Inglés para Diseño de Interiores: Vocabulario y Frases Esenciales

"floor plan"

A scale drawing showing the arrangement of rooms and spaces in a building viewed from above

"The designer presented a floor plan showing how the open-plan living area would flow into the kitchen."

"traffic flow"

The natural path people move through a space, which must be kept clear of obstacles

"Repositioning the sofa improved the traffic flow between the entrance hallway and the dining room."

"dead zone"

An unused or poorly utilised area of a room that fails to serve a functional or aesthetic purpose

"The corner by the chimney breast was a dead zone until the designer added a built-in reading nook."

"circulation path"

The route through which occupants move within a space, typically kept at least 90 cm wide

"The furniture arrangement preserved a clear circulation path around all four sides of the dining table."

"open plan"

A layout in which two or more functional areas share a single continuous space without dividing walls

"The clients requested an open plan kitchen and living room to make the ground floor feel more spacious."

"spatial zoning"

The division of a large room into distinct functional areas using furniture, rugs, lighting, or architectural features

"Spatial zoning with a pendant light and area rug defined the dining area within the open plan space."

"sight line"

The unobstructed visual path from one point in a space to another, which affects how open or closed a room feels

"Low-profile furniture preserved the sight line from the entrance to the garden beyond the rear window."

"square footage"

The total floor area of a room or building measured in square feet, used to determine furniture scale and budget

"At 420 square feet, the studio apartment required careful multi-functional furniture choices to feel liveable."

"matte finish"

A non-reflective surface treatment that absorbs light and conceals minor imperfections on walls or furniture

"The designer specified a matte finish on the bedroom walls to create a soft, calming atmosphere."

"veneer"

A thin decorative layer of high-quality or exotic wood applied over a less expensive substrate

"The bespoke wardrobe doors featured a walnut veneer with a satin lacquer topcoat for a refined look."

"terrazzo"

A composite material made from marble, quartz, or glass chips set in cement or resin, used for flooring and surfaces

"The architect specified terrazzo flooring in the entrance lobby to introduce pattern without adding pattern to the walls."

"brushed steel"

Stainless steel with a directional, low-sheen surface texture created by mechanical finishing

"All kitchen hardware was specified in brushed steel to complement the concrete worktop and avoid harsh reflections."

"limewash"

A paint technique using diluted lime or chalk paint applied in thin layers to create a soft, aged, textured effect

"The limewash treatment on the feature wall gave the dining room a Tuscan farmhouse character."

"honed stone"

Natural stone that has been ground to a smooth, matte, non-polished surface finish

"Honed Carrara marble was chosen for the bathroom floor as it is less slippery than polished stone."

"substrate"

The base layer or underlying material onto which a finish, tile, or surface covering is applied

"The tiler confirmed the substrate was level and dry before laying the large-format porcelain tiles."

"tactile quality"

The physical sensation conveyed by a surface material when touched, contributing to the sensory experience of a space

"Mixing linen cushions, a jute rug, and a velvet sofa introduced varied tactile quality across the living room."

"ambient lighting"

The primary, general light source that provides overall illumination across a room

"Recessed downlights on a dimmer provided the ambient lighting layer throughout the open plan kitchen."

"task lighting"

Focused light directed at a specific work area to support activities such as reading, cooking, or applying make-up

"Under-cabinet LED strips provided task lighting directly over the kitchen counter to eliminate shadows."

"accent lighting"

Directional light used to highlight a specific object, artwork, or architectural feature within a space

"Adjustable spotlights provided accent lighting on the gallery wall, drawing attention to the artwork."

"colour temperature"

A measure of the warmth or coolness of a light source expressed in Kelvin, affecting the mood of a space

"The bedroom lighting was specified at 2700K for a warm, restful colour temperature suited to relaxation."

"lumen output"

The total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source, determining how bright a fixture will make a space

"The pendant over the dining table had a lumen output of 800 lm — sufficient for intimate evening meals."

"dimmer control"

An electrical device that adjusts the brightness of a light fitting to alter the atmosphere of a room

"Installing dimmer control on all ceiling circuits allowed the living room to shift from bright to atmospheric."

"layered lighting"

A design approach combining ambient, task, and accent sources to create depth, flexibility, and visual interest

"The drawing room used layered lighting — downlights, table lamps, and picture lights — to give versatility."

"light pollution"

Unwanted light that spills beyond its intended area, such as brightness entering a bedroom window at night

"Blackout lining was added to the curtains to combat light pollution from the street lamp opposite."

"colour palette"

The curated selection of colours chosen for a room or project, providing a unified visual scheme

"The designer presented a colour palette of sage green, warm white, and terracotta for the kitchen extension."

"undertone"

The subtle secondary colour visible within a paint or material that affects how it reads in different light conditions

"The white paint had a pink undertone that became apparent when placed next to the cool grey joinery."

"complementary colours"

Colours positioned directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, which create high contrast when paired

"A terracotta cushion introduced complementary colour contrast against the blue-green sofa fabric."

"tonal scheme"

A colour arrangement using varying shades and tints of a single hue to create depth without high contrast

"The bedroom used a tonal scheme of dusty pink from blush bedlinen to deep rose on the feature wall."

"saturation"

The intensity or purity of a colour, ranging from a muted, greyed tone to a vivid, fully saturated hue

"Reducing the saturation of the accent colour made it feel more sophisticated and less overpowering in the room."

"colour rendering index"

A measure (CRI) of how accurately a light source reveals the true colours of objects compared with natural daylight

"The gallery specified bulbs with a CRI of 95 to ensure the artworks appeared with true colour rendering."

"warm neutrals"

Off-white, beige, and taupe tones with yellow, red, or brown undertones that create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere

"Warm neutrals throughout the open plan space united the kitchen and living areas without any colour clash."

"feature wall"

A single wall decorated differently from the others in a room to create a focal point or contrast

"The designer painted the chimney breast as a feature wall in deep navy to anchor the living room scheme."

"bespoke joinery"

Custom-made built-in cabinetry, shelving, or storage designed and built specifically for a project

"Bespoke joinery around the fireplace provided integrated storage and display shelving tailored to the room."

"upholstery"

The fabric, padding, springs, and covering applied to furniture such as sofas, chairs, and headboards

"The client chose a performance velvet upholstery for the sofa to withstand daily use by young children."

"modular furniture"

Furniture made from interchangeable or stackable units that can be reconfigured to suit different layouts or needs

"The modular furniture system allowed the home office to be rearranged when the space doubled as a guest room."

"scale and proportion"

The relationship between the size of furniture pieces and the dimensions of the room and each other

"A larger dining table improved the scale and proportion of the room, which had previously felt underfurnished."

"console table"

A narrow, flat-topped table placed against a wall, typically used in hallways or as a decorative surface

"A slim console table behind the sofa provided a surface for lamps without interrupting the room layout."

"ottoman"

A padded, upholstered furniture piece that serves as a footrest, extra seating, or coffee table surface

"A large square ottoman replaced the coffee table to provide flexible seating when the clients entertained guests."

"statement piece"

A single distinctive furniture or decorative item that acts as the visual focal point of a room

"A sculptural rattan pendant lamp served as the statement piece in the otherwise understated bedroom."

"clearance"

The minimum distance required between furniture pieces or between furniture and walls to allow comfortable movement

"The standard clearance of 90 cm between the dining chairs and the sideboard ensured comfortable movement."

"design brief"

A document outlining a client's requirements, preferences, budget, and objectives for a design project

"After the initial consultation, the designer summarised all requirements in a detailed design brief for approval."

"mood board"

A visual collage of images, colours, materials, and textures used to communicate the intended aesthetic of a project

"The mood board included paint swatches, fabric samples, and reference images to convey the coastal theme."

"concept presentation"

A formal meeting or document in which the designer shares the initial creative direction and rationale for a project

"During the concept presentation, the designer explained how each material choice supported the overall narrative."

"procurement"

The process of sourcing, ordering, and coordinating the delivery of furniture, fittings, and materials for a project

"The interior designer managed all procurement, including trade orders, delivery scheduling, and quality checks."

"FF&E"

Abbreviation for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment — the movable items that complete a commercial or residential interior

"The FF&E specification document listed every piece of furniture, light fitting, and appliance for the hotel suite."

"revisions"

Changes made to a design proposal or drawing in response to client feedback

"The client requested three revisions to the floor plan before approving the layout for the master bedroom."

"scope of works"

A detailed description of all tasks and services the designer is contracted to carry out on a project

"The scope of works clearly stated that structural changes were outside the designer's remit and would need a contractor."

"sign-off"

Formal client approval of a design stage, proposal, or specification allowing work to proceed to the next phase

"The designer requested written sign-off on the final material board before placing any trade orders."