Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization and Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. We are a leading design, marketing and sourcing resource in the upscale segment of the wood furniture residential market. For financial reporting purposes, we operate in one reportable segment where substantially all revenues are from the sale of residential wood furniture products. Subsequent events were evaluated through the date these financial statements were issued. Correction of Prior Consolidated Financial Statements Prior year financial statements and appropriate interim periods have been recast in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC”) 205-20-55 to recognize the Young America brand operations within discontinued operations. Results of the discontinued operations are excluded from the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented, unless otherwise noted. See Note 9 for additional information. The Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have also been revised for prior period errors related to our legacy Deferred Compensation Plan and not properly reconciling freight expense and the related accounts payable. See Note 2 for additional information. Cash Equivalents Cash and short-term, highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash and cash equivalents. Short-term Investments Investments with maturities of greater than three months and less than one year at the time of purchase are considered short-term investments. Our investments are in certificates of deposits, which we intend to hold until maturity. We report the investments at cost with earnings recognized through interest income. Trade Accounts Receivable Substantially all of our trade accounts receivable are due from retailers and dealers that sell residential home furnishings, which consist of a large number of entities with a broad geographic dispersion. We continually perform credit evaluations of our customers and generally do not require collateral. In the event a receivable is determined to be potentially uncollectible, we engage collection agencies to attempt to collect amounts owed to us after all internal collection attempts have ended. Once we have determined the receivable is uncollectible, it is charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. Revenue Recognition Sales are recognized when title and risk of loss pass to the customer, which typically occurs at the time of shipment. In some cases however, title does not pass until the shipment is delivered to the customer. Revenue includes amounts billed to customers for shipping. Provisions are made at the time revenue is recognized for estimated product returns and for incentives that may be offered to customers. Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost for all inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Property, Plant and Equipment Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives. Gains and losses related to dispositions and retirements are included in income. Maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred; renewals and betterments are capitalized. Assets are reviewed for possible impairment when events indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Assumptions and estimates used in the evaluation of impairment may affect the carrying value of property, plant and equipment, which could result in impairment charges in future periods. Depreciation policy reflects judgments on the estimated useful lives of assets. Capitalized Software Cost We amortize purchased computer software costs using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the related products. Unamortized cost at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $2.9 million and $3.2 million, respectively, and is included in other assets. Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance Policies We own 27 life insurance policies as a funding arrangement for our deferred compensation plan discussed in Note 7. These policies have a cash surrender value of $26.2 million. We have $11.1 million in loans and accrued interest outstanding against the cash surrender value. Proceeds from the policies are used to fund certain employee benefits and for other general corporate purposes. We account for the life insurance as a component of employee benefit cost. Consequently the cost of the coverage, increases in cash surrender value and any resulting gains or losses related to those insurance policies are recorded as increases or decreases in operating income. Interest on the loans against the cash surrender value are reflected as interest expense on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Cash surrender value that does not have borrowings against it grows at an annual rate of 4%. Cash surrender value that does have borrowings against it grows at an annual rate of 12.63%. We pay interest at 13.13% on the loans against cash surrender value. Actuarially valued benefit accruals and expenses We maintain three actuarially valued benefit plans. These are our deferred compensation plan, our supplemental employee retirement plan and our postretirement health care benefits program. The liability for these programs and the majority of their annual expense are developed from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are key assumptions, including discount rates and mortality projections, which are usually updated on annual basis near the beginning of each year. We are required to consider current market conditions, including changes in interest rates in making these assumptions. Changes in projected liability and expense may occur in the future due to changes in these assumptions. The key assumptions used in developing the projected liabilities and expenses associated with the plans are outlined in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements. Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the consolidated financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax expense represents the change in the deferred tax asset/liability balance. Income tax credits are reported as a reduction of income tax expense in the year in which the credits are generated. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions are recorded as income tax expense. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Accounting for fair value measurements requires disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The fair value of trade receivables, trade payables and letters of credit approximate the carrying amount because of the short maturity of these instruments. Earnings per Common Share Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes any dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and restricted stock calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock-Based Compensation We record share-based payment awards at fair value on the grant date of the awards, based on the estimated number of awards that are expected to vest, over the vesting period. The fair value of stock options was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the restricted stock awards was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Changes in such estimates may affect amounts reported in future periods. New Accounting Pronouncements In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 (ASU 2014-08), which updated the guidance in ASC Topic 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, and ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations for all public and nonpublic entities. The amendments also require new disclosures about discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. This guidance will become effective for all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. We early adopted that guidance and followed such guidance for reporting of the discontinued Young America product line in 2014. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), which created ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for the annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and the interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with an option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the impact of the adoption on our consolidated financial statements nor determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2017. In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-12 (ASU 2014-12), which updated the guidance in ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. The guidance will become effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years, with earlier adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance as required in the first quarter of 2016. This adoption of this update will not have a material effect on our statements of operations, financial position or cash flows. In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The new standard provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Management will be required to perform interim and annual assessments of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. We are a leading design, marketing and sourcing resource in the upscale segment of the wood furniture residential market.

For financial reporting purposes, we operate in one reportable segment where substantially all revenues are from the sale of residential wood furniture products.

Subsequent events were evaluated through the date these financial statements were issued.

Correction of Prior Consolidated Financial Statements

Prior year financial statements and appropriate interim periods have been recast in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC”) 205-20-55 to recognize the Young America brand operations within discontinued operations. Results of the discontinued operations are excluded from the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented, unless otherwise noted. See Note 9 for additional information.

The Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have also been revised for prior period errors related to our legacy Deferred Compensation Plan and not properly reconciling freight expense and the related accounts payable. See Note 2 for additional information.

Cash Equivalents

Cash and short-term, highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash and cash equivalents.

Short-term Investments

Investments with maturities of greater than three months and less than one year at the time of purchase are considered short-term investments. Our investments are in certificates of deposits, which we intend to hold until maturity. We report the investments at cost with earnings recognized through interest income.

Trade Accounts Receivable

Substantially all of our trade accounts receivable are due from retailers and dealers that sell residential home furnishings, which consist of a large number of entities with a broad geographic dispersion. We continually perform credit evaluations of our customers and generally do not require collateral. In the event a receivable is determined to be potentially uncollectible, we engage collection agencies to attempt to collect amounts owed to us after all internal collection attempts have ended. Once we have determined the receivable is uncollectible, it is charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Revenue Recognition

Sales are recognized when title and risk of loss pass to the customer, which typically occurs at the time of shipment. In some cases however, title does not pass until the shipment is delivered to the customer. Revenue includes amounts billed to customers for shipping. Provisions are made at the time revenue is recognized for estimated product returns and for incentives that may be offered to customers.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost for all inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives. Gains and losses related to dispositions and retirements are included in income. Maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred; renewals and betterments are capitalized. Assets are reviewed for possible impairment when events indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Assumptions and estimates used in the evaluation of impairment may affect the carrying value of property, plant and equipment, which could result in impairment charges in future periods. Depreciation policy reflects judgments on the estimated useful lives of assets.

Capitalized Software Cost

We amortize purchased computer software costs using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the related products. Unamortized cost at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $2.9 million and $3.2 million, respectively, and is included in other assets.

Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance Policies

We own 27 life insurance policies as a funding arrangement for our deferred compensation plan discussed in Note 7. These policies have a cash surrender value of $26.2 million. We have $11.1 million in loans and accrued interest outstanding against the cash surrender value. Proceeds from the policies are used to fund certain employee benefits and for other general corporate purposes. We account for the life insurance as a component of employee benefit cost. Consequently the cost of the coverage, increases in cash surrender value and any resulting gains or losses related to those insurance policies are recorded as increases or decreases in operating income. Interest on the loans against the cash surrender value are reflected as interest expense on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Cash surrender value that does not have borrowings against it grows at an annual rate of 4%. Cash surrender value that does have borrowings against it grows at an annual rate of 12.63%. We pay interest at 13.13% on the loans against cash surrender value.

Actuarially valued benefit accruals and expenses

We maintain three actuarially valued benefit plans. These are our deferred compensation plan, our supplemental employee retirement plan and our postretirement health care benefits program. The liability for these programs and the majority of their annual expense are developed from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are key assumptions, including discount rates and mortality projections, which are usually updated on annual basis near the beginning of each year. We are required to consider current market conditions, including changes in interest rates in making these assumptions. Changes in projected liability and expense may occur in the future due to changes in these assumptions. The key assumptions used in developing the projected liabilities and expenses associated with the plans are outlined in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the consolidated financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax expense represents the change in the deferred tax asset/liability balance. Income tax credits are reported as a reduction of income tax expense in the year in which the credits are generated. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions are recorded as income tax expense.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Accounting for fair value measurements requires disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which fair value measurements in their entirety fall, segregating fair value measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), significant other observable inputs (Level 2), and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The fair value of trade receivables, trade payables and letters of credit approximate the carrying amount because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes any dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and restricted stock calculated using the treasury stock method.

Stock-Based Compensation

We record share-based payment awards at fair value on the grant date of the awards, based on the estimated number of awards that are expected to vest, over the vesting period. The fair value of stock options was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the restricted stock awards was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Changes in such estimates may affect amounts reported in future periods.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 (ASU 2014-08), which updated the guidance in ASC Topic 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, and ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. The amendments in ASU 2014-08 change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations for all public and nonpublic entities. The amendments also require new disclosures about discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. This guidance will become effective for all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. We early adopted that guidance and followed such guidance for reporting of the discontinued Young America product line in 2014.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), which created ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for the annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and the interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with an option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the impact of the adoption on our consolidated financial statements nor determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2017.

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-12 (ASU 2014-12), which updated the guidance in ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. The guidance will become effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years, with earlier adoption permitted. We will adopt this guidance as required in the first quarter of 2016. This adoption of this update will not have a material effect on our statements of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The new standard provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Management will be required to perform interim and annual assessments of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

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