
10 Amish Office Furniture Terms and What They Mean
Amish-made office furniture is not like the rest. Rich with solid wood, the desks, bookcases, and storage pieces are built to last for generations. Here we’ve compiled a fun list of clues to share some key office furniture terms for quality and craftsmanship.
Clue: I’m a cover that seals and smooths the edge of a hole in a desk to make it a smooth path for anything passing through, such as cords and plugs. What am I?
Answer: A desk grommet.

Desk grommets keep cords tidy and protected. They cover sharp edges and prevent snags, helping keep your desktop organized.
Clue: I enhance a drawer and help it to open fully. What am I?
Answer: A full extension drawer slide.

Full extension drawer slides let the drawer pull out all the way so you can easily reach everything inside.
Clue: I’m a drawer upgrade that’s gentle and eliminates any slamming sounds. What am I?
Answer: A soft close drawer slide.
Soft close slides use a built-in mechanism to pull drawers in quietly. No banging. Just smooth, silent closing — a feature often added to Amish office furniture.
Clue: I’m a grand space to work, but I don’t fit in every office. What am I?
Answer: An L Desk.

L desks offer lots of workspace and typically feature a desk, return, and optional hutch for storage.
Clue: I share properties of a popular bedroom storage item, but I’m used in offices to house computer equipment and close it all up nicely. What am I?
Answer: An armoire desk.

Armoire desks combine a writing area with a large cabinet that hides away equipment and keeps your office looking neat.
Clue: I’m made of wood and my purpose is mainly decorative. I fit in a pocket cut in the wood to create contrast. What am I?
Answer: A desk inlay.

Wood inlays add contrast, detail, and elegance. Some even help reinforce natural splits in wood.
Clue: I help keep files organized and close by. What am I?
Answer: A file drawer.

File drawers have hanging rails for organizing folders, receipts, or important documents. A must-have for any work-from-home setup.
Clue: I hold your keyboard but slide away to save space. What am I?
Answer: A pull-out keyboard tray.

Many Amish desks include the option to replace the pencil drawer with a pull-out tray for your keyboard — keeping your work surface tidy.
Clue: I’m the strongest joint, used in fine furniture drawers. What am I?
Answer: A dovetail joint.

Dovetail joinery connects the front and sides of drawers with interlocking wood cuts — glued and built to last.
Clue: I appear in the backs of desks or bookcases to add structure and depth. What am I?
Answer: A tongue and groove back.

These decorative boards lock together to form sturdy, stylish backs for hutches and bookshelves.
We hope you enjoyed this look at key Amish office furniture terms. Each feature adds beauty, function, and quality you can feel for generations.