RTA Furniture

Here’s a directory of expressions and other terms you may come across on our site. This guide will increase your familiarity with RTA furniture and help you make you more knowledgeable consumer, aiding you in your shopping experience. Feel free to call our friendly staff at (800) 306-8697 with any questions you may have.

Adjustable Shelves- Shelves that can be moved up or down and can be removed, if so desired. They are designed to give maximum flexibility and convenience to the owner.

ANSI- American National Standards Institute. An organization that assesses how well businesses meet standards in quality, environmental friendliness, and other categories.

Armoire- A tall wardrobe or cabinet with one to two doors that is used for storing clothing and can, in many cases, also be utilized as an entertainment center or computer workstation. Armoires usually contain drawers and shelving.

BIFMA- Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association. Works with ANSI to produce voluntary standards for office furniture manufacturers.

Buffet- A type of console that features shelves and/or drawers.

Cable/ Wire Management- This refers to a piece of furniture having the capability to conveniently organize component cables in order to eliminate clutter and lower the chances of wire damage occurring.

Captain’s Bed- A type of bed that has drawers built into its base. These also often include bookcase headboards.

Case Goods- Pieces of furniture chiefly made of wood used mainly for storage. The term also refers to whole collections of bedroom and dining room furniture. Some pieces in these sets, like tables, and headboards, are not used for storage.

Casters- Small wheels that are attached to the legs or feet of a piece of furniture in order to make it easier to move.

Casual Style- Furniture that features a plain, simple design the often frequently combines materials (wood and metal are the most common combination).

Chiffonier- A high chest of drawers or bureau on stubby legs or feet, many times with an attached mirror. These chests are frequently decorated ornately and often feature French design.

Coffee Table- A style of table which is low to the ground and is generally relatively long. It is usually positioned in front of a sofa and used to hold drinks and books. Oftentimes there is storage space beneath the table.

Console Table- A long narrow table that stands against a sofa or wall. These tables can be used as storage or to display items such as flowers or lamps. They are also called sofa tables.

Contemporary Style- This style tends to feature few, if any, carvings, moldings, or other decorative touches. Contemporary furniture is noted for its straight, clean lines and edges, and open curvature.

Credenza- A desk that is generally stationed next to a wall as a secondary work surface to the main desk. Oftentimes, a credenza will feature a hutch or bookshelves and is frequently used as a computer desk.

Dovetail- A decorative type of joinery that is used to connect two pieces of wood in which one piece has a flared head and the other has a wedge-shaped cut. Dovetailing creates a strong, durable piece and is often a sign of high-quality.

Dowels- Wooden pegs that are pushed into wood furniture joints to reinforce it and add strength.

End Tables- Usually bought in pairs, they accent the style of the coffee table or other furniture. They can be used to hold drinks, lamps, vases, and other decorative items. These are generally placed at either end of a sofa.

Ergonomic- Furniture that is designed for comfort and in order to help maximize productivity. It is created with the intent of improving health, safety, and welfare of those who use it.

Flat Pack- Another name for ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture. This refers to furniture that is shipped with instructions and all of the pieces of the product for the customer to assemble. Flat packs get their name from the flat packaging in which ready-to-assemble furniture is shipped.

Floor Levelers- Small adjustable feet located at the bottom of furniture to help level it on uneven ground or flooring. They are the same thing as "glides."

Glides- Small adjustable feet under furniture that is used to help keep it level on uneven ground as if it were on a flat surface. It is another term for "floor leveler."

Grommets- Small rings made of rubber, metal, or plastic which are placed inside a hole in a furniture part. This helps to reinforce the hole or protect a connecting piece from sharp edges in the hole.

Hutch- An enclosed component with doors or shelves that is often raised on uprights which stands on top of a base piece of furniture, such as a desk or buffet.

Inlay- The technique of implanting contrasting materials such as wood, metal, or stones into a piece of furniture or veneer in order to create a decorative pattern.

Joinery- The process in woodworking during which two pieces of wood together using an assortment of joints, such as dovetailing, dowels, and tongue and groove.

Kiln-Dried Hardwood- Hardwood that is artificially dried by heat, as opposed to being air-dried. This process ensures that the frame can overcome common shortcomings of air-dried wood such as cracking, checking, splitting, and warping.

Knocked Down- Furniture that is shipped in a flat package with all of its pieces and instructions so it can be assembled upon opening. It is another term for RTA and "flat pack" furniture.

Laminates- Thin layers bonded together, forming a solid piece of material. This is used to make many different RTA furniture or tabletops.

MDF- “Medium Density Fiberboard.” This is a man-made material created by putting wood fiber and resin under heavy heat and pressure. The process results in a dense material that is both strong and sturdy.

Modular- Furniture that can be set up in a variety of arrangements. They can either be stacked or connected in some other way, allowing the owner to customize the product to their needs.

Occasional Table- This term encompasses all small tables but is generally used in reference to coffee tables, end tables, and sofa tables.

Ottoman- An armless, low upholstered piece of furniture that is usually used as a foot rest but also functions as a table or seat.

Particleboard- A synthetic board made up of small wood chips, shavings, and saw dust that are glued together under pressure using resin. It is used to make shelves, doors, and other furniture.

Platform Bed- A bed that uses a flat platform rather than a box spring to support the mattress.

Ready-to-Assemble Furniture (RTA)- This refers to furniture that is shipped with instructions and all of the pieces of the product for the customer to assemble. They are shipped flat packaging to lower shipping costs and damage rates. RTA furniture is also referred to as “flat pack” and “knocked down.”

Rustic Style- Heavy wooden pieces of furniture that would fit in at a lodge or cabin. Furniture of this type often features pine trees, arrowheads, or Native American-style designs as well as worn edges.

SOHO- This is an acronym for Small Office / Home Office. Many RTA office suites are designed for this type of work environment.

Solid Hardwoods- Products made from solid pieces of hardwood, rather than MDF or particleboard. Hardwood refers to lumber that comes mostly from deciduous trees like oak, cherry, ash, and maple.

Tempered Glass- Glass that is heated and cooled rapidly to make it far stronger than regular glass. When it is broken, it shatters into small pieces that do not have sharp edges, as opposed to the shards formed by regular glass.

BIFMA- Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association. Works with ANSI to produce voluntary standards for office furniture manufacturers.

Traditional Style- Ornate, elaborate furniture that is based on historic design models. Traditional furniture often contrasts straight lines with curved details and features lots of brass and iron.

Trundle Bed- A pair of beds, one of which can be collapsed and rolled underneath the other for storage while not in use.

Veneer- Thin sheets of wood joined to solid wood as a way of displaying richly grained effects. Maple and mahogany are frequently used veneers.

Workstation- A computer desk that often has a hutch or drawers additional workspace. Many workstations are modular.

A Friendly Customer Service Representative
If you'd like a little more advice from our RTA furniture experts, or have a specific question that we haven't answered here, feel free to give us a call at (800) 319-0156. Our friendly staff at All RTA Furniture is always happy to help!