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Interior Design vocabulary · Furniture, Fixtures & Furnishings

Built-in

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˌbɪltˈɪn/adjectiveCore term

In interior design, built-in means: Made as part of a wall or room rather than standing separately, such as built-in wardrobes, shelves, seating or appliances.

In Turkish: gömme, ankastre, sabit

How it is used

Used before nouns (built-in storage, a built-in desk) and sometimes as a noun (the built-ins). Built-in furniture makes the most of awkward corners and alcoves. For kitchen appliances British English also says integrated.

Example sentences

  1. Built-in wardrobes on both sides of the bed give them a lot more storage.

  2. We designed a built-in bench under the window with drawers underneath.

Common collocations

  • built-in storage
  • built-in wardrobe
  • built-in shelving
  • built-in seating
  • loose furnitureFurniture that is not fixed to the building and can be moved, such as sofas, chairs, tables and beds, as opposed to built-in joinery.
  • joineryFitted woodwork made for a specific space, such as built-in wardrobes, shelving, kitchen units, panelling and doors, and the craft of making it.
  • bespokeDesigned and made specially for one client or one space rather than bought ready-made from a catalogue.
  • freestandingStanding on its own rather than being built into or fixed to a wall, such as a freestanding bath, wardrobe or appliance.

More terms: Furniture, Fixtures & Furnishings

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