Interior Design Glossary: W

W

Wabi-Sabi: A Japanese perspective that appreciates art and beauty in all things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
Wainscot Chair: An Elizabethan oak chair featuring a back that resembles the paneled wainscoting found on walls. These chairs are typically large and intricately carved with strap work.
Wainscoting: The application of wood molding that covers the lower half or middle portion of a wall.
Wall Clock: Any type of clock specifically designed for hanging on a wall.
Wall Mirror: Any type of mirror intended for wall mounting.
Wall Sculpture: A decorative piece hung on a wall, made from various materials, including wood, metal, and synthetics.
Wall Units: Large freestanding or wall-mounted systems that may include drawers, shelves, cabinets, desks, entertainment centers, or other features.
Wallpaper: A decorative material used to cover and adorn the interior walls of homes, offices, and other structures. Wallpaper is typically sold in rolls and applied to walls with wallpaper paste.
Wardrobe: A tall, upright cabinet with one or more doors, designed for storing clothing.
Warp (or Weft): The yarns that run lengthwise in a piece of fabric, perpendicular to the woof (or welt).
Wash Stand: A cupboard or chest of drawers supported by four legs, featuring a basin sunk into the top. These were adapted for bedroom use after 1750.
Waterfall Skirt: A skirt on an upholstered piece of furniture that drapes from the top of the base to the floor without interruption, falling below the cushion line.
Webbing: Interwoven strips of material attached to a frame, used for support in upholstery instead of traditional spring systems.
Wellington Chest: A tall, narrow, and relatively plain type of chest named after the Duke of Wellington.
Welsh Cupboard: A cabinet with a large enclosed storage base and an upper area featuring open shelves.
Welting (or Piping): A cord wrapped in fabric used to trim upholstery seams and areas where fabric meets exposed wood.
What-Not: A mobile stand or cart with open shelves, used after 1800 for books, decorative items, etc.
Wheat: A term referring to carved ornamentations representing three ears of wheat, a motif extensively used by Hepplewhite.
Wicker Furniture: Furniture made from materials such as willow, reed, and rattan, woven together.
William & Mary: A style named after the 17th-century English King and Queen, popular in early America during the 1700s. Common pieces include high-backed upholstered armchairs, highboys, and lowboys. This design features curved lines, marquetry, bun or ball feet, inlay, and oriental lacquer work.
Williamsburg Style: A decor style inspired by the early colonial settlement of Williamsburg, Virginia.
Windsor Chair: A style of wooden chair originating in the early 1700s, still popular today, characterized by a spindle back shaped like fans, hoops, or combs. Named after Windsor Castle, this style gained true popularity in America and is made from woods like birch, pine, hickory, ash, maple, and oak.
Wine Rack: A storage unit for holding wine bottles, ranging from small racks for kitchen counters to large bookcase-sized units.
Wine Table: Traditionally a horseshoe-shaped serving table used for serving wine and hors d'oeuvres.
Wing Chair (Wing-Back Chair): A high-backed upholstered chair with rolled arms and wing-shaped extensions that rise above the arms at head level. This design was introduced in America around the early 1700s.
Woof: The yarns that run crosswise in woven fabric, interlacing with the warp (or weft).
Worm Holes: Small holes found in wood, which may be seen as defects in some cases but add character to rustic furniture pieces.
Wrap Group: Bedroom furniture typically designed for children's rooms, positioned against walls to wrap around the room. Wrap groups often include small chests, dressers, student desks, and hutches, making efficient use of limited space and providing ample storage.
Writing Desk: A smaller desk or table commonly used for personal tasks, such as writing letters or paying bills.