Furniture restorers repair and overhaul old furniture, with some specializing in metal or antiques. They inspect items, provide quotes, and use various tools to repair and repaint. No formal education is required, but on-the-job training and woodworking programs can improve skills. Many start as apprentices or employees before starting their own businesses.
A furniture restorer performs delicate repairs, touch-ups and complete overhauls on old or worn furniture. Depending on the item and the customer’s wishes, a restorer can spend anywhere from a few hours to several months working on a single piece. Most professionals are highly skilled woodworkers and upholsterers, capable of repainting a wide variety of items. Others specialize in their trade, working primarily with metal pieces or antiques from a specific period. A furniture restorer may run his own business or be employed by a specialty shop, retailer, or museum.
When a customer brings in a piece of furniture, the restorer will usually do a quick inspection, ask about what type of work he or she wants done, and provide a price quote. Some people simply want their old sofas or tables to look like new again, while others hope to regain the elegance of fine antiques with precision retouching. The furniture restorer can explain what he needs to do and ensure the customer is satisfied before starting a job.
Starting a restoration project on a weathered wooden item, such as a living room chair, typically involves removing paint or varnish and sanding away any impurities. Broken legs may need to be glued or replaced, and large cracks can be repaired with wood filler. A restorer may use a variety of tools, from woodworking lathes and sanders to hand saws and screwdrivers. When the remodel is complete, the restorer can repaint or varnish the item and replace the upholstery if necessary.
Restoring antiques often requires a different approach to ensure the piece retains as much of its original qualities as possible. The job may involve polishing scratched metal parts or manually removing impurities from wood. A skilled restorer may need to re-engrave original designs and patterns into wood or retouch painted images. Professionals with several years of experience in the field may be given the chance to become antiquarians or conservators in history museums.
In general, there are no strict education requirements to become a furniture restorer. Many professionals have high school diplomas and develop their skills through on-the-job training. To improve their credentials and knowledge, some workers attend woodworking programs at technical schools or community colleges. Opportunities to start a business from scratch can be hard to come by, which is why most furniture restorers start their careers as apprentice carpenters or employees in a specialty shop. With time, experience, and a proven track record, a skilled furniture restorer might consider going into business for themselves.
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