Interior Design Glossary: L

L

Lacche: An Italian term used to describe all painted decoration applied to furniture.

Lacquer: A durable, protective varnish used as a topcoat on furniture.

Ladder-Back: A country-style chair with a back that resembles the rungs of a ladder.

Lamb's Wool: Soft, elastic, and resilient wool fibers from the first clipping of lambs, used in high-quality fabrics.

Lambrequin: A short decorative hanging drapery, often replicated in metal or wood.

Laminate: A thin material, such as wood or plastic, glued to the exterior of cabinets or other surfaces.

Lap: A joint where two pieces of material overlap.

Latex: A natural or synthetic rubber foam often used in premium mattresses.

Lattice: A crisscross pattern made of wood, iron, or other materials, often used as openwork decoration.

Laurelling: A decorative motif using the laurel leaf design.

Lawson: An overstuffed furniture style with square seat cushions, short backrests, and high rolled or squared arms, often considered transitional in design.

Lay Off: The act of brushing an unloaded paintbrush across a wet surface to create a smooth finish.

Lazy Susan: A rotating tray or stand, typically made of wood or metal, used for serving or storage.

Leather: Animal hide used in furniture upholstery.

Leather Finishing: Post-dyeing processes such as waxing, buffing, and waterproofing to treat leather.

Lectus: A Roman-influenced daybed or reclining sofa.

Library Storage: Furniture with drawers, trays, or racks designed for storing cassettes, CDs, or videos, often designed to slide or roll out.

Lifestyle: A term describing furniture that reflects casual, simple design elements suited to individual expression.

Limewash: A whitening finish made from slaked lime and water, typically applied to exterior walls.

Liming: A technique where liming wax is used to stain wood a whitish color.

Lincoln Rocker: A high-back, upholstered rocking chair with an exposed wood frame and padded armrests.

Linen: A loosely woven fabric made from flax, known for its cool feel and breathability.

Linen-Press: A cupboard with shelves for storing linens and clothing.

Linenfold Panel: A decorative panel carved or molded to resemble folded fabric.

Lingerie Chest: A tall, narrow chest with seven drawers, used for storing undergarments and lingerie.

Lining Paper: A type of wallpaper used as a base layer, often to cover cracks or imperfections in walls.

Linoleum: A natural flooring material made from linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone, and pigments.

Linters: Short cotton fibers left on the seed after ginning, often used as mattress filling.

Lodge: Traditionally, a rustic house or inn located in remote areas like the mountains. It also refers to a decor style inspired by rustic, natural elements.

Loft Bed: A raised bed with space underneath for drawers, desks, or other storage instead of an additional bed.

Log Furniture: Rustic, western-style furniture made from whole or cut logs.

Loo Table: A large Victorian card or game table.

Loop-Back: An oval chair back without arms.

Loose Cover: A throw or fitted cover placed over a sofa or chair.

Loose Pillow-Back: A removable pillow treatment used on upholstered furniture.

Loper: A pullout support arm for the hinged front of a bureau.

Lotus: A conventionalized representation of the Egyptian water lily used in classical ornamentation.

Louis XIII: Furniture style from the early 1600s featuring straight lines, symmetrical case pieces, twisted columns, and intricate carvings, often made from ebony, walnut, or oak.

Louis XIV, XV, XVI: French furniture styles from the mid-1600s to the late 1700s, progressing from ornate (Louis XIV) to simpler (Louis XV) and more geometric (Louis XVI).

Louvered Doors: Doors with horizontal wooden slats, often used in cabinetry.

Loveseat (or Love Seat): A smaller, two-seat sofa originally associated with the Queen Anne style.

Low Relief: Shallow carving on a surface.

Lowboy: A short chest or table with drawers, typically set on short legs.

Lozenge: A diamond-shaped decorative panel, derived from the Middle English word for stone.

Luggage Stitching: A sewing technique featuring two parallel rows of stitching.

Lunette: A half-moon-shaped ornament or mural decoration.

Lurex: Fibers made from finely slit aluminum film covered in plastic, mimicking the appearance of gold or silver threads.

Lyre Arm: A bow-shaped arm on furniture, resembling a harp.

Lyre Back: A chair back shaped like a harp.

Lyre Motif: A harp-like design element commonly found in French and English furniture, especially in Duncan Phyfe chair backs and table supports.