Kids Furniture Glossary Terms

Armoire: Another name for a tall, wide wardrobe usually having two large doors behind which clothes can be hung or stored. Armoires originated in France where they were used for the storage of armor.
Bedroom Furniture: Furniture sets that are placed in your bedroom such as bed, dresser, chest of drawers and nightstand. Some bedroom collections even come with an armoire, chiffonier or storage chest. Depending on your preference, you may choose contemporary, traditional or transitional styled bedrooms.
Bunk Bed: Two beds that are joined together so that one is placed above the other. Bunk beds are often used in kids rooms and dormitories. Federal safety standards exist for bunk bed ladders and rails which protect children from falling injuries.
Bureau: A chest of drawers used in the bedroom. See dresser.
Canopy Bed: Canopy beds are beds decorated with a canopy. Sometimes they use four posts that are connected at the top with rails that fabric can be hung from. Other times, a hoop is hung from the ceiling over the bed and the fabric drapes down from the hoop. Originally, they were developed to provide protection from insects but now are more commonly used in a decorative fashion.
Center Glide: A center track that a drawer glides on.
Chaise Lounge: A type of sofa or daybed designed for reclining and resembling an elongated chair.
Contemporary: Whether it's restoring antique furniture or modern new wave design, contemporary means present day trends happening and existing right now.
Daybed: A sofa with head and foot and/or back pieces, having a twin sized mattress which doubles as a sitting and sleeping surface. Daybeds often have decorative removable covers and matching pillows or bolsters which act as back rests.
Dresser: A piece of bedroom furniture that typically contains 5-9 drawers in a variety of sizes. Dressers are usually waist height and can accompany a mirror on top.
Entertainment Center: An entertainment center is a shelving unit to place a TV and stereo equipment on. The larger TVs have become, the larger entertainment units have grown.
Four Poster: Any bed with four high posts positioned at each corner. Originally, the posts were designed to support elaborate fabric curtains and upholstered treatments which totally enclosed the bed.
Frame: The bed frame supports the mattress and attaches to the headboard and foot board. They often have self locking devices at each corner and are connected to threaded reinforcements inside the bedposts. The wooden skeleton of an upholstered piece.
Futon: A futon is a type of sofa that folds down into a bed. They often have a 'futon mat' as a mattress that doubles as a seat cushion when it's folded up into the sofa position.
Guidecraft: For over 45 years, Guidecraft has been producing quality educational toys and kids furniture. Beautifully crafted wood products are a tradition for Guidecraft and they proud themselves on a group of educators who provide honest feedback for their products.
Headboard: An upright structure rising above the mattress at the head of the bed. Common types include the chairback headboard, panel headboard and bookcase headboard.
Hutch: A low cupboard with doors usually surrounded by open shelves.
Hutch Mirror: A mirror incorporated into an open shelved cabinet designed to sit on a dresser.
KidKraft: For over 40 years, KidKraft has been a leading supplier of kid's furniture, heirloom quality wooden toys, and accessories. Created to inspire and delight young minds, KidKraft has a reputation of low returns and highly satisfied consumers.
Kids Furniture: Kids furniture is specially designed for kids. It is usually designed with eye-catching colors and styles that are suitable for children. Some kids furniture is designed with space-saving functions like storage drawers and desks built into the beds.
Loft Bed: Loft beds are similar to bunk beds except there is sometimes only one bed and the lower space is used for storage or a desk. Often the beds are placed perpendicular to each other and the supports for the top bed also container drawers, shelving or cabinets for storage.
Mission Style: Originating in the late 19th Century, Mission style furniture is usually made from oak and references the Spanish Missions throughout Colonial California. The Mission collection is an accurate interpretation of the Arts and Crafts movement with flat panels that accentuate the grain of the wood. Great care is taken in hand selecting lumber for matching grain patterns. A multi-step sanding and finishing process is used to assure years of use and beauty.
Modern: Current trends usually featuring clean straight lines, bold colors and flat panels. Modern furniture is the opposite of traditional and can also be referred to as contemporary.
Night Stand: A small, low table or cabinet which sits by a bed.
Ottoman: An upholstered seat or couch usually without a back or an overstuffed footstool.
Platform Bed: Platform beds are beds whose bases consists of a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface meant to support a mattress. Usually, they have a 'low-profile' footboard. You can use them with or without a boxspring, depending on your preference.
Shaker: Developed by an 18th century religious sect, Shaker style furniture is widely admired for its functionality, innovative craftsmanship, durability, and simplicity. Shaker designs were inspired by the ascetic religious beliefs of the Society.
Sleigh Bed: The sleigh bed has a high, scrolled headboard and footboard resembling the front of a sleigh.
Storage Bed: Storage beds are beds that usually come with additional drawers underneath the bed to save space in the bedroom. Some storage beds have hydraulic lifts instead of drawers.
Toddler Beds and Cots: Toddler beds are a typical transitional bed from crib to twin or full size. Usually kids from about the age of 15 months to 4 years benefit from a toddler bed because of its small size and closeness to the floor. Majority of toddler beds hold a standard crib mattress and come with side safety rails.
Traditional: Traditional styling can be centuries old and ranges from wooden furnishings to wrought iron. Traditional wood furniture typically has elegant detailed carvings and designs set apart from the rest.
Transitional: Classic, timeless, and clean, transitional furniture is a well-rounded mix between contemporary and traditional styles. The main focus of transitional styling is to be practical and confortable while being useful in an active household.
Trundle Bed: A low or collapsible bed which is stored under another bed.
Veneer: Thin slices of wood made by peeling the trunk of a tree or by slicing large rectangular blocks of wood. Veneers are then glued to other wood panels to create a flat surface for constructing furniture. Veneers use somewhat less amounts of wood and are easier to fluctuate than solid wood.