Mid-Century Furniture Restoration Workshops & Courses in Melbourne

Mid-Century Furniture Restoration Workshops & Courses in Melbourne

Hands-on mid-century furniture restoration workshops led by an experienced craftsman, designed for those who want to properly understand, restore, and work with original mid-century furniture.

Based in Northcote, Melbourne, these workshops focus on real techniques, real materials, and real furniture — not theory or shortcuts.

Whether you’re a homeowner, designer, collector, or serious DIY enthusiast, these sessions are built to give you practical skills, confidence, and historical understanding.


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Mid-century furniture restoration workshop

Purpose-Led Workshops — Not Generic Classes

Mid-century furniture restoration requires a different mindset to modern woodworking. These workshops are intentionally small, focused, and craft-driven, allowing time to understand why things were built a certain way — not just how to fix them.

This is education rooted in experience, not mass instruction.

  • Respect for original design and materials
  • Correct restoration order and decision-making
  • Period-appropriate tools, oils, and finishes
  • Long-term durability over cosmetic results

What You’ll Learn

  • Assessing mid-century furniture correctly
  • Understanding teak, walnut, and vintage timbers
  • Identifying original vs later finishes
  • Safe disassembly and reassembly
  • Structural repair basics (joints, frames, stability)
  • Traditional sanding and surface preparation
  • Period-correct oiling and finishing techniques
  • Avoiding common restoration mistakes

Participants leave with both hands-on experience and a clearer understanding of mid-century furniture as a whole.

Hands-on furniture restoration training

Workshop Formats Available

Small Group Workshops

Ideal for beginners and enthusiasts who want guided, hands-on learning in a supportive environment. Group sizes are intentionally limited to allow individual attention.

One-on-One Tuition

Tailored sessions focused on your specific furniture piece or skill level. Ideal for collectors, designers, or those with a particular restoration goal.

Custom Sessions

Available for design studios, educational groups, or private bookings. Content can be adjusted to suit experience level and objectives.

Who These Workshops Are For

  • Homeowners restoring their own furniture
  • Design and architecture professionals
  • Collectors and vintage furniture enthusiasts
  • Serious DIYers seeking correct methods
  • Anyone wanting to avoid costly restoration mistakes

No prior experience is required — just a genuine interest in learning proper techniques.

Led by a Practising Mid-Century Restoration Specialist

All workshops are led by Richard Lloyd, a working mid-century furniture restorer with years of hands-on experience. This is not classroom teaching — it’s direct knowledge gained from real restoration projects.

You’ll learn what actually works, what to avoid, and how to make informed restoration decisions with confidence.

Mid-century restoration workshop environment

Location & Workshop Environment

Workshops are held in Northcote, Melbourne, in a practical, working environment where participants can engage directly with tools, materials, and furniture.

The setting is calm, focused, and detail-driven — designed to support learning rather than overwhelm.

Workshop Dates & Availability

Workshops run periodically throughout the year, with limited places available.

Next intake:
🗓 Returning February 2026
📍 Northcote, Melbourne

Early registration is recommended due to small group sizes.

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Why Learn Mid-Century Restoration Properly?

  • Avoid irreversible mistakes
  • Preserve value and authenticity
  • Understand furniture before altering it
  • Gain skills you can apply confidently
  • Learn from a specialist, not generic instruction

Good restoration starts with knowledge.

Register Your Interest or Enquire