Articles
The history of upholstery: from upholstered chairs to modern car interiorsHistory · 10 minThe upholstery trade combines several old crafts — furniture upholstery, auto upholstery and curtain and shading work. The article traces the development from early upholstered furniture through industrialization's springs and foam to today's trade where traditional upholstery and modern materials meet.Upholstering from base to cover: workflow and techniqueProfessional. · 9 minAn upholstery is built up in layers each with a task. The article follows the workflow from removal and base through springs filling and shape to covering and finish — and explains why the structure determines both comfort and durability.Materials and tools in housing installationMaterials and tools · 8 minThe upholsterer works with many materials — from felt, springs and foam to leather, fabric and artificial leather. The article provides an overview of the most important materials and tools and explains how material choice shapes both the work and the result.Safety, ergonomics and quality in the workshopSafety and quality · 8 minUpholstery includes sharp tools, powerful machinery, nailers, glue and heavy lifting. The article explores the most important safety and ergonomic considerations and explains what characterizes quality in upholstery and saddlery work.Specialties and career in housing assemblyCareer · 8 minUpholstery education includes several specialties each with its own direction. The article provides an overview of furniture upholsterer, auto upholsterer and curtain and shading work, the workplaces they lead to, and how restoration and sustainability give the trade renewed value.How building painter education is structuredThe education's structure. · 9 minUpholstery is a vocational education under the main area technology, construction and transport. Here you get the entire course: basic courses 1 and 2, the main course with apprenticeship, how long it takes for the different specialties, and what you need to know to get in.PLACEHOLDER_56PLACEHOLDER_2 · 7 minAs an apprentice in residential furniture you receive wages from the day you sign a training agreement. Here we cover the principles: why wages increase through the course what the collective agreement means and what conditions apply when you are fully trained.Rules, journeyman test and the trade committee behind the subjectRules and responsibility · 8 minUpholstery is regulated as a vocational education with fixed objectives, a final journeyman examination and a trade committee that keeps the content updated. Here you get an overview of the rules — and what distinguishes a qualified craftsperson from trades that require authorization.Work environment safety and ergonomics at the workshopWork environment and safety · 9 minUpholstery is physical work with machinery, glue, dust and heavy lifting. Here we explore the most important workplace considerations in depth: ergonomics, chemicals, noise, sharp tools and why good habits must be in place from day one.The industry today: where you can work and what the future holdsThe industry and the future · 8 minUpholstery is a small, specialized craft — and that is precisely why there is demand for those who master it. Here we look at where you can find work, what is in demand, and how trends such as recycling and restoration affect the trade.After the journeyman certificate: further and continuing educationFurther and continuing education · 8 minA journeyman's certificate in residential assembly is not the end — it is the foundation. Here we see the paths you can take forward: courses and specialisation the path to master and self-employed and how a qualified background can lead all the way to advanced level.Curtains, solar shading and installation techniquesTechnique · 8 minCurtain and shading work combines sewing technique with installation. The article covers measuring, hanging types, and shading systems, and explains the European child safety standard for cords and chains as well as how special rods are bent and calculated.Auto Upholstery: Car Interiors, Electric Equipment and AirbagsSafety · 9 minThe modern car interior is full of electronics motors and pyrotechnic safety components. The article looks at the auto upholsterer's work with electrically powered equipment in seats and goes in depth into the safety rules that apply when handling airbags and seat belt tighteners.Sewing machine technique: seams, stitches and material selectionTechnique · 7 minThe seam is the joint that holds the cover together for the rest of the furniture's or seat's lifespan. The article goes through the most important seam types, how thread and needle are chosen according to material, and how you find and fix the most common errors in sewing.Fire safety and furniture textiles: fire classes and documentationRules · 8 minUpholstered furniture can ignite and burn faster than many other objects in a room. The article covers European fire test standards for furniture fabrics, the difference between private furniture and furniture for the contract market, and what upholsterers must be able to document.Sustainability, reuse, and environmental labeling in residential installationSustainability · 8 minUpholstery is in the midst of a green transition where recycling, sustainable materials and eco-labelling are increasingly important. The article explores the Swan Mark's requirements for furniture, what characterizes sustainable textiles, and why restoration is one of the most sustainable things the trade can offer.Customer advice, measurement and quotesCustomer service · 7 minPlanned tasksLifts, scaffolds and safety organization at the workplaceSafety · 8 minInstallation of curtains, sun screening and textile coverings does not always happen at eye level. The article covers requirements for use of lifts and mobile elevated work platforms, and how the safety organization on a building site is organized, and why it matters to you as a residential installer.