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How hard is it to become a furniture maker?

No formal higher education is required to work as a furniture maker, though most furniture makers must undergo some form of training even if that training occurs outside of an institution. Many aspiring furniture makers work in an apprenticeship for many years under an experienced furniture maker to learn the trade.

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Furniture makers create custom furniture using wood, metal, cloth, and a variety of tools. While many furniture makers are self-employed and sell unique and original pieces of furniture, others work for corporations and design templates for furniture that will be mass-produced and sold in high quantities.

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What is a Furniture Maker?

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in furniture maker roles:

Craft custom furniture using different types of wood, metal, cloth, paint, stain, and other materials Employ a variety of tools, such as table saws, sanders, wood burning tools, chisels, sewing machines, and torches Create furniture designs for corporations to use when designing furniture that can be crafted at a reasonable price and sold in mass quantities Sell hand-crafted furniture in an owned shop, online, or through partnerships with other shop owners

A Day in the Life

Many furniture makers are self-employed artists who create custom furniture using different materials and a variety of tools. Furniture makers may be woodworkers who create tables, cabinets, chests, and other types of wood furniture, or they may combine woodwork with metal work, glasswork, or textile artistry to create mixed-medium pieces like chairs, outdoor furniture, and couches. While some furniture makers simply craft fine furniture using high quality wood and techniques that create lasting pieces, others create extremely detailed and intricate pieces using chisels, sanders, paint, wood burning tools, and stains. The latter type of furniture making requires proficiency with woodwork and artistic talent as most of the detail work is intricate, requires an understanding of design, and demands aesthetic appeal. Furniture makers who are self-employed must sell their furniture in order to earn a living from their work. They use a variety of mediums to sell furniture: some operate their own shops, some have websites or use craft-sales platforms like Etsy, some partner with other shop owners to sell products, and some have booths at trade shows and/or arts and craft shows. Because of this, furniture makes must have some sense of how to market and sell, as well as how to operate a business.

Typical Work Schedule

Self-employed furniture makers are able to set their own schedules and work as much or little as they want, whichever hours of the day suit them best. Furniture makers who work for corporations or other businesses typically work full-time during normal business hours.

Typical Employers

Most furniture makers are self-employed. Other furniture makers work for employers in the furniture retail industry, commonly for large businesses and corporations.

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Do I need a degree to design furniture?

Aspiring furniture designers should consider a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or furniture design. Programs in industrial or commercial design are also available, and some furniture designers hold master's degrees in the field.

Furniture designers might complete an undergraduate degree program in industrial or commercial design to obtain the education necessary to design furniture. These degree programs include courses in sketching, design, methods in manufacturing and computer-aided design. Industrial design students also study psychology, anthropology, mathematics and science. An internship in a furniture design firm also might be part of an industrial design program. Commercial and industrial designers could also qualify for an entry-level position with a degree in engineering or architecture. Engineering and architecture degree programs include courses in computer-aided design, building materials and design concepts. Students also might pursue a bachelor's degree with a major in furniture design. This program provides students with the techniques used in furniture design as well as a thorough examination of the materials, equipment and methods used to create furniture. Programs also include courses in the history of furniture design, interior design and computer modeling and design. The study of interior design styles prepares the furniture designer to create pieces that suit a particular period or style. Master's degree programs with a concentration in furniture design are also available for aspiring designers. Students planning a career as an independent furniture designer should complete business courses, such as management, accounting, business planning and finance. Freelance furniture designers must have skills in marketing and sales as well.

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