Furniture restorer

As a furniture restorer, you could:

• work out the best way to conserve or restore a piece of furniture
•  advise customers about restoration options
•  estimate prices and give quotes
•  use techniques like woodturning, veneering and marquetry
•  mix and apply colours and stains
•  re-upholster furniture, matching original patterns and fabrics
•  apply French polish and other finishes, like gilding, lacquer, paint, varnish, oil or wax
•  keep photographic and written records of the process

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with your hands
• persistence and determination
• the ability to work on your own
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• customer service skills
• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

With experience, you could set up your own furniture restoration business, carrying out work for organisations and the public. You could also work as a consultant for:

• museums
•  historical or heritage sites
•  auction houses or antique dealers

You might wish to specialise in areas such as French polishing, upholstery or a particular period or style of furniture.