The Ultimate Interior Design Glossary for Hospitality & Commercial

Written by Fohlio Inc. | Apr 29, 2025 8:56:50 AM

Specify and procure FF&E and OS&E at scale with Fohlio today. Empower teams to move faster and improve their operational workflow with specification, prototyping, procurement, collaboration, and analytics tools.

If you’ve ever managed multiple hotel or workplace projects using spreadsheets, dealt with misaligned teams, or scrambled to make last-minute spec changes, you’re not alone. One of the biggest roadblocks to efficient project delivery isn’t just poor communication or outdated tools—it’s the lack of a shared language between design and procurement teams.

That’s why we’ve put together this glossary. It’s designed to help design and procurement professionals speak the same language and execute projects with precision. Whether you're handling FF&E specs, coordinating vendor quotes, or aligning with sustainability standards, these are the interior design terms you need to know in 2025.

And yes—Fohlio is here to automate, organize, and streamline all of it.

FF&E and Beyond: The Most Important Terms Designers Must Master

Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E)
Beds, sofas, tables, desks, cabinets—these are the core pieces you’ll specify for every hospitality or commercial project. But it doesn’t stop there.
Fixtures – Built-in components like lighting, sinks, and vanities.
Flooring & Wallcoverings – This category includes carpets, rugs, vinyl, tile, paint, and wallpaper, all of which impact acoustics, aesthetics, and durability.
Window Treatments – Blinds and curtains play a crucial role in setting the right mood, controlling light, and ensuring privacy.

How Fohlio Helps: Use Fohlio to build reusable templates for these items, automate quote requests, and maintain brand standards across franchises.

Read: The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Online Materials Library, Part 1

Design Process & Collaboration

Color Theory – The science behind selecting palettes that match a brand's identity or influence the desired mood.
Design Collaboration – Successful design depends on seamless communication between architects, project managers, and procurement teams. Fohlio enables real-time updates and eliminates time-consuming email chains.
Construction Documents / Shop Drawings – These are the blueprints for execution. Fohlio centralizes them by product to keep everything aligned.
Memo Samples & Strike Offs – Small-scale previews used for approvals. With Fohlio, you can upload, track, and approve them directly within the platform.

Workflows You Can Actually Scale

Project & Document Management

Cut Sheets / Spec Sheets / Product Catalogs – All the technical details, stored in one place. Fohlio centralizes your specifications so nothing gets lost.
Punch Lists – Everything that’s left before handoff. With Fohlio, you can see your punch list in real time, so you never miss a step.
Installation Guides – Attach these guides directly to your specs so vendors know exactly how to proceed with installation.

How Fohlio Helps: Fohlio saves hours by automating the creation and sharing of these documents with internal teams, clients, and contractors.

Client & Vendor Coordination

Client Approvals – Stop chasing signatures. With Fohlio, you get real-time notifications and can see approval statuses at a glance.
Quote Management – Compare quotes easily. Send one-click RFQs to multiple vendors and compare apples to apples.
Budget Tracking – Keep track of your budget with live dashboards that show overages and savings by item, room, or phase.

Read: Custom Workflows: The Right Info to the Right People at the Right Time

The Tech Every Designer Should Know in 2025

Software & Tools

AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Bluebeam – Fohlio integrates seamlessly with these core design tools.
Specsources Ecosystem (SpecBIM, SpecCAD, SpecWeb) – These tools might already be part of your workflow, but Fohlio offers broader spec book control.

3D Modeling & BIM – Fohlio stores model-linked specs and provides clean hand-off packages, ensuring everything is in one place.

Bonus Section: Industry Certifications & Organizations

LEED, BIFMA, Greenguard – Add filters to enforce sustainability standards in your materials library.
NCIDQ, IIDA, NEWH – Stay current with your certifications and industry associations.
GSA – Fohlio supports projects for public institutions with compliance-friendly documentation.

Read: How to Achieve Hotel LEED Requirements Through FF&E and OS&E

What Makes This Glossary Different?

This isn’t just a list of definitions. It’s a roadmap for using the right terminology smarter, faster, and more profitably—with the right tools in place.

How Fohlio Helps:

Digitize your spec book
Reduce manual errors
Centralize communications
Speed up procurement
Slash change orders

Start Today

Now that you’ve leveled up your interior design vocabulary, make sure your workflows are equally efficient. Try Fohlio today and see why top firms like Sandals Resorts, Tiffany & Co., and Best Western rely on it for FF&E, OS&E, and finishes across hundreds of locations.

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