Upholstery

Upholsterers work to assemble, cover and repair all types of furniture and seating. Read on to find out more about the craft of upholstery and career possibilities.

Inside Upholstery

Upholsterers are responsible for covering furniture with soft padding and fabric. They use hand and power tools to sew, secure and restore fabric on furnishings. They install and repair the textile finishes on chairs, seats, sofas and seat coverings, at times putting together frames, springs, webbing and other materials that form the base of finished products.

Although many upholsterers learn their craft on the job, some complete certificate programs and continuing education courses focused on upholstery from vocational schools and community colleges. Upholstery training includes teaching students techniques for sewing, trimming, frame assembly, fabric selection and upholstery tool use.

Upholstery jobs can be found with furniture assembly factories, airplane and boat manufacturers and automakers. Many professionals open independent shops that are specifically geared toward custom upholstery. As of May of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic reports that the average hourly wage for upholsters is $15.20, or $31,620 a year (www.bls.gov).

Learn More About Upholstery

Interested students may learn upholstery for professional reasons or just as a hobby. The following articles from Education-Portal.com explore some of the instructional and professional picks related to upholstery.

Education and Training Options

Upholstery programs and courses may focus on furniture or vehicle upholstery. The following articles detail more about some of the educational options in upholstery.

Career Options

It may take years of on-the-job experience before an upholsterer can master the craft. The following articles discuss some of the career routes that may provide that experience to aspiring upholsters.

Distance Learning Options

Because it's a hands-on activity, online upholstery programs are rare. However, there are distance-learning courses regarding furniture design and similar topics related to upholstery that might appeal to interested students, as well as online demonstrations for specific upholstery operations.

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