Eager to learn a new skill like upholstery but not sure where to start? If you want to begin an adventure in upholstering, we’ve put together this guide to kick off some inspiration.
What Can You Make?
Improving furniture is the main reason upholstery exists. You can add new fabric covering and even get decorative with upholstery nails of different shapes and colours. Here’s a few examples of items you can make and improve.
Pillows
If you want to start off small, try creating some homemade cushions. A really easy project to begin with. Eventually your confidence within upholstery will grow to the point that this will become the last task you do in order to complement bigger tasks like a sofa.
Sofa
With a new sofa costing you hundreds, improving on the foundations of an older one is a way to get both creative, and financially savvy. If the fabric on your sofa has seen better days, you don’t have to throw the whole thing away.
Woodwork
As part of your upholstery adventure, some woodworking tasks will come up as well. Grab yourself a reliable staple gun and you could transform something like an old coffee table into a new bench. Who knows, perhaps even woodworking could become your new favourite hobby.
Improving Your Bed
There’s a lot you can add to your bed via the magic of upholstery. You can reuse or buy a bedsheet in a pattern that you particularly like and transform it into a bed skirt instead. This guide shows you how you can do it in a simple way with minimal sewing skills.
You can also match the pattern of your bed skirt to the headboard by reupholstering the fabric of that too. Doing this will allow you to mix things up without needing an entirely new bed.
Tools You’ll Need
Before you embark on your project, here is a list of some essential tools so you don’t end up stuck halfway…
Beginner Tool Kit
If you’re unsure about buying tools separately, or you need a new set of tools, many upholstery specialists supply a beginner’s upholstery kit to get you started. This will include a hammer, claw and range of needles. It’s common for this kit to cost around £100 and while it may sound like a lot, it’s a guarantee that the tools inside will be high quality and long lasting.
Hammer
One of your main tools, you’re going to need something to bang in all those nails. A regular hammer will do the trick but for an even easier experience, look into getting a magnetic hammer instead. A magnetic hammer will give you a free hand by holding nails in place for you magnetically. This will make light and speedy work of your upholstery tasks, as well as save you the frustration of dropping nails and accidentally stepping on them later!
Staple Gun
Another essential item, you’ll need it for getting your fabrics attached together. You can choose a heavy duty hand stapler for simple tasks. For more complex or arduous tasks, try a pneumatic stapler to reduce hand strain.
Tack Claw
Also known as a tack lifter and trademarked by the manufacturer C.S. Osborne. The handle is similar to that of a screwdriver but it has a forked head in order to easily lift out tacks or staples from your upholstered piece without causing damage.
Fabric Scissors
Regular scissors won’t do the trick on tough fabrics and will instead leave you frustrated. Get a pair of tough shears or heavy duty scissors to make light work of stubborn materials.
Safety Gear
Don’t forget safety gear too. All this hammering, nailing and stapling can lead to accidents. Utility gloves may make some tasks more awkward, but wear them when you can as it will protect your hands from these problems, plus the potential risk of splinters and cuts. A dust mask and eye protection may be an idea too.
No Limits
With the art of upholstery you can even add new features, such as wheels on a table or sofa to make it easy to move around. So, gather all your supplies and let your imagination run free.
