Operating Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 03, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Jan. 02, 2010	Oct. 03, 2009	Jul. 04, 2009	Apr. 04, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011		Jan. 01, 2011		Jan. 02, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 500,269,000	$ 504,220,000	$ 432,810,000	$ 396,151,000	$ 466,147,000	$ 458,853,000	$ 398,222,000	$ 363,506,000	$ 405,553,000	$ 446,173,000	$ 374,772,000	$ 396,829,000	$ 1,833,450,000		$ 1,686,728,000		$ 1,623,327,000
Total operating profit													114,378,000		90,474,000		37,798,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	27,245,000	38,102,000	7,347,000	(2,535,000)	17,204,000	28,278,000	9,085,000	(8,089,000)	(12,760,000)	30,998,000	(1,881,000)	(19,440,000)	70,159,000		46,478,000		(3,083,000)
Depreciation and amortization expense													46,287,000		58,630,000		74,867,000
Capital expenditures													31,143,000		26,722,000		17,554,000
Identifiable assets	1,054,258,000				997,880,000				994,326,000				1,054,258,000		997,880,000		994,326,000
Office Furniture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													1,528,050,000		1,404,923,000		1,344,832,000
Total operating profit													99,626,000	[1]	87,559,000	[1]	52,542,000	[1]
Depreciation and amortization expense													36,109,000		44,717,000		52,137,000
Capital expenditures													24,061,000		20,928,000		13,482,000
Identifiable assets	671,334,000				588,540,000				579,187,000				671,334,000		588,540,000		579,187,000
Segment Reporting Information Restructuring and Impairment Charges													2,800,000		4,100,000		34,900,000
Hearth Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales													305,400,000		281,805,000		278,495,000
Total operating profit													14,752,000	[2]	2,915,000	[2]	(14,744,000)	[2]
Depreciation and amortization expense													7,574,000		11,474,000		19,041,000
Capital expenditures													2,179,000		2,423,000		3,484,000
Identifiable assets	259,142,000				267,125,000				291,518,000				259,142,000		267,125,000		291,518,000
Segment Reporting Information Restructuring and Impairment Charges													400,000		5,400,000		5,500,000
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unallocated corporate expense													(44,219,000)		(43,996,000)		(40,881,000)
Depreciation and amortization expense													2,604,000		2,439,000		3,689,000
Capital expenditures													4,903,000		3,371,000		588,000
Identifiable assets	$ 123,782,000				$ 142,215,000				$ 123,621,000				$ 123,782,000		$ 142,215,000		$ 123,621,000

[1] Included in operating profit for the office furniture segment are pretax charges of $2.8 million, $4.1 million and $34.9 million, for closing of facilities and impairment charges in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

[2] Included in operating profit for the hearth products segment are pretax charges of $0.4 million, $5.4 million and $5.5 million for closing facilities in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.