I’ve been trying out non toxic furniture brands that are sustainable and zero VOC and have finally created a guide! The best nontoxic furniture is ethically and sustainably made in the US and will be free of formaldehyde, VOCs, BPA, flame retardants, PFAS, acrylics, chemical dyes and heavy metals. Keep reading to find the top-rated companies that fit your style, needs and budget.
Why I switched to non-toxic furniture
My personal journey of switching to healthy furniture has been slow, but I now have a handful of 100% non-toxic furniture pieces, some DIY furniture, and tons of amazing secondhand finds (the most sustainable option!). I spend a lot of time at home and I was gutted when I found out the paints, varnishes, upholstery, glues, adhesives and other parts used to make furniture are filled with toxins. Plus, we’re living in plastic and it’s a problem. From plastic flooring and rugs to roofing and synthetic lawns, it’s impossible to avoid. I know it’s not easy making the switch, so I’m sharing the tips that have helped me the most below!
Toxins to Avoid in Furniture
Avoid these common toxins found in conventional furniture:
- Formaldehyde: commonly used in particleboard and MDF and a known carcinogen
- Flame retardants: used to make materials fire-resistant but can disrupt hormones and affect the nervous system
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):found in paints, adhesives, and finishes. These can cause headaches, dizziness, and liver and kidney damage.
- Heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic): can be found in some paints, finishes, and treated wood. They can cause poisoning, developmental issues, and organ damage.
- Pthalates: used in vinyl and plastic furniture and are linked to reproductive issues & hormone disruption.
- BPA: a known hormone disruptor
- PFAS: used to prevent staining and known as “forever chemicals” that can accumulate in the human body
- Carcinogenic dyes: can release harmful chemicals
My Personal Tips
These are my personal tips to help the process of switching to non-toxic furniture easier!
- I’ve found that IKEA is doing a great job at offering options that are as low-tox as possible while remaining affordable. All their furniture is free of PFAS, certain heavy metals, BPA, Polyvinylchloride, PAH, certain phthalates and recycled plastic that contains brominated flame retardants. It’s not perfect, but not everyone can afford 100% non-toxic.
- The healthiest materials to look for are Organic Cotton, Linen (Flax), Organic Wool, Hemp, Organic Bamboo, Natural Latex, Jute, Plant-based Upholstery Finishes, Sustainable Wood (FSC-certified), and Natural Fillings.
- Look for Greenguard Gold Certified furniture at big stores like West Elm (massive collection!). This means it’s free of VOCs and tested for 10,000 harmful chemicals.
- To be super sustainable and easy on the wallet, look for secondhand furniture that ISN’T upholstered.
I tried Avocado Green Mattress
I’ve found that Avocado offers the best value for quality out of all the non toxic furniture brands, hands down. I recently purchased Avocado’s Accent Table and LOVE it – so high end looking! It’s made of upcycled wood from their FSC-certified workshop in Los Angeles, an ECOS WoodShield stain, and Titebond wood glues, which are safe and produce no harmful fumes. Shipping was super fast and the setup was a cinch. I find it sooo elegant, well-built and sturdy, just can’t say enough good things. The design is modern and simple, yet it still feels like a statement piece in my living room. I also give it bonus points for being zero waste! Avocado’s also a one stop shop, so you can get everything you need like organic mattresses and bedding in one place.
Product types offered: Bed frame, foundation, dresser, nightstand, table, desk, bench, chair, pouf, rug, stool, dog bed
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Medley Home
Medley is probably THE company to go to for organic sofas. They make the most beautiful, non-toxic couches that are eco-certified and USA made. They’re on the luxe end, and I’m super impressed by their commitment to using the safest materials possible in every part of production. Medley uses FSC-certified solid wood, low-VOC CARB 2 compliant plywood, natural fabrics that are GREENGUARD Gold or OEKO-TEX 100, and plant-based finishes made of beeswax, carnauba wax, and olive oil. The sofas are highly customizable with all kinds of high-end fabrics to choose from.
Price range: Sofa $2,400-$8,000 | Chair $1,505-$2,195
Product types offered: Sofa, sectional, chairs, storage, bed frame, mattress, dresser, nightstand, dining table, accent table, bench, pouf, storage, dining chair
I tried Room In A Box Bett 2.0
I have Room In A Box’s Bett 2.0 and find it to be the most affordable, hassle-free and eco-friendly bed foundation on the market. The small size fits my twin organic mattress perfectly. It’s made of highly sturdy corrugated cardboard and requires zero set up (took me barely a minute!). The cardboard is made of 70% post consumer recycled material while the rest are virgin fibers that are sustainably and ethically sourced. And instead of toxic adhesives, RIAB uses vegan starch glue made from potato, corn or wheat starch and the dyed options use environmentally friendly water-based printing inks. The downside is it only has a life expectancy of 10 years, but that’s actually still really decent. I find that it doesn’t budge AT ALL – it actually stays put and feels supportive (mattress must be at least 6 inches tall)! Currently they ship only the bed in the US (from Virginia) while they offer their full range in the EU (from Berlin).
Price: $169 for twin (currently on sale for $101)
Product types offered: Bed frame (US), table, bench, stool, shelf, headboard
I tried Savvy Rest Organic Furniture
I’m always updating this post with new non toxic furniture I test out and the latest addition to my home is Savvy Rest. This is an American company based in Virginia that makes customizable, organic sofas and furniture. They use certified sustainable solid hardwood, GOTS-certified organic fabrics, Cradle-to-Cradle certified Natural Talalay latex foam, Certified organic wool batting, Natural jute webbing, Natural coir and Zero-VOC finishes. Each piece is super easy to assemble and hand-built by their skilled woodworkers in Charlottesville with traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery. So far they make organic sofas, bed frames, loveseat, coffee tables and armchairs. This is a wonderful small company to support that’s purpose-driven and values-based with an incredible number of certifications to boot. Stay tuned for my thoughts on their Afton bed!
Price range: Organic Sofa $3,799-$4,099 | Coffee Table $679-$854
Product types offered: Sofa, coffee table, bench, bed frame, ottoman
Use OBL for 20% off
Shop HereSabai Design
Sabai is another great non toxic sofa company that’s focused on sustainability, circularity and affordability. They use recycled, upcycled and natural fabrics that are OEKO-Tex and Greenguard Gold certified, FSC Certified Wood and Certipur-US Certified Foam, all shipped plastic free from their North Carolina workshop. Their sofa starts at $1,545, comes in 22 different colors and you can choose from Upcycled Poly, Recycled Velvet, Hemp or Cactus Leather (PETA friendly). They’re 100% made to order, always, and have a 30 day return policy (except decor). There’s a decent selection to choose from including sectionals, loveseats and chairs.
Olive Ateliers
Olive Atelier is a concept furniture store – they drop unique furniture collections where no two drops are the same. The drops are super curated and what they have is what they have, meaning it’s gone once someone buys. I love that they curate tons of items that are made of 100% natural materials like onyx and limestone. Plus Los Angeles residents can go check out their drops in person!
Price: Side Table $995 | Chair $295-$2,795
Product types offered: Chair, Stool, Table, Side Table, Cabinet, Bench, Console, Credenza
More Organic Beaut Lover Approved Furniture
Saatva
I found that Saatva offers the largest variety of bed frames made using non-toxic materials. They’re known for their super high quality organic mattresses and their furniture uses kiln dried rubberwood or acacia hardwoods and fabrics that are CertiPUR-US certified and are zero-VOC.
Product types offered: Bed frame, foundation, nightstand, chair, bench, ottoman, rug
Shop HereBirch Living
Birch Living offers a couple of non toxic bed frames and foundations that go well with their organic mattresses. I have their Luxe version and it feels amazing! Their Madison Bed Frame is made with 100% Appalachian hardwood bed rails, 100% solid Southern Yellow Pine natural wood slats, and 100% solid Appalachian Maple legs with all-natural water-based VOC-free finishes.
Price range: From $299
Product types offered: Bed frame
Cozy Earth
I’m super excited that one of my favorite eco bedding brands is now making sustainable furniture! For now they’ve designed and created a lounge chair made of 100% solid hardwood that’s FSC certified. Definitely, a brand to keep on your radar.
Price: $2200 (use CE-ORGANIC for 40% off)
Product types offered: Lounge Chair
Andrea is a clean beauty expert from Los Angeles, California with 10 years of experience in natural skincare and organic living. She writes for Organic Beauty Lover using her expertise to guide readers in choosing the best clean products. Andrea graduated from the University of Southern California in 2012 and has worked at multiple skincare companies, big and small. Connect with her @organicbeautylover.
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