Anderson ReDesign offers a glossary of design
terms to allow you
to learn more about the interior
design elements
of color, style,
fabric, lighting, and paint.
Color Terms
Analogous Color
Scheme: Colors next to each other on the Color Wheel.
Color Wheel:
Illustrates all colors and the relationships between and among them.
Complementary Color
Scheme: Colors opposite each other on the Color Wheel.
Cool Colors:
Blues, greens, and purples that appear to move surfaces away. Also called Receding Colors.
Primary
Colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue are the main colors on the Color Wheel. All other colors are derived
from them.
Secondary Colors: Orange, Purple, and Green, which are created by mixing
equal parts of two Primary Colors.
Warm Colors: Reds, yellows, and oranges
that appear to bring surfaces closer. Also called Advancing Colors.
Decorating Styles
Art
Deco: Design movement in the early 1900's inspired by Aztec, Mayan, and African art. It is geometrical
and does not contain curvy lines.
Arts and Crafts: Linear and geometric
shapes. Emphasized unique pieces rather than mass produced items. Design movement centered around Mission style.
Classical:
Early American, and reflects the Ionic, Doric, and Corinithinian shapes of Greek and Roman influence. Shapes include
more simple lines and rely on mathematical rules of proportion.
Colonial: Primitive and simple furniture
that was created between the 1600's and late 1700's.
Contemporary: The current trends in furnishings,
colors, and accessories.
English Country: Uses mellow colors and faded pieces
to create a feeling of comfort.
French Country: Large, solid, simple furniture
and a primary color scheme of reds, blues, and bright yellows. Sometimes called French Provincial.
Mission:
Offshoot of Arts and Crafts movement in early 1900s. Marked by straight lines, simplicity, and functionality of furniture.
Modernism:
Simplicity, clean lines, and rectalinear shapes. Started in the early 1920's.
Rococo:
Curved lines, frivolous style, pastel colors, use of mirrors, ornate design with flowers and shells. Started in France
around 1700.
Shaker: Clean lines, wood furniture, and utility of pieces. Became
popular in U.S. in early 1800's.
Fabric Terms
Nap:
Raising the fibers of a fabric to its surface to create a fuzzy appearance, e.g. flannel.
Pile:
A fabric surface composed of the cut ends of fiber. It can be cut or uncut.
Sizing:
Any substance applied to the surface of the fabric to create greater strength or firmness.
Weave:
The structure of interlocking fibers together to create fabric. Examples of weaves are twill, satin, and jacquard.
Lighting Terms
Accent Lighting: Used to focus on a particular
item such as art or an accessory.
Ambient
Lighting: General lighting that is not focused on anything particular. Overhead lighting is an example
of ambient lighting.
Task Lighting:
Used specifically for reading, painting, or another activity.
Paint Terms
Base Coat: Apply before the top coat or
actual paint color. Particularly helpful if surface being painted is dark. Primer is an example of a basecoat.
Top Coat: Final coat of paint applied.
Typically the desired color for the space.
Undercoat:
Standard paint to apply before main coats of paint. Improves the finish of the final coats of paint.
Interior Redesign Washington DC
