If you like to work with your hands and are considering a career as a furniture maker, look into furniture manufacturers education and training. Whether you're looking to join the ranks of outdoor furniture manufacturers, office furniture manufacturers, dining room furniture manufacturers or bedroom furniture manufacturers, you'll find the proper education and training programs to be invaluable.

From obtaining a degree or certificate in furniture manufacturing to an apprenticeship with top furniture manufacturers, there's more than one avenue you can pursue regarding furniture manufacturers education and training. You might also find seminars and classes available through furniture manufacturing associations, as well as practical tips and instructions from commercial furniture makers in top trade publications.

1. Enroll in a technical college or trade school offering programs on furniture manufacturing.
2. Sign on for an apprenticeship with quality furniture manufacturers.
3. Join furniture manufacturing associations that offer educational classes and seminars.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a formal degree or certificate as part of furniture manufacturers education and training

Some technical colleges and trade schools offer degrees or certificates in furniture making. Combining classroom instruction with hands-on training, these programs are designed to help students find entry-level positions available at commercial furniture makers or top furniture companies.

I recommend: Long Beach City College offers an associate of science degree or certificate in Cabinet/Furniture Making, or a certificate in Cabinet/Furniture Technology. The woodworking school at Cerritos Community College has classes on furniture making, which include table construction, cabinet making and more.

Receive hands-on training through apprenticeship programs with top furniture manufacturers

Though trade schools and colleges will offer hands-on opportunities, you can take that type of training one step further by working directly with established furniture manufacturers. Both paying and non-paying internships are available. Most internships or apprenticeships last between one and two years.

I recommend: Orth Furniture offers a one-year apprenticeship to individuals who have had some woodworking experience. Sign on for the apprenticeship at JD Lohr Woodworking and receive an intense two-year program which covers all aspects of furniture manufacturing and even requires the student to be a teacher's assistance at studio woodworking classes.

Look to professional associations for learning opportunities in furniture manufacturing

Furniture manufacturing associations can provide many benefits to members, including classes, conferences and seminars geared toward both the beginner manufacturer as well as continuing education courses for established furniture makers. Networking, publications and woodworking expos are other ways to take advantage of learning opportunities through these associations.

I recommend: American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) provides both live and web-based seminars, expos and workshops for future and established furniture manufacturers. Get the chance to work directly with a furniture master on your own project or enroll in the New Hampshire Institute of Furniture Making, part of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Visit local furniture suppliers to ask about the furniture manufacturers they deal with. They may likely have contact information you can use to find out about possible apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
• •  Subscribe to top woodworking and furniture making publications that might include helpful articles about furniture manufacturing.

Furniture manufacturers have worlds of products that represent both the practical and whimsical for people. In a civilized 21st century universe, furniture is as much about comfort, lifestyle and aesthetics as it is about practicality. Whether seeking out office systems to merely hold equipment, or creating an office mood for employees, clients and vendors, furniture is a vital part of establishing a business location.

Determining your budget is the first line of defense when beginning what can be an overwhelming task--seeking out reputable furniture manufacturers to provide you with quality furniture that will endure the number of years you will keep it. Questions to ask include:

1. What furniture items are absolutely necessary?

2. What kind of use will the furniture experience--light or heavy traffic?

3. What would be on a wish list of furniture items that might add to the office ambiance? Does this include buying from any outdoor furniture manufacturers?

4. Is buying the most expensive furniture affordable necessarily the best option?

The style you want your business to reflect is also important in determining the quality and style of your furniture. Personal tastes are one matter, but cultivating a style that is welcome to the clients you want to attract is another. If you own a small auto repair shop, a heavy-duty desk with a few sturdy chairs from a commercial furniture makers might be sufficient. On the other hand, if you are in the business of party planning, for instance, you might need to consider more stylized options from upscale furniture manufacturers.

Whatever the soul of your business, the furniture needs to suit and reflect that. Building a client base in any industry can be a challenge. Furniture is a part of welcoming people as you present what you have to offer them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare as many different furniture manufacturing websites and furniture suppliers as possible

Determine what furniture manufacturers offer the products you find most appealing and within your budget.

I recommend: FurnitureManufacturers.net offers links to product lines and manufacturers, options for custom-made furniture, and furniture listed by type, material, and application. Visitors to the website can view pre-verified profiles of furniture manufacturers and dealers in locales that carry the products that interest you. Check out the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers' Association to find members who are reputable furniture manufacturers and suppliers.

Consider local vendors to find the best furniture company to match your company's style

Consider local furniture makers, even for accent pieces, as well as items through the burgeoning Amish furniture makers network throughout the country, but particularly in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

I recommend: Amish Retail offers a variety of options and sources for Amish-made furniture. Dozens of other Amish furniture sites are also available. Take the time to seek out furniture makers in your locale who make custom pieces, and offer samples of their products and quality that you can examine close up. Locallectual provides a good searchable database to find local furniture suppliers.

Check high quality furniture manufacturers and office furniture manufacturers to compare best deals

Investigate several companies before making a final decision. Whether looking at products online, or visiting stores or showrooms, know what is available--and at what different prices it is available. Not everyone can make a trip to High Point, North Carolina, more or less the capital of furniture showcases in the country--but everyone can work to understand how many options are available at affordable prices--or even luxury prices if price constraints are not as crucial a factor.

I recommend: Such upscale furniture manufacturers, both in the United States and abroad, such as Maitland-Smith, Giemme, E. J. Victor, Jeffco, Marge Carson, Heirloom Furniture and Provasi of Italy all have websites--take a look at them and if they have dealers located near you. Other companies such as Office Max, Home Depot, and Lowe's all have furniture pieces that might be exactly what you need. Check out department and furniture stores such as Macy's, Sears, Ashley Furniture or others in your locale for anything from bedroom furniture manufacturers to sofa manufacturers. Such standard furniture companies as Henredon, Broyhill, or Flexsteel also offer product information through their websites.

Find suitable outdoor furniture manufacturers that are climate-resistant

Determine whether you want to furnish any outdoor or indoor casual areas wtih outdoor furniture that might be sturdier than occasional furniture, but less generic than the utilitarian office variety. Viewing those furniture products can be enlightening.

I recommend: Go to Outdoor Furniture Plus and view products that might suit your business, your budget and your taste. Also check out Outdoor Garden Furniture for some nice and unique outdoor pieces.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Decide on whether you might want to include both antique and modern furniture to create a particular mood.
• •  Consider your clients and vendors, and the amount of time they will remain in your office or business, and what demographic they fill--making appropriate choices for comfort can make all the difference to the success of your business.
• •  If your business will consist of primarily local traffic, showing support of local furniture manufacturers by purchasing their products might open business opportunities that you had not initially considered.

Whether you need to purchase furniture for your space or find a furniture manufacturer to produce products, an understanding of furniture manufacturers' key terms is essential. With so many choices among styles, materials and manufacturers, understanding the terminology can help one make the right choice. The right furniture not only looks good, it can make a space more usable and comfortable.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Commercial furniture

While residential commercial can be used in an office or commercial space, commercial furniture is often the best way to go. Commercial designs are meant to provide comfort and ergonomics while adding to a productive environment. Manufacturers may specialize in a specific sector -- such as offices, retail spaces, banks and hospitals.

I recommend: Examples of modern commercial designs can be found at local furniture sellers and office specialty stores, as well as online. To get ideas about current styles and trends, look at the products offered by Modern Furniture Classics and Commercial Furniture Group.

Furniture associations

There are dozens of furniture associations in the United States. They can be a valuable resource for manufacturers, sellers and buyers of furniture. Furniture associations provide education and training opportunities, links to furniture providers, industry news and other resources.

I recommend: Furniture Manufacturers provides a comprehensive list of United States furniture associations. It also offers lists of international organizations.

Furniture styles

Furniture styles have been changing and evolving for centuries, and there are countless styles that are still used in design today. Choosing a style for your residential or office space sets the tone and design foundation for the space.

I recommend: Connected Lines offers descriptions and links for furniture styles from Jacobean and Early American to the Scandinavian Contemporary designs of the 1950s. Furniture First provides a directory of current design styles, including casual, country and modern.

Furniture materials

Furniture is made from a wide range of materials. Wood is the traditional material used in furniture construction, but fibers and metals are also common.

I recommend: Real Good Furniture lists the various types of wood used in furniture construction. Rattan Land Furniture lists types of natural materials used in rattan furniture. All Modern Furniture offers a glossary of types of woods, metals and upholstery as well as mouldings and other accents.

Handcrafted furniture

Handcrafted furniture, just as the name suggests, is furniture made by hand. It can be purchased from artisans locally or internationally. One popular type of handcrafted furniture is Amish furniture, made completely with simple machines at Amish communities.

I recommend: Examples of Amish furniture can be viewed at Amish Furniture Home. For other types of handcrafted furniture, browse the listings at Wood Artists Gallery.

Woodworking and cabinet making

Two important terms in furniture design are cabinet making and wood crafting. Cabinet makers design custom pieces for residential and commercial spaces, using measurements and design elements. Woodworking is the way that off-the-shelf and custom pieces are created, either by hand or machine.

I recommend: Cabinetmaking is a detailed resource for cabinet making, including books, training, hardware and other resources. Woodworking offers tools, products, plans and a forum.