Tools and materials · Everything on my workbench
In short: good upholstery starts with the right tools and the right materials. This page gathers everything I use at my atelier: the complete guides to start, then every tool and material explained one by one, with where to buy them.
You can buy them from local or online suppliers. Whatever you choose, quality makes the difference between an amateur result and a professional one.
Go straight to: the complete guides · tools · materials
Start here
Three complete guides to equip yourself right
Guide · Tools
The complete guide to upholstery tools
What each tool does, which ones you really need to start, and which to buy later.
Read the tools guide →
Guide · Materials
The complete guide to upholstery materials
Webbings, springs, hessian, natural fibres, foam and wadding: what to choose, and why.
Read the materials guide →
Guide · Fabric
The complete guide to upholstery fabric
How to recognise a good upholstery fabric, check it before you buy, and match it to your piece.
Read the fabric guide →
Handy
Before you buy
Free tool
Fabric calculator
How much fabric for your chair, in a few clicks.
Open →
Where to buy
My suppliers list
The suppliers I trust for tools, materials and fabric.
Open →
English and French
Upholstery glossary
Every term, in both languages, to read any tutorial or catalogue.
Open →
Your project
Where to buy a new chair frame
No chair yet? Start from a brand-new frame.
Open →
Tools
Every tool, explained one by one
Materials
Every material, explained one by one
Structure and padding
From webbing to foam
Fixing and gluing
Tacks and glues
Tools and materials: your questions
Which tools do I need to start upholstery?
A tack hammer or a staple gun, a ripping chisel, scissors and a tape measure cover most of a first project. The complete guide to upholstery tools tells you what to add next.
Where can I buy upholstery supplies?
From local or online suppliers. Here is my suppliers list.
Foam or natural fibres?
Foam is quicker and more forgiving for a first project. Natural fibres suit antique chairs and give a more authentic shape. See which foam to choose and filling a seat with natural fibres.
Staple gun or tacks?
Both work. Tacks and a tack hammer are the traditional way; a staple gun is faster. Compare the staple guns and read everything about tacks.
Now that you are equipped
Put your tools to work
Guide 1
Your first chair starts here
Simple, forgiving projects to learn the basics.
Start with Guide 1 →
The Hammer Club
90+ tutorials, a clear path
Step-by-step photo tutorials, many with video, from €9.99/month.
See the membership →
Written by Céline Vanier, running her own upholstery atelier by Lake Annecy for more than 15 years.