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 3-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 introduction to upholstery course, you should be able to:

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

What will be covered in this Basic Upholstery Short Course?

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

The Bower Reuse & Repair Centre Workshop

Summer Hill: 7 Prospect Road, Summer Hill NSW 2131
Redfern: 107 Redfern St, Redfern NSW 2016
The entrance to the Bower workshop is at the rear of 107 Redfern Street and is opposite no. 23 Turner Street. You will see a hand-painted sign "The Bower Woodworks". If the door is locked, please press the doorbell on the left-hand side of the garage door. Please note, the doors for the venue at the rear will be open and not the front. If you have trouble locating the entrance or encounter any emergencies, please contact the workshop manager at 0422 840 471.
Public transport is the best way to get to the workshop space. The space is located close to Redfern Train Station, a local transport hub.
Most nearby parking is 2-hour-timed (including some paid parking on Redfern St) though it is untimed after 8 pm. Untimed parking is available on Pitt St between Phillip and Wellington St.

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

Course testimonials

Jenny said: Refining some skills that I already had. Learning new techniques. Leif was an excellent tutor, very helpful and friendly
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.
Tailoi said: It was a fabulous introduction to upholstery, we made an upholstered seat insert making it a relevant transition to our future home projects. The tutor had years of experience and was very generous with his time to make sure we had our individual questions answered. Also provided information on upholstery equipment suppliers.
Colin said: It gives you a taste of uphostery and knowing that furnitures can be restored. It also makes you appreciate the skills and efforts of upholsterers.
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.

Course tutors

The Bower

The Bower is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to: Reduce the amount of hard waste going to landfills through education, repair, reuse and resale, Raise awareness of the value of waste...

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The Bower Tutor 1

The Bower Tutor 1. Tutor of Sydney Community College

View The Bower Tutor 1's profile

The Bower Tutor 2

The Bower Tutor 2. Tutor of Sydney Community College

View The Bower Tutor 2's profile

Classes Online Courses

Basic Upholstery Short Course

Sat 9 Aug 2025

1 session, 5 hours total

10am - 3pm (UTC+10:00)

The Summer Hill Workshop

The Bower Tutor 2 , The Bower Tutor 1 , The Bower

Early Bird discount expires five days before the class starts.

This class is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

Important Note: Please note that cancellations, refunds, or transfers will not be accepted within five (5) business days of the class start date. Additionally, this course is exempt from all discounts, including those provided through the learning membership. For more information, please refer to the terms and conditions.

When	Time	Where	Session Notes
Sat 9 Aug 2025	10am - 3pm	Workshop Room - The Summer Hill Workshop

Basic Upholstery Short Course

Fri 5 Sep 2025

1 session, 5 hours total

10am - 3pm (UTC+10:00)

The Summer Hill Workshop

The Bower Tutor 1 , The Bower , The Bower Tutor 2

Early Bird discount expires five days before the class starts.

This class is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

When	Time	Where	Session Notes
Fri 5 Sep 2025	10am - 3pm	Workshop Room - The Summer Hill Workshop

If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Basic Upholstery Short Course