Legbords

Legbords is a term used in furniture design to describe boards that form, reinforce, or decorate the legs of a piece. The expression is not common in formal carpentry texts and tends to appear in regional catalogs, artisanal shops, and DIY communities to refer to leg-related panels or braces that integrate with the frame.

Origin and usage: The word appears as a straightforward blend of “leg” and “boards.” In most sources, legbords refer to components that either connect legs to a frame, protect the leg joints from wear, or provide a decorative wrap around the lower leg.

Materials and construction: Legbords are usually made from solid wood (such as oak or maple), plywood, LVL, or metal, with thicknesses ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters depending on scale. They are commonly joined to legs using mortise-and-tenon, dowels, screws, or brackets, and finished to match or contrast with the rest of the piece.

Variants and applications: Some designs feature internal legbords that are hidden within the frame, while external legbords are visible as trim or wraparound sleeves. Legbords appear on chairs, benches, and tables, particularly in craftsman, rustic, or mid-century–inspired styles, and can simplify production by unifying leg assemblies.

See also: legboard, footboard, brace, stretcher. Note: The term legbords is not standardized, and usage may vary among designers and regions.