Professional experts from any field have their lingo, which helps them communicate with each other about specifics of their trade or services. It may sound like a mobile phone operator rattling away subscription plan details for those who are availing of their services. It leaves many of us baffled and unsure about what is being told. So what do we do? We google!
When it comes to home interior work or anything to do with home renovation, you don’t have to google anymore. We’ve got your back. HomeLane’s best experts have come together to help create a list of commonly used décor lingo and also decode each one of them for you.
1. Floor Plan
The floor plan is a blueprint that gives you a bird’s eye view of the house’s layout. One gets an idea of where the home entrance, walls, bathrooms, sink, bedroom, balcony, etc. When the experts refer to the floor plan, it is to decide the furniture’s placement or do structural changes to the house.
2. Layers
Layers mean coming together of elements like floor design, wall hangings, furniture, colour and texture of the wall, lighting and carpets in a house. A home interior expert will use the term to refer to one or many elements which will make up a room.
3. Accent Wall
Accent Walls are coloured or textured differently to break the monotony. Home interior expert mentions it when they want to highlight a particular wall in a room with a different texture/colour or lights.
4. Monochrome
Monochrome means different shades of a single colour. The home interior consultant will mention monochrome when the room is to be done with shades of a single colour.
5. Countertop
The countertop is a horizontal work surface like a kitchen platform, bathroom sink etc. An interior professional countertop work usually means deciding on the surface material, size, cabinets for bathroom sink etc.
6. Art Deco
Simple, clean lines interspersed with heavy ornamentation using a mix of luxury items with inexpensive ones characterizes the feature of anti-traditional movement that has come to be known as Art Deco. For an expert, it refers to a theme that can be brought to life either with themed wallpaper, decor items or art deco furniture.
7. Scale
Scale is the relative size of an object in comparison with other things in a given space. It gives you a perspective of how big or small an object is compared to human size or the other objects’ size. An expert will refer to scale for walls, furniture or windows, etc.
8. Sconce
A sconce is a wall-mounted light where a glass or some decorative element covers the source of light, i.e. the bulb. When your home decor expert is talking about scones, she/he means the placement or design of the light.
9. Wainscoting
A very British import, wainscoting is paneling three-fourths of the interior wall or partition with a decorative element. Home design experts refer to it when they want to decide on the materials, height, and room it needs to be set in.
10. Window Treatment
Window treatment enhances the window’s look by modifying it using wood, vinyl, shades, curtains, or aluminum. Experts mention it when they want you to choose a complex treatment to use solid materials or a gentle treatment using roman shades, drapes, swags, and sheer curtains.
11. Upholstery
Padding, springs, webbing, and fabric cover are the main components of furniture upholstery. An expert will check with you on the specifics mentioned above for sofas, armchairs, poufs, etc. They will also need details if you want it to be made hard/soft or minimal/decorative.
12. Reclaim
Reclaimed materials like old wood, discarded rubber tyres, scrap metal, etc., to be turned into furniture are pretty popular. A professional will want to know which reclaimed material you’d like to put to use and for which type of furniture. Ready furniture made from reclaimed materials can also be chosen with the help of your interior expert.
13. Recycled
Recycling refers to extending the lifespan of material that would otherwise be discarded. A home decor expert will use the recycling term if she/he wants you to decide on repurposing discarded furniture/door/knob etc., to be used in home decor.
14. Streamline
Streamline is increasing efficiency in a project. It means smoothing out hiccups with delivery or installation of kitchen cabinets or other interior work for a home interior expert.
15. Balance
The spatial calmness that one feels in a room where everything is in its place is balance. An expert interior designer will refer to balance when deciding on the room’s structure and placement of the objects, including heavy furniture, decor items etc.
16. Foyer
The entrance hall, opening in a house, a typical area in an apartment is referred to as the foyer. An interior professional will discuss the foyer when she/he wants to decide on what furniture or door or type of entry you’d like to have for your home.
17. Mid-Century Modern
It came into existence in the 1940s and is still popular because of its organic forms, high functionality, and clean lines. A mid-century modern theme helps your interior designer to know what is required exactly. It can be vintage furniture, chairs, home decor items, etc.
18. Faux
The faux finish is used to describe a paint finish that resembles a stone or brick wall. When an expert refers to faux finish, they want you to be specific about the type of finish you want.
19. Focal Point
A defining area of the room is a focal point. The expert will refer to it as an area that attracts the visitor’s attention, like a huge window, a wall framed with photos, bookshelves, etc.
20. Niche
An area of expertise is defined as a niche. In interiors, it refers to a wall shelf or wall niche where decorative items are kept. If your interior expert is mentioning it, she/he may refer to the placement, height, and width of the shelves to be accommodated within the wall.
That’s summing up 20 of the most used decor lingo of home design experts. Ready to dive into discussing your new home’s interiors with your designer? Drop a line to the HomeLane team.
