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Furniture Making Basics

Build tables, shelves and wardrobes that sell — and price the work like a pro

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About this course

Learn to make solid wood-based furniture the proper way — choosing wood and board, cutting accurately, joining strong, assembling square and finishing smooth. You'll also learn to read the Nigerian furniture market, estimate materials and hand a client a clear naira price for a trade that earns in every town.

Every home, hostel, office and shop in Nigeria fills up with wood-based furniture — and most of it is still built locally, by hand. Someone with accurate cuts and a clean finish builds each piece. That someone can be you.

Who this course is for

For people who want a workshop trade with real margins: carpentry apprentices who never learned to measure and price properly, artisans in related trades, and anyone who wants to make and sell tables, shelves, beds and wardrobes. It starts from the wood and the tools, so no experience is assumed.

What you'll learn

By the end you will be able to

Pay, demand and the market in Nigeria

Nigeria imports a large share of its furniture, and every new estate, office, school, church and shop needs fittings. In 2026 a well-made dining table sells for ₦150,000 to ₦500,000, a wardrobe ₦120,000 to ₦400,000, a bed ₦80,000 to ₦300,000 and kitchen or shop fittings by the metre, with materials typically 40% to 60% of the price. A one-person workshop with a steady flow of orders earns ₦200,000 to ₦600,000 a month; workshops that win office and estate contracts earn far more. Finishing quality and delivery dates are what separate the workshops that get referred.

Tools and what it costs to start

A tape, square, marking gauge, hand saw, chisels, a hammer and mallet, clamps, sandpaper and a hand plane cover the first projects for about ₦40,000 to ₦80,000 in 2026. A circular saw or jigsaw, a drill and a sander (₦60,000 to ₦200,000 together) multiply your speed. Timber and board are bought per job. Many beginners rent bench time at an established workshop.

Course syllabus — 7 lessons

  1. Why furniture making pays in Nigeria — and how you earn from it11 min
  2. Know your materials: wood, MDF, board and the tools to work them13 min
  3. Measuring and cutting accurately — where every good piece begins13 min
  4. Joints and assembly: making furniture strong and square14 min
  5. Sanding and finishing: the surface that makes it look shop-bought12 min
  6. Building the money-makers: tables, shelves and wardrobes14 min
  7. Estimating, pricing and running the workshop like a business14 min

Your project

Complete Build Plan and Price for One Piece of Furniture

A single shared link or document containing the piece description and dimensions, a full cut list, a materials list with naira costs, the step-by-step build method, and a professional client price for one piece of furniture.

A complete build plan and price for one piece: description and dimensions, a full cut list, a materials list with 2026 naira costs, the step-by-step build method and a client price. It is graded on accuracy of the cut list, realistic costing and a price that leaves a margin.

Certificates on Skillnaija are earned, not issued for attendance: you submit this project, it is graded against a rubric, and passing issues a certificate anyone can verify. See the full project brief, rubric and free workbook →

Frequently asked questions

Is Furniture Making Basics free?

Yes. Furniture Making Basics is completely free on Skillnaija. You need a free account to open the lessons, and there is no charge for the course, the project, or the certificate.

How long does Furniture Making Basics take to complete?

5 weeks · ~4 hrs/week. There are 7 lessons, about 2 hours of material in total. You learn at your own pace and your progress is saved.

Do I need any experience to start Furniture Making Basics?

Beginner-friendly. You can start from scratch — no prior experience is assumed.

What will I learn in Furniture Making Basics?

You will build practical skills in Choosing wood, MDF and board for the job, Measuring and cutting accurately, Strong, square joints and assembly, Sanding and finishing professionally, Building tables, shelves and wardrobes, Estimating materials and timber, Pricing jobs and running the workshop safely. Every lesson is written for a Nigerian context, with examples drawn from how the work is actually done and paid for here.

Do I get a certificate for Furniture Making Basics?

Yes, but it has to be earned. You complete the course project — Complete Build Plan and Price for One Piece of Furniture and submit it for grading. Passing the project issues a verifiable certificate; finishing the lessons alone does not.

Can I learn furniture making without a workshop?

The measuring, cut lists, joint selection, finishing knowledge and pricing — most of what decides whether a piece succeeds — are learnable from the lessons. For the hands-on work, the course plans for renting bench time or partnering with a local workshop for the first pieces.

What sells best for a beginner furniture maker in Nigeria?

Simple, high-demand pieces: TV stands, shoe racks, study tables, kitchen shelves and beds. They are quick to make, easy to price and easy to sell on Instagram and Jiji, and they build the reputation that brings wardrobe and fit-out orders.

How do I price furniture?

Materials plus labour hours plus overhead plus margin, with a check against what similar pieces sell for. The estimating lesson gives a worksheet and the common mistakes — forgetting hardware, finish, transport and waste.

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