Firstly, learning how to upholster or recover furniture is a truly absorbing and rewarding pastime!
You experience the delight and fun of turning a piece of furniture into something of your own making, or restoring it to its former glory. And, not only do you acquire new skills in the process, it’s also very satisfying, even therapeutic. Many students say they forget everything else while working on their own project and leave classes feeling relaxed and recharged.
So, if you are thinking about taking up upholstery, here are some pointers that might help you decide.
Things to bear in mind
Mastering any new technical skill or craft takes time and upholstery is no different! We are frequently asked: how long will it take me to do my first project? While we give guidance, it depends on how quickly you learn, master the techniques, and work, as well as the size of the item, technical complexity, and its true condition - which can only be established after it’s stripped back. It’s like asking how long will it take to learn to ski, ride a horse, or become fluent in a new language. It depends on the individual.
It's not just 'slap, wrap, and staple'!
Bear in mind, upholstery isn’t an exact science. You’ll discover there could be several ways to approach a project, depending on what’s best for the chair/furniture and what you would like to achieve skill wise i.e. traditional or modern. But it is important to appreciate that upholstery isn’t a quick fix option, or ‘slap, wrap and staple’ as often portrayed on TV and social media.
Also, it shouldn’t be confused with upcycling, where often an item is given a superficial makeover not intended to last for years to come. Whereas reupholstery, if done properly, can last decades, whether that’s using traditional skills, modern ones, or a combination of both.
What sort of skills would be useful?
Upholstery requires practical skills, dexterity, patience, plus an eye for detail. This includes the ability to use a range of tools and understand how to apply different materials and fixings, as well as the capability to measure, make cuts accurately, and an appreciation of how fabrics behave when covering furniture.
It takes time to become proficient at all aspects of upholstery, but everyone can learn these skills! And most people are naturally good at some elements, while needing more practice at others.
Your first project!
If you would like to give it a go, then the next step is to pick the right first project. To get the most out of your classes, it’s important to follow the tips below which we’ve put together based on knowledge gained from teaching many students of all ages and abilities.
The key to success is to choose something simple to start with, as you will acquire plenty of relevant skills on something that doesn’t take too long to complete, which will set you up for your next project. If you go for something overly complex, it will take longer to finish and you might end up with work to re-do, maybe multiple times, to get the best result.
Top tips
• Pick something you like! A small, simple chair (no curves or wingbacks), an ottoman, a footstool, or a standard headboard – all of these make good first projects.
• It doesn’t matter if it is old, modern, or new, as long as it has a sturdy wooden frame. Remember, you need to be able to lift and move it around by yourself.
• If it is antique, make sure it has never had or has woodworm, or any kind of infestation, as we can’t accept these as projects.
• If you are buying your project, don’t pay too much for it! Check out charity shops and online marketplaces for bargains, or ask family and friends.
• Resist purchasing top cover fabric until after your first class. We’ll give you advice to help you choose the right type and quality for the skills/techniques required by the chair detail.
• As a beginner, you won’t be able to use specialised top covers like real leather on your first project as they require advanced skills and specialised tools.
Take a look at the pictures of first projects below for some inspiration!
If you have any questions about classes, please do get in contact.
Happy Upholstering!
The Upholstery Yard Team
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