Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing and fabric or leather covers The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to an artisan who held up their goods A person who works with upholstery is called an upholsterer It is also a person whose business it is to upholster furniture and sometimes to furnish and put in place hangings, curtains, carpets, etc