Materials & Textiles Terms

Boucle

Boucle is a fabric woven from looped yarn, giving it a soft, bumpy, textured surface. It is popular for upholstery on chairs and sofas because it adds cozy texture in a solid, neutral color. The name comes from the French for 'curled,' which describes the small loops that catch the light and give the fabric its depth.

Cane Webbing

Cane webbing is a woven sheet of thin, flat strips cut from the outer bark of the rattan palm, pressed into an open, repeating pattern, most often the hexagonal 'open weave' look. Sold by the roll or the yard, it is the material used to fill the panels of caned chairs, cabinet doors, headboards, and bed frames, where its natural texture and see-through weave add lightness and a handmade, vintage feel. Because it comes as a flat sheet rather than a woven-in-place seat, it is a popular way to add a natural, airy panel to furniture.

Jute

Jute is a soft, natural plant fiber spun from the stalks of the jute plant and most often woven into area rugs, runners, and baskets. Its warm, golden-tan color and chunky, braided or boucle-style weave give a room an earthy, casual texture, which is why jute rugs are a staple of coastal, bohemian, farmhouse, and Scandinavian interiors. Softer underfoot than most natural fibers, jute is prized for looks and comfort rather than heavy-duty wear.

Linen

Linen is a natural fabric woven from the fibers of the flax plant, prized for its strength, breathability, and relaxed, textured look. In interiors it shows up on upholstery, curtains, bedding, and cushions, where its slightly slubby weave and soft matte finish read as casual and understated rather than formal. Linen creases easily, and in decorating that gentle wrinkle is part of the appeal: it gives a room a lived-in, effortless feel that flat synthetics cannot fake.

Rattan

Rattan is a natural material made from the stems of climbing palms, woven into furniture, light fixtures, and baskets. It is lightweight, warm, and adds organic texture, especially in boho and coastal rooms. Unlike hollow bamboo, rattan is a solid, flexible vine, which is why it can be bent and woven into curved, sturdy shapes.

Shiplap

Shiplap is a type of wooden board with a rabbeted (notched) edge that lets each plank overlap the next, creating a tight seam with a distinctive evenly spaced groove between boards. Originally a practical cladding for barns and sheds because the overlapping joint sheds water, it is now used decoratively on interior walls and ceilings for its clean, lined texture. The look is closely tied to farmhouse and coastal interiors, where the horizontal lines add character to an otherwise flat wall.

Terrazzo

Terrazzo is a composite material made by setting chips of marble, quartz, or glass into concrete or resin, then polishing it smooth. It creates a speckled, colorful surface used for floors, counters, and accents. Originally a way for Venetian workers to reuse marble offcuts, it has become a modern favorite for its durability and playful pattern.

Velvet

Velvet is a soft, densely woven fabric with a short, dense pile that gives it a plush feel and a subtle sheen that shifts as light and the nap move. It is popular for upholstery and drapery because it adds depth, richness, and a sense of luxury to a room. Once woven only from silk, most modern velvet is made from cotton or durable synthetics like polyester, which has made it practical for everyday furniture.

Wainscoting

Wainscoting is decorative wood or panel treatment applied to the lower portion of an interior wall, traditionally topped with a chair rail and finished with a baseboard below. It began as a practical way to protect walls from knocks and damp and to insulate cold rooms, and it survives today as a classic architectural detail that adds depth and craftsmanship to a plain wall. The look ranges from formal raised panels to simple flat or beadboard styles, so it suits both traditional and transitional rooms.