Last time I talked about upholstery books for beginners, this time I want to share my favourite professional upholstery books. The ones worth knowing when you’re already working as an upholsterer, or when you want to take your traditional upholstery techniques to a genuinely professional level. These are books I actually use and return to in my own workshop in France.
French Upholstery Books
French upholstery has one of the strongest technical traditions in the world. These reference books are used in professional workshops and upholstery schools across France. Not light reading, but exactly what you need when you want to understand the craft properly.
The French “Upholstery Bible”: La tapisserie d’ameublement by Claude Ossut
This is the most well known professional upholstery book among French upholsterers. Quite technical, it covers traditional upholstery techniques in detail with schemes and step-by-step explanations. Essential if you read French and want a complete reference for hand-tied springs, traditional padding and finishing.
I will show you how to create the inside of a seat feathers cushion with a technique from this book.
Le guide du tapissier décorateur, tome 1: La garniture des sièges
“Le guide du tapissier décorateur” by Jean-Pierre Flament and Jacques Stevens, first edited in 1982, is another solid French upholstery reference for professional upholsterers. Concise and technical. There are actually 2 volumes in this edition: one covers curtains and soft furnishing, the other focuses on upholstered seating. Both are useful.
English Upholstery Books
The English upholstery tradition is strong, particularly in traditional techniques, hand-tied springing and natural fibre padding. These books are worth having if you want to understand how the craft developed and how professional upholsterers work.
Practical Upholstering: A Complete Handbook for the Upholsterer by John W. Stephenson
A professional upholstery book from the 1940s, old school and genuinely fascinating. It covers techniques that are rarely documented elsewhere, making it a valuable resource for anyone serious about learning upholstery at a professional level.
Scandinavian Upholstery Books (coming)
American Upholstery Books (coming)
A real treasure for anyone wanting to explore the American upholstery tradition and reupholstery techniques used across the Atlantic.
Do you know any other professional upholstery book we should know about? 🤓
Go Beyond the Books: Professional Upholstery Tutorials Online
If you’re looking to go deeper than any book can take you, my online members library might be exactly what you need. One monthly subscription gives you access to professional-level tutorials, material guides, supplier recommendations, and technique deep-dives, all created by a working upholsterer. The kind of knowledge that usually only comes from years in a workshop.
Free or Member: What’s the Difference?
As a guest, you can join the community forum to ask questions and share your projects. No membership account needed.
As a member, you get full access to the complete tutorial library: 80+ step-by-step video tutorials covering beginner to advanced upholstery, tools and materials guides, supplier recommendations, and complete chair projects from start to finish. Everything in one place, for one simple monthly subscription.
