Upholstery is the padding, springs, fabric, and leather that cover furniture like sofas, chairs, and car seats to make them comfortable and attractive. When you sit on a couch, you're sitting on its upholstery: the soft cushions, the fabric covering, and all the hidden materials underneath that give it shape and support.

The word comes from the craft of upholstering, which means adding or replacing these materials. An upholsterer is a skilled craftsperson who strips old furniture down to its frame, then rebuilds it layer by layer with new padding, springs, and fabric. They might transform a worn-out armchair that belonged to your grandparents into something that looks brand new.

Good upholstery involves more than just tacking fabric onto furniture. Upholsterers carefully shape foam and padding, attach springs that distribute weight evenly, and sew fabric so it fits smoothly without wrinkles or bunching. The fabric itself is called upholstery fabric, which is usually thicker and more durable than regular cloth because it needs to withstand years of people sitting, leaning, and sometimes bouncing on it.

Car interiors also have upholstery, whether leather seats in a luxury vehicle or cloth seats in a family minivan. Next time you sit down somewhere comfortable, you're experiencing the work of upholstery.