Upholsterers provide objects such as furniture, panels, orthopaedic devices, fixtures or vehicle parts with padding or soft covering. They can install, repair or replace the upholstery of objects with materials such as fabrics, leather, suede or cotton. Upholsterers install the webbings and springs necessary to cover the material.

Tasks

Tasks include -
(a) Discussing upholstery fabric, colour and style with customers and providing cost estimate for upholstering furniture or other items;
(b) Making upholstery patterns from sketches, customer descriptions or blueprints;
(c) Laying out, measuring and cutting upholstery materials following patterns, templates, sketches, or design specifications;
(d) Installing, arranging and securing springs, padding and covering material to furniture frames;
(e) Sewing upholstery materials by hand to seam cushions and joining sections of covering materials;
(f) Sewing rips or tears in material, or creating tufting, using needle and thread;
(g) Tacking, gluing or sewing ornamental trims, buckles, braids, buttons and other accessories to covers or frames on upholstered items;
(h) Laying out, cutting, fabricating and installing upholstery in aircrafts, motor vehicles, railway cars, boats and ships;
(i) Repairing raw hide covering of artificial limbs;
(j) Renovating antique furniture using a variety of tools including ripping chisels, magnetic hammers and long needles;
(k) Collaborating with interior designers to decorate rooms and coordinate furnishing fabrics;
(l) Making quilts, cushions and mattresses.