Im thinking about redoing the upholstery on my couch.  but im worried it will be hard
i have been in it all my life.  Upholstery is the work of providing furniture
oh thats awesome.  Is their a common fabric used?
well you should know The word "upholstery" comes from the Middle English word "upholder"
so did the practice get started in Europe?
yes and  A person who works with upholstery is called an upholsterer; 
I bet an upholsterer makes a lot of money, it seems like a lot of hard work
, but it appears to have a connotation of "repairing" furniture rather than creating new upholstered pieces from scratch (cobbler vs. cordwainer).
In 18th-century London, upholders frequently served as interior decorators responsible for all aspects of a room's decor. These individuals were members of the Worshipful Company of Upholders, whose traditional role, prior to the 18th century, was to provide upholstery and textiles and the fittings for funerals. In the great London furniture-making partnerships of the 18th century, a cabinet-maker
Upholstery
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. The term is equally applicable to domestic, automobile, airplane and boat furniture, and can be applied to mattresses, particularly the upper layers, though these often differ significantly in design. A person who works with upholstery is called an "upholsterer".