Do you want to be an...

Upholsterer

Also known as Furniture Upholsterer.

Upholsterers select, cut, sew and fit fabric or leather materials to furniture and repair damaged furniture.

Upholsterers may work in one or more of four main fields:

Antique and Reproduction Upholstery - involves restoring genuine antiques or recreating the style of a certain era in history.

Custom Upholstery - involves building furniture for special purposes, such as for use in hotels, ships and airports.

Production Upholstery - involves upholstering mass-produced furniture in sections for the domestic or commercial market.

Renovation and Repair Upholstery - involves replacing old and damaged upholstery.

Upholsterers generally work in workshops but occasionally may be required to work in clients' homes or other sites.

They stand for most of the day, as the furniture is normally placed on a benchtop while work is carried out.

TASKS

Upholsterers may perform the following tasks:

discuss colour, fabric, style and cost of upholstery with clients
repair upholstered furniture by replacing covers, webbing, padding and springs
staple lengths of webbing (a wide tape) on to the underside of the furniture frame
stretch webbing from side to side, interlacing it to form a base for the padding
lace tops of springs together to prevent sideways movement and staple hessian to the frame
cut and fit foam padding
measure and cut covering material, join sections and tack fabric onto the furniture frame
cover staples with decorative braid, trim, buttons or nails and attach calico to the underside of the furniture

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

enjoy practical and manual activities
able to work neatly and accurately
able to work independently or as part of a team
interested in furniture
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
normal colour vision
good hand-eye coordination

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become an upholsterer you usually have to complete an apprenticeship in Upholstery.

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Upholsterers are employed by furniture makers in the production of commercial, household, marine and caravan furniture. Most furniture upholsterers work in factories making new furniture. Some work in small businesses, where they may do antique, customised, renovation, repair and recovery work, or combine repair and manufacture.

Those specialising in restoration work require knowledge of old and modern techniques. Opportunities for self-employment are greater in restoration work.