Furniture Design and Construction for Beginners
A course by Patricio Ortega (Maderística)Furniture woodworking instructor
A course by Patricio Ortega (Maderística), Furniture woodworking instructor
Learn the essential steps for designing, planning, and building wooden furniture in your own signature style
Would you say that your home reflects your personality? Say goodbye to generic furniture and dare to start creating it with your own two hands. With the help of Patricio Ortega, architect, carpenter, and co-founder of the Maderística workshop in Chile, you can learn the skills, discipline, and creativity to become a custom furniture maker with truly professional work.
In this course, learn the steps for building a rack-type wardrobe with a sliding door and discover the fundamental techniques for creating other similar projects. If you admire woodworking and would like to build on your skills, you can also learn with Patricio’s other course, Professional Woodworking for Beginners.
What will you learn in this online course?
27 lessons & 22 downloads
What Will We Do in This Course?
2 minutes, 51 seconds
Functional Considerations
14 minutes, 28 seconds
The Aesthetic Dimension
15 minutes, 47 seconds
Materials and Tools 1
17 minutes, 27 seconds
Selection of Material, Cutting, Identification of Parts and Sanding 1
12 minutes, 41 seconds
Discounts
16 minutes, 29 seconds
What's included in this course?
First, get to know your teacher, Patricio Ortega, and learn about how his background led him to create Maderística, “a suit tailored for him”. He explains his idea of signature carpentry and introduces you to some artists who influence his work.
Then, dive into the subject matter by reviewing the three essential aspects of a piece of furniture: structural stability, functionality, and aesthetics.
Next, learn some key concepts that you need to master before working as a carpenter. Patricio helps you understand the importance of having the right workspace and shows you the right kind of work table for those just getting started.
Let's do it! In this unit, start building your furniture. Select material, mark and drill screws, and assemble the body and legs.
Continue by learning about finishes and explore some possible design details for your project. Finally, learn to obtain the perfect slide for your sliding door, correcting final details and applying the characteristic Maderística seal.
What is this course's project?
Build a rack-type wardrobe with a wooden sliding door and learn the essentials for creating furniture with simple and functional lines.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who would like to get started in the woodworking trade, as well as amateurs who would like to expand their skills and achieve more professional results.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, no previous experience is necessary. You will need some basic tools like a ruler, a carpenter square, a combination square, presses, a jigsaw, a circular saw, a router or trimmer, sandpaper, a hammer, and some other minor common objects.
In any case, if you do not have all these tools available, this course could also be a very useful guide for learning more about the role of each and the possibilities they offer. You can organize and acquire them later as needed.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Muy claro, didáctico, ameno y con mucha información!
- 2 months ago
Sí el curso está bien explicado, lo recomiendo!
- liracrisPLUS3 months ago
Me gustó mucho el curso. Muy explicativo y enseñando los tips para solicionar dificutades
- 3 months ago
Very informative class! Thank you!
- 3 months ago
Curso muy completo y amigable para un primer proyecto. Abarca desde técnicas sencillas y explica las técnicas más complejas en caso de desear aplicarlas. Como plus, te enseña no sólo a hacer carpintería sino a hacer arte en la madera.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
Structural, Functional and Basic Aesthetic Notions for Furniture Design
- Basic Structural Notions
- Functional Considerations
- The Aesthetic Dimension
- Review of The Functional and Aesthetic Structural Dialogue in The Furniture of Maderística 1
- Review of The Functional and Aesthetic Structural Dialogue in The Furniture of Maderística 2
- U3
The wonderful World of Woodworking
- Thinking Like a Carpenter
- Materials and Tools 1
- Materials and Tools 2
- Work Bench
- Design and Dimensioning 1
- Design and Dimensioning 2
- U4
The production
- Selection of Material, Cutting, Identification of Parts and Sanding 1
- Selection of Material, Cutting, Identification of Parts and Sanding 2
- Selection of Material, Cutting, Identification of Parts and Sanding 3
- Marking and drilling of screws
- Entarugado 1
- Creased 2
- Discounts
- Body mounting
- Legs 1
- Legs 2
- U5
Finishings and Design Details
- Finishings and Details on the Body
- Texture Work
- Final Details and Finish
- FP
Final project
- Furniture design and construction for beginners
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for people with intermediate woodworking experience who want to deepen their skills in advanced techniques and custom furniture design using plywood pine.
You’ll need basic tools like a router, saw, drill, clamps, sander, drill bits, screws, and dowels, plus sheets of plywood pine and wood glue.
You’ll learn handcrafted furniture building techniques, structural joints, custom design, texture application, material optimization, and principles of ergonomics and sustainability.
Yes, the course includes building complete furniture pieces like shelves, desks, and bookcases, guiding you step-by-step from design through to the final finish.
This course is aimed at those with basic experience who want to advance to an intermediate level, focusing on techniques and custom furniture design.
The course covers material selection, cutting and joining parts, quality control, functional design, space optimization, ergonomics, custom finishes, and the philosophy behind handcrafted work.
Yes, you’ll learn how to make dowel joints, blind rabbets, install screws, groove, round edges, and hide fasteners to improve both the look and strength of your pieces.