Basic Upholstery Short Course

What you'll learn

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 5-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 course, you will have explored concepts and techniques such as:

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

During the course, participants will work with techniques and ideas such as:

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

Where are the workshops located?

Workshops are held at Redfern and Summer Hill Campuses. Your class venue is listed on your enrolment confirmation.

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
Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests, and instructor approach.

Course testimonials

Robert said: Leif was extremly knowlegable and a first class teacher. I think everyone in the class was fully proficient in a new skill by the time the class finished. The well stocked workshop was a surprise. i have lived in the area for more than ten years and did not know of its existence.
Mary-Ann said: Learning makes easy at Sydney College. Love the course structure and timeframe.
E. said: Completed product in 3 hours.
Sandra said: The course was a lot of fun and I was very pleased with the crate topper I made. It looks good and is comfy and will be very useful for sitting on when weeding the garden.
Adrienne said: It was advertised as a "beginner" course and I really appreciate that the tutor assumed no knowledge of tools or techniques and patiently took us through each step.

This course has no current classes. Please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Basic Upholstery Short Course