerused Wood: A finishing technique that highlights the wood grain.
Chaise Lounge: An upholstered sofa in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs.

A chinoiserie Hollywood regency bamboo chair with cane seating

Chinoiserie: Chinese-inspired.
Console Table: A long, narrow table typically placed against a wall (can be called a sofa table when placed behind a sofa)..
Credenza: A dining room sideboard, particularly one where dishes are stored and served.
Divan: A long low sofa without a back or arms, typically placed against a wall.
Early American: Rustic, utilitarian style with Colonial era influence, using local materials.
Ebonize: The process of darkening wood to create a rich, black appearance, resembling ebony.
Escritoire: A small, portable writing desk.
Etagere: An open shelving unit typically used to display ornaments.
Faux Bois: An artistic interpretation of a wood grain pattern

A Federal/Federalist dresser with Serpentine-style front from Drexel, via 1stDibs.

Federalist: American furniture from the early 1800s with an emphasis on clean lines, glossy veneers. geometry.
Futon: A low, foldable bed that doubles as a couch.
Gothic: Medieval style known for pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.
Gueridon: A small round table often supported by a central pedestal.
Hepplewhite: Neoclassic style, light and elegant with contrasting veneers and inlay.
Hollywood Regency: Opulent furniture and decor style originating in 1930s Southern California.
Hutch: A set of shelves or cabinets placed on top of a lower unit with a counter and drawers.
Jacobean: Early English style with heavy, ornate furniture and dark finishes.
Louis XIV: Ornate, grand, and luxurious style reflective of the French Baroque period.
Louis XVI: Refined, classical style marked by straight lines and Greco-Roman influence.
Ottoman: An upholstered stool or bench without arms or a back, used as a footstool or seat.
Parquette: A geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative effect in furniture or flooring.
Queen Anne: Elegant, decorative style with curvilinear shapes and cabriole legs.
Reeding: A decorative feature consisting of a series of narrow, parallel lines carved into wood. Also a feature used on glass.
Serpentine Chest: A chest of drawers with a front that curves outward, then in, in a flowing manner.
Settee: A small sofa with room for two people.
Shaker: Minimalist style known for simplicity, functionality, and fine craftsmanship.
Skirting: A decorative border around the base of a piece of furniture, often fabric in upholstered items.
Veneer: Thin layers of quality wood covering a core of less expensive material, offering a fine finish.
Victorian: Elaborate and ornate, reflecting the tastes of the Victorian era, often with intricate patterns.
Vitrine: A glass display cabinet.
Windsor Chair: A traditional English chair with a solid wooden seat and a back formed from steam-bent spindles.
Wingback: A high-backed chair with side panels or ‘wings’ at the head, often used for comfort and privacy.

Interior Design Drapery Words:

Pinch pleat header. Image via Pottery Barn

Box Pleat: Curtains with pleats made of deep folds of fabric that create a boxy appearance. They fall into neat, regular folds along the length of the curtain.
Classic Tab: Classic tab top curtains feature loops of fabric sewn along the top. These tabs are threaded over the curtain rod for a casual look.
Inverted Pleat: Curtain pleats formed by folding the fabric back on itself to create a ‘flat’ look on the front, with the pleats hidden behind.
Pinch Pleat: Pinch pleat drapery features gathered fabric folds pinched at the top, creating a tailored, elegant appearance.
Rod Pocket: Rod pocket curtains are designed with a pocket sewn into the top. The curtain rod slides through this pocket, gathering the fabric to create a ruffled heading

Prints and Patterns

Botanical: Features plant-inspired motifs, often leaves, flowers, or trees, adding a natural, fresh feel to decor.
Chevron: A V-shaped zigzag pattern, offering a dynamic and contemporary aesthetic in home design.
Flame Stitch: A sharp, zigzag pattern resembling flames, creating a bold and vibrant visual impact.
Herringbone: Resembles fish bones, with a distinctive V-shaped weaving pattern, adding sophistication and texture.
Ticking Stripe: Narrow, uniform stripes, traditionally in blue on white, offering a classic, clean look.
Toile: Depicts intricate pastoral or floral scenes, usually in a single color on a light background, offering a traditional style.