What is Upholstery?

Upholstery is the art of working with textiles and noble materials to create or restore the textile decoration of an interior. The upholsterer masters all the techniques needed to pad, dress and beautify chairs, windows and walls.

Areas of Expertise

Chair Upholstery: Complete refurbishment of armchairs, sofas, bergères. From stripping to finishing, including webbing, stitching, spring installation, horsehair or foam padding, and final fabric covering.

Drapery Making: From simple sheers to lined and interlined double curtains, with Flemish headings, tabs, grommets or pinch pleats. Mastery of proportions, drapes, and tiebacks.

Wall Hangings: Installation of stretched fabrics on walls, creation of tufted headboards, acoustic textile panels, upholstered screens.

High-End Bedding: Custom upholstered box springs, headboards, bedspreads, coordinated bed skirts.

The upholsterer must possess excellent knowledge of upholstery fabrics, their resistance (measured in Martindale cycles), their maintenance requirements and their aesthetic qualities.

How to Become an Upholsterer?

Training paths and professional organization vary significantly across countries. While some nations have highly structured certification systems, others rely more on apprenticeship traditions and independent training centers.

In France: A Structured Traditional Path

CAP Tapissier d’ameublement en siège (2 years)
Training in traditional padding techniques. Learning webbing, stitching, spring installation, horsehair padding. Approximately 400 hours of workshop practice.

CAP Tapissier d’ameublement en décor (2 years)
Specialization in soft furnishings: curtains, blinds, cushions, headboards. Mastery of upholstery sewing and decorative finishes.

Brevet des Métiers d’Art – BMA Upholstery Decorator (2 years post-CAP)
Comprehensive vision of the profession, advanced techniques, restoration of historic pieces. Creation of complete textile decoration projects.

Compagnonnage des Devoirs Unis (5 to 7 years)
Tour de France in exceptional workshops. Oral transmission of rare techniques. Culminates in creating a masterpiece before a jury of masters.

French Schools and Institutions

• École Boulle (Paris): Renowned upholstery-decoration section. Excellence training since 1886.
• Lycée des métiers d’art de Saint-Jean (Lyon): CAP and BMA, specialization in antique furniture restoration.
• Compagnons du Devoir: National network of apprenticeship training. Traditional Tour de France.
• GRETA Métiers d’art: Continuing education for career changers.
• Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués (LISAA): Contemporary textile design approach.

In the United Kingdom: Professional Certification System

The UK has developed a robust professional structure centered around the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF), which delivers industry-recognized qualifications.

AMUSF Diploma Programme
Delivered in three stages, each being a qualification in its own right. Each stage runs approximately 210 hours over one day per week for 35 weeks. Covers both traditional and modern techniques to a very high standard. Only available through AMUSF Approved Training Centres.

UK Apprenticeship: Advanced Upholsterer (Level 3)
Government-recognized apprenticeship program combining practical work with theoretical learning. Includes health and safety regulations (COSHH, HASAWA, RIDDOR), fabric identification, traditional and modern upholstery methods, furniture restoration techniques, and business management skills.

Additional UK Organizations:

• Guild of Traditional Upholsterers: Focuses on preserving traditional techniques
• Worshipful Company of Upholders: Historic livery company supporting the craft

Leading UK Training Centers:

• British School of Upholstered Furniture (South Oxfordshire): Award-winning tutors, 100% pass rate
• Traditional Upholstery School (Wiltshire): AMUSF approved centre
• Upholstery Skills Centre (Essex): Award-winning with flexible training patterns
• Oxford School of Upholstery: 20+ years experience, leisure and professional paths
• Shoreditch Design Rooms (London): Innovative training with small class sizes

In the United States: Diverse Independent System

Unlike France and the UK, the United States lacks a unified national certification system. Training is provided through a mix of community colleges, vocational schools, and independent training centers.

Community College Programs
Certificate and diploma programs typically lasting 6 months to 2 years. Examples include:

• Guilford Technical Community College (North Carolina): 15 credit hours for certificate, 45 for diploma
• Austin Community College (Texas): Comprehensive upholstery certificate
• Palomar College (California): Furniture upholstery program
• Louisiana Technical College: Multiple campus locations

Professional Associations:

• National Upholstery Association (NUA): Offers certification with written and practical exams. Specializations available in auto, marine, and furniture upholstery. Valid for three years with continuing education requirements.
• Professional Upholstery Association of Minnesota (PUAM): Regional certification program
• IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification): UFT (Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician) certification for cleaning specialists

Specialized Training:

• Automotive upholstery: WyoTech (multiple campuses), San Diego Continuing Education
• Riverside Community College (California): Associate degree in automotive trim and upholstery

In the Netherlands: Vocational MBO System

Hout- en Meubileringscollege (HMC)
National woodworking and upholstery school with locations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Offers MBO Level 2 vocational training in furniture upholstery. Two-year part-time program for adults (23+) with industry-recognized diploma. Combines traditional craftsmanship with modern interior design principles.

In Other European Countries

Germany, Italy, Spain, and Belgium have their own vocational training systems, typically organized through:

• Germany: Dual vocational education system (Berufsausbildung) combining workplace training with classroom instruction
• Italy: Artisan schools and workshop-based apprenticeships, particularly strong in Milan, Florence, and Venice
• Spain: Formación Profesional (FP) programs at various levels
• Belgium: Alternance/dual learning combining practical and theoretical training

Possible Specializations

After several years of practice, upholsterers can specialize in:

• Antique Furniture Restoration: Working with antique dealers, châteaux, museums. In-depth knowledge of historical styles.
• High-End Textile Decoration: Custom curtains, wall hangings, yacht or private jet upholstery.
• Automotive/Aeronautical Upholstery: Classic car seats or private aircraft upholstery.
• Scenography/Theatre: Textile decoration for stage sets, opera, cinema.
• Wall Upholstery: The art of covering walls with fabric, typically learned after several years of training.

International Directory of Top Upholsterers

This selection brings together the most reputable artisan workshops for their technical excellence, aesthetic sense and contribution to contemporary upholstery. These are upholsterers who pad chairs, make curtains and create textile decoration. Also discover other exceptional artisans and workshops in our catalog.

How to Choose Your Upholsterer?

For Antique Furniture Restoration

1. Define Your Project
Period piece or decorative renovation? Strict respect for historical style or contemporary interpretation? Budget: from €500 (simple chair) to €5000+ (complex bergère).

2. Check References
Ask to see similar work. A good upholsterer keeps photos of their work. For period pieces, verify experience in historical restoration.

3. Demand Technical Transparency
The upholsterer must be able to precisely explain planned work steps. Traditional padding (horsehair, webbing) or modern (foam)? Each approach has advantages.

4. Fabric Choice
A good upholsterer will advise according to intended use. Consult our exceptional fabrics guide and check appropriate Martindale resistance.

For Custom Curtains

Step 1: Taking Measurements
Must be done by the upholsterer themselves, at home. Ceiling height, window width, desired drop, curtain rod or rail passage.

Step 2: Style Choice
French pleats, Flemish, goblet, grommets? Thermal or blackout lining? Tiebacks and trimmings? Consult our decoration glossary for technical terms.

Step 3: Realistic Budget
For quality curtains: expect €150-300/m² (fabric + making + installation). Lined and interlined double curtains start at €400/m². Exceptional pieces with trimmings can reach €800-1200/m².

Distinctive Signs of Exceptional Work

• Invisible seams: Fabric joins are imperceptible, hems perfectly regular
• Uniform tension: On a chair, fabric shows no wrinkles, false folds or extra thickness
• Pattern matching: Motifs continue harmoniously on all sides
• Impeccable finishes: Regularly spaced nails, well-tensioned piping, perfectly aligned braids
• Neat undersides: Black cambric under seat, hidden hems in curtains

Where to Discover Their Work?

Trade Shows and Professional Events

• Salon Révélations (Grand Palais, Paris – biannual): Upholstery section with live demonstrations
• Maison & Objet (Paris Villepinte – January and September): “Savoir-Faire” space dedicated to artisans
• Decorex International (London – September): British luxury decoration gathering
• High Point Market (North Carolina, USA – April and October): Largest American furniture and textile show

Showrooms and Galleries

Most major upholsterers have showrooms to discover their work:

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés Quarter (Paris): Concentration of historical workshops
• Pimlico Road (London): Street of prestigious antique dealers and upholsterers
• Via Montenapoleone (Milan): Milanese luxury district
• Madison Avenue (New York): High-end decoration showrooms

Workshop Visits

Some workshops organize visits by appointment. Opportunity to see traditional techniques in action and discuss directly with artisans. Particularly recommended:

• Ateliers Jouffre (Lyon): Open house days during European Craft Days
• Compagnons du Devoir: Annual open house days at their training centers

Upholstery & Contemporary Challenges

Durability and Eco-Responsibility

Upholstery is by nature a sustainable craft:

Exceptional Longevity: A properly padded chair lasts 30 to 50 years, even more. Compare to 3-5 years for an industrial sofa.

Total Repairability: An upholstered piece can be completely redone several times during its life. Only the wooden frame needs to be preserved.

Natural Materials: Biodegradable horsehair, jute webbing, linen cloth, natural wools. Upholsterers are returning to traditional materials after decades of synthetic foams.

Short Circuit: Favoring local upholsterers and European fabrics limits carbon footprint.

Innovation and Contemporary Techniques

Technical Fabrics: Appearance of treated upholstery textiles: stain-resistant, antibacterial, fire-retardant according to hospitality standards, while maintaining natural appearance and feel.

Laser Cutting: Some workshops use laser cutting for decorative leather or faux leather pieces, enabling openwork patterns impossible by hand.

Smart Motorization: Curtains with home automation control, integration into centralized home management systems. Upholsterers must now collaborate with electricians and home automation specialists.

Digital Printing: Possibility of creating personalized fabrics with unique patterns, while maintaining traditional artisanal making.

Knowledge Transmission

The upholstery profession faces a transmission challenge:

Aging Masters: Many master upholsterers are retiring without having trained successors. Some rare techniques risk disappearing.

Renewed Interest: Paradoxically, upholstery training is attracting again, driven by the quest for meaning and manual trades. Schools are fully booked.

Profession Valorization: Luxury houses (Hermès, LVMH) are creating internal upholstery schools to secure their know-how chain. Professional status is improving.

Going Further

Reference Books

• “Manuel de garniture traditionnelle” by Compagnons du Devoir – Technical bible of the trade
• “L’Art du tapissier décorateur” by Christophe Pourny – Modern and historical techniques
• “Rideaux et voilages : 50 modèles à réaliser” by Catherine Guidicelli – Inspirations and patterns
• “Histoire du mobilier français” by Pierre Kjellberg – Essential historical context
• “Textiles d’ameublement : Guide des étoffes” by Brigitte Borja de Mozota – Textile encyclopedia

Documentaries and Videos

• “Les Compagnons du Devoir : Tapissiers” (France 3) – Portrait of the profession
• “Métiers d’Art, Métiers de Luxe” (series) – Upholstery episode
• “The Upholstery Show” (YouTube) – British restoration channel
• Recommended channels: Phelippeau Tapissier (Instagram), Compagnons du Devoir (official channel)

Museums and Collections

• Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris): Furniture collection with exceptional upholstered pieces
• Mobilier National (Paris): Guided tours of restoration workshops by reservation
• Château de Versailles: Royal apartments showing ceremonial upholstery
• Victoria & Albert Museum (London): Furniture & Textiles galleries
• Cité internationale de la tapisserie (Aubusson): Museum dedicated to tapestry art

Specialized Magazines

• Ateliers d’Art – French quarterly on art crafts
• The World of Interiors – British high-end decoration magazine
• AD (Architectural Digest) – International reference, French and American editions
• Elle Décoration – Regular features on textile craftsmanship

🎓 Training and Associations

• Compagnons du Devoir (compagnons-du-devoir.com) – CAP to BMA training
• UNMA (Union Nationale des Métiers d’Art) – Professional directory
• Institut National des Métiers d’Art – Promotion of craftsmanship
• Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) – UK professional body
• National Upholstery Association (NUA) – USA professional network

Upholstery, A Timeless Art

Upholstery has traversed centuries by adapting to fashions and techniques, while preserving a foundation of ancestral craftsmanship. In a world of fast furniture and disposable furnishings, it embodies a radically different approach: one of quality, durability, and transmission.

Choosing to work with an exceptional upholsterer means investing in an object that will span generations, that can be restored indefinitely, that will carry the history of its creation and successive restorations. It also means supporting a threatened art craft, contributing to preserving intangible heritage, and participating in an economy of beauty and sustainability.

In contemporary living spaces, textiles remain the soul that dresses and warms volumes. The upholsterer is the artisan of this metamorphosis.