Posted by geetika 
To design a better home, you need to think like an interior designer. And for that, being well aware of different interior design terms is a must.
Interior design is in itself a language that, when learned, can help you describe your dream space with greater clarity and precision. So we thought, why not introduce you to some of the unique and popular interior design terms that you should definitely know. Here are some of the interior design terms for you to become a little more professional while explaining your interior ideas.
Before that, let us tell you that we are a professional interior design company in Kochi with experts who can easily understand your interior goals. At Middle East Builders, we thrive on transforming our client’s wishes into a perfect space that’s well enjoyed and cherished by them. Get started now!
- Flush Mount Vs Semi-Flush Mount
Flush mounts are overhead lights that are mounted directly to the ceiling without any space in between. Semi-flush lights, on the other hand, have a plate-like structure mounted on the ceiling with the light bulb hanging off, leaving airspace between the ceiling and the fixture. A flush mount suits best in hallways, closets, bedrooms, or bathrooms, while a semi-flush mount is ideal for a kitchen nook or a smaller low-ceiling dining room.
- Hardwoods Vs Engineered Hardwoods
Hardwood floors are solid wooden planks made of hardwood used for flooring purposes, and engineered hardwoods are a manmade version of the hardwood floors that consist of different materials or substrates attached to a thin layer of real wood on top. Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished many times, while engineered hardwood floors cannot. Hardwood floors are also expensive than the other ones.
- Settee Vs Loveseat
Settees are usually upholstered benches that can seat more than two people. These are formal in style and can be placed at multiple places such as bedrooms, dressing rooms, entryways, etc. Loveseats are casual two-seaters with a more laid-back style. It suits best in a living room.
- Highboy Vs Lowboy
Both these terms refer to the drawers where highboys have tall legs with a large body, while lowboys are low to the ground and are short dressers with drawers. In highboy, it contains two sections of multiple drawers. In low boy, you can find drawers at waist height and be used predominantly as a small dressing table or a dresser during the 18th century.
- Bench Vs Banquette
A bench is long seating furniture that can be placed anywhere in your home, while a banquette is a bench that’s attached to the walls at corner spaces. With benches, you can move it to wherever you like to place it, whereas banquettes use a space efficiently, so even though you might not get the option to move it, you can totally save space along with creating a private space or corner.
- Nook Vs Alcove
A nook is a corner of a room where the two walls meet, and an alcove is a separated area that’s connected or is a part of a larger room. A nook lets you be a part of the main space while giving you much-needed privacy. But an alcove is a more private area that also provides a mysteriously aesthetic look to your home.
- Elevation Vs Floor Plan
You might have dealt with floor plans and elevation views while planning your home construction. An elevation is a 2D drawing that showcases one side of the whole construction, such as the drawing of the front part of your home. On the other hand, floor plans are like a blueprint of your home that’s drawn from a top view angle. This serves as the layout of the space being constructed, which includes measurements and other specifications as well.
- Pendant Vs Chandelier
A pendant light is a single light source that rests from the ceiling by a chain and looks just like pendant jewelry. A chandelier is also a similar thing; the only difference is that chandeliers have many light bulbs arranged in a specific design which gives it a bulky yet exquisite and royal look. A pendant looks more simple, cheek and contemporary, while the chandeliers give the space a more traditional and majestic style.
- Bolster Pillow Vs Lumbar Pillow
Bolster pillows are the type of pillows that have a cylindrical shape, while lumbar pillows have long rectangular shapes. Both lumbar and bolster pillows are commonly used in bedrooms to add a decorative accent while also serving as functional equipment to provide support while sleeping and sitting.
- Art Nouveau Vs Art Deco
Art Nouveau and Art Deco are referred to describe design styles which are two defining art movements of the 20th century. Art Nouveau is characterized by elegant curves and long lines that are inspired by nature, whereas Art Deco is more about sharp angles, sharp edges, zig-zags, and geometrical shapes.
Art Nouveau can be adopted in interiors by encompassing organic forms with an emphasis on contours and muted tones. On the other hand, Art Deco embraces the industrial revolution and thus focuses on making machine-made objects aesthetically charming. Materials such as glass were quite famous throughout the Art Deco era for their luxurious look.
- Light Filtering Vs Blackout Curtains
Curtains are of different types, but primarily, they can be categorized into two kinds based on the level of thickness. The ones that allow light to pass through are called light filtering curtains, and the ones that don’t allow light to seep through the fabric are called blackout curtains.
Light filtering curtains being lightweight, are easy to maintain and install, while blackout curtains can help you with having better privacy as well as protect your walls from excess sunlight damage.
Winding it up!
So that’s it for now. Understanding these glossaries of interior design can help you to better connect with your designer while making your ideas clear. These are just some of the common and basic terms you should know about interior design but are enough for you to get started.
At Middle East Builders, the best interior design company in Kochi, we provide a broad range of services to make your job easy and hassle-free. We are a pioneer in architecture, construction and interior design with 20+ years of experience. We have handled various projects from design to execution, and we would love to take up your project as well, no matter how challenging it is.