Basic Upholstery Short Course

Learn the basic skills of Upholstery and more with our Woodwork courses in Sydney.

Got a tired chair or stool that needs new life? Join this fun and hands-on introduction to upholstery and learn how to bring furniture back to life—starting with a simple, practical project you can take home.

In this 3-hour workshop, you’ll learn the foundational skills, tools, and materials used in upholstery while creating your own milk crate topper. With expert guidance, you'll walk away with the confidence to tackle small projects at home.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this introduction to upholstery course, you should be able to:

Recall knowledge of general workshop safety
Understand how to select appropriate fabrics for your project
Measure and cut foam
Understand what kind of timber to use for creating a base for your project
Recall knowledge of basic upholstery principles and tools
Take home a milk crate topper

After finishing this course, you might like to enrol in our Furniture Repair & Restoration workshop

Course content

What will be covered in this Basic Upholstery Short Course?

Getting started

Workshop safety protocols and housekeeping procedures
Introduction to the project: milk crate topper
Benefits of repairing and reusing materials

Tools & techniques

Introduction to basic upholstery tools
Attaching foam to a plywood base
Applying dacron and fabric
Securing the base fabric (plug)

Expect a mix of theory and hands-on practice. Mistakes are part of the learning—your facilitator is there to support and guide you throughout the process.

Intended audience

Who is this introduction to upholstery course for?

This course is designed for those with little to no knowledge or experience in woodworking.

Course venue

This course is offered at Redfern and Summer Hill Campuses.

The venue details will be provided upon enrolment; please ensure you select your preferred location when enrolling.

Course materials

What to bring to class

Close-toed shoes
Dust masks or safety equipment if you have any

Additional information

Please note the following:

Please don't wear your best clothing
If you have long hair, please tie it back
Wear closed-in shoes, no heels, please
Please do not wear jewellery

This course has no current classes. Please to be notified of vacancies and similar courses.

Related courses

Course testimonials:

Michele said: Excellent course in upholstery for beginners. Very clear instructions from tutor and lots of room to work.
Jacqueline said: This was a fantastic course with Leif. We had a project to reupholster dining chairs. Having a choice of antique chairs and fabrics to select from and he guided us through from beginning to end. This session gives you the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle those larger projects at home as you learn the fundamentals.
Colin said: It gives you a taste of uphostery and knowing that furnitures can be restored. It also makes you appreciate the skills and efforts of upholsterers.