Non-Toxic Sofas & Furniture | 2021

This is a complete list of eco-friendly non-toxic sofas that you can buy online.

I start with conventional style non-toxic sofas, digging into what’s really in them, followed by a “next best” list, and then a look at some simpler and more affordable options.

I also take a deep dive into furniture, starting with the specialty brands – those are mostly high-quality solid wood options with zero-VOC finishes.

Then on to simple and affordable furniture made of non-toxic materials like glass, hard plastic, metal, and seagrass.

Non-Toxic Sofas and Couches

For upholstered furniture you want to look for:

• Natural cushion fill such as natural latex, cotton, down, and wool (See my warning about natural latex here. The concerns may be more related to beds, but I can’t say for sure).
• No chemical/formaldehyde treatments on the fabric (such as Scotch Guard and other stain and water-resistant coatings especially PFAS).
• Eco Leather – Conventional leather is made with toxic dyes and treatments. Some folks may prefer leather due to the ability to wipe it down. Brands that use safer leather are covered in a dedicated post.
• Solid woods, not formaldehyde filled pressed wood products.
• Zero or low-VOC glues, stains, and varnishes
• Flame retardant free (my post on flame retardants goes into detail on which ones we want to avoid) but the picks here are all FR free.
• Polyurethane does offgas at low levels, but I don’t rule it out completely. Make sure it is flame retardant free (“Soy Foam” is still polyurethane with some soy).
• GOTS certified fabrics and GOLS certified latex – which are explained in this post on certifications.

Many of the companies below also offer upholstered chairs, recliners and non-toxic sofa beds/sleeper sofas. You will have to choose between polyurethane or natural latex in the beds.

For mattresses and bed frames see my post on mattresses and bedding. 

I recommend all of the products here, some products have affiliate programs and some do not. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

The 8 Top Non-Toxic Sofa Brands You Can Buy Online

1. Medley

Medley sofas are made with either polyurethane or organic natural latex, no-VOC glues, no flame retardants, fabric options that are all-natural, organic, or both, solid alder frames with natural or zero-VOC finishes, and organic cotton internal frame lining. 

They offer a sample kit which is really helpful for those who want to check out the materials first.

If you are looking for a hypoallergenic option this sample box will help to narrow in on what you are allergic to. Medley is my top pick for most people with allergies and sensitivities.

They carry loveseats, standard size sofas, sectionals, and sleeper sofas.

They offer leather as an upholstery option. It’s semi-aniline leather with a water-based coating on top, which I talk more about in the leather furniture post.

You can use code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

Made in the USA. Delivery to the US, Canada and beyond.

Start at $1500

2. The Futon Shop

The Futon Shop has a sofa called Daisy Organic Natural Sofa.

It’s made with solid pine (no glues) and has various options for the fill.

The seat cushion fill options include wool with coils, wool and latex or all three.

The base arms and back of the sofa are made with natural latex, coconut coir, and natural wool encased in fabric.

You can change the main fill to PLA or upgrade to organic wool and latex.

The fabric options include organic cotton, linen and wool.

They make chairs, loveseats, sofas and sectionals.

Made in the USA they can provide you with a quote if you are shipping outside of the contiguous 48 states.

Start at $1800 for the sofas.

3. Cisco Brothers

Cisco Brothers sofas are either the Essentials Collection or they can be made with the Inside Green option.

The base line is called Essentials Collection which contains hardwood (no plywood), typically alder or maple, polyurethane foam, cushions with goose feathers & down. Fabrics are washed to remove any residual dust or chemicals.

The Inside Green option contains organic natural latex instead of polyurethane, wrapped in either eco wool or feathers & down. They use certified solid woods, organic cotton fabrics with no toxic treatments, jute and hemp instead of springs, and WOCA natural stains. No flame retardants are used.

The make regular sized sofas, loveseats and sectionals.

Made in the USA. Sold at locations throughout the US and Canada and online through Urban Natural.

Starts at $2300. The “Inside Green” option starts at $3400

4. EcoBalanza

These handmade, customized sofas are high quality and made with traditional methods – and that means less glue and more options with what materials are used.

They use organic wool, organic cotton, GOLS certified organic natural Dunlop latex, and GOTS certified fabrics. No flame retardants are used anywhere. Kapok and down are offered in some configurations.

They use non-toxic zero-VOC glues and Rubio Monocoat stains. They can use a different finish if the customer is sensitive to Rubio, or they can leave it unfinished. Solid wood frames are made of alder and beech, ash is usually used for the legs.

They can also accommodate a latex allergy by completely leaving out and replacing the latex.

The make 3 seaters, loveseats, and sectionals. (They also make chairs, ottomans, bed frames and headboards).

They make leather sofas with EcoPell leather which is unsealed, vegetable-tanned, and free of heavy metals. It’s the only truly safe leather on the list – I do into detail on why that is here.

This is the most customizable brand on the list. The Essential Collection is more of option than a collection, and is a more affordable option.

Handmade in Seattle, they ship to all states and to Canada.

Start at $3800

5. Pottery Barn Eco Sofa

Pottery Barn has a lot of options that I would consider in their green line. Pictured above is the slipcover from Amazon for the roll arm style. They also have a square arm.

The down blend is 50% polyester fiber, 45% duck feather, and 5% duck down. After emailing the company, it sounds like the down option has no foam, but I would double-check.

The foam option is, unfortunately, polyurethane memory foam, I prefer regular polyurethane. Memory foams are usually higher in offgassing than regular foam (though not necessarily). These don’t contain flame retardants.

Some of their other sofas do not have memory foam as an option.

They use solid wood inside the construction and some of the fabric options are GOTS certified organic cotton. This sets them apart from most other large national big brands. The Crypton fabric is free of PFAS.

With Greenguard Gold certification, this is an extremely low level of allowed formaldehyde (0.0073 parts per million).

For someone wanting to avoid both latex and polyurethane, and still looking for something affordable, this could be a good option. They are not quite as “green” as the other companies in this first section.

I have seen swatches of the fabrics, the performance fabrics certainly had more of an odor than the non-performance fabrics.

They offer standard size couches, loveseats, sectionals and recliners.

They deliver to the contiguous US states.

$1000 – $2900

6. Savvy Rest Couch

Made with solid maple (no plywood or particleboard), GOTS-certified organic upholstery (hemp and/or cotton), natural latex wrapped in organic wool, and the option of a linseed finish or unfinished feet. No flame retardants.

They make sofas, loveseats and upholstered chairs.

Made in America they ship to all states and Canada.

Starts at $3500

7. PURE

Made with organic latex with a feather and down wrap, solid maple wood, organic wool, GOTS certified organic cotton, Greenguard certified water-based glue, and Rubio Monocoat wood finish on legs. No flame retardants are used.

They offer sofas, loveseats, sectionals, some sleeper sofas, and a recliner. (Out of the top tier eco companies this is the only one that makes a non-toxic recliner).

Made in America. They ship to the 48 contiguous states. It’s possible to order one to Canada but you need a customs broker.

You can mention My Chemical-Free House for 5% off.

Start at $1400

8. Carolina Morning

The wooden structure is made from regionally harvested Appalachian poplar wood, finished with Vermont Natural Coatings.

The futon covers are an organic 100% cotton canvas (eight colors) and they are filled with kapok fiber.

The kapok is grown without herbicides and pesticides.

These are made with the chemically sensitive in mind, and they go to good lengths to keep out added chemicals.

$2,350

Next Best Options

The next best options are sofas free of PFAS and there are a few things to look for:

• No use of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances is a top priority in terms of avoiding persistent chemicals (only a few sofa brands below listed below are free of PFCs/PFAS)
• Solid wood or at least plywood inside the sofa is better than particleboard
• No flame retardants (almost all big companies are free of FR now)
• No memory foam (that is higher in offgassing than regular foam)

1. IKEA Sofas

The standard IKEA sofas (i.e. not the futons) are made with particleboard, which offgasses some formaldehyde; regular polyester fabric not treated with perfluorinated chemicals (e.g. PFOS, PFOA, PFOSA); and polyurethane foam cushions which are low in offgassing and free of flame retardants.

The main difference between IKEA and the “greener” brands above is the use of particleboard.

IKEA sells loveseats, sofas, sectionals, sofa beds, upholstered chairs, and recliners.

Prices start from $250

2. Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel eliminated PFAS/PFCs and flame retardants from their upholstery.

Some of the sofas I looked at had engineered wood (plywood probably) and some had solid wood inside.

There was standard polyurethane foam on the ones I looked at, no flame retardants.

The fabric swatches had an odor that was hard to describe, something similar to a very light rubber smell.

They sell sofas, loveseats, sectionals, sleeper sofas, upholstered chairs and recliners.

Prices start at about $1000

3. Room and Board

Room and Board has also eliminated PFAS/PFCs from their fabrics. Some of the fabrics are GreenGuard Gold certified but I couldn’t pick up any major difference between those and their regular fabrics.

The frames are made from solid wood. The foam is regular polyurethane that is free of flame retardants, I did not see any memory foam options.

They sell sofas, loveseats, sectionals, day beds, sofa beds, upholstered chairs and recliners.

Prices start at $1200

4. Vegan Polyurethane Leather Couches

Not a brand, but a type of sofa to look for that I consider non-toxic and safe is a polyurethane (PU) faux leather sofa.

Whenever looking at faux leather check to see what kind of plastic it is. It could be PVC, PU, or nylon.

I like PU because it doesn’t contain plasticizers, PFAS, or other stain guard chemicals, it’s low odor – and even that will pass. It also is quite a good block of VOCs or semi-VOCs that could be coming from inside the couch.

I avoid PVC faux leather.

• Elodie Finch makes a cute PU leather sofa for about $1000.
• Pottery Barn Teen makes a really cool lounger chair out of PU for $300.

5. Crypton Fabric (no PFAS/PFCS)

Pottery Barn has some sofas made with Crypton fabric which we know is free of PFAS/PFCS these still performance fabrics that have a bit of a higher odor than non-performance fabrics from PB.

The Pearce Roll Arm sofa has the Crypton fabric option. The frame is solid wood and the cushions are a mix of regular polyurethane (no flame retardants) and polyester batting.

Alternative Sofa Options: Simple and Affordable 

Daybeds and Futons

Metal Daybeds

If you are too sensitive to wood and typical sofa materials, or you just want something simpler and cheaper, you could try a metal daybed from Walmart, IKEA or Amazon and put a non-toxic mattress of your choosing on it.

Some of the metal daybed frames will accommodate a MondoKing Thermarest.

Futons

You can buy simple futons with a wood or metal base from Amazon or IKEA.

IKEA makes a futon and simple metal-based sofa that contains polyurethane foam (no flame retardants). This option cuts back on other toxic materials used in regular sofas.

A simple sofa with a washable cover can be an asset to those with sensitivities and allergies who need to launder items often.

An even simpler option from IKEA is the Hammarn little futon for $129. This has a metal frame, and only a small amount of polyurethane (no flame retardants).

A simple option like this can be quite non-toxic and offgas rather quickly, especially after a little time airing out.

The more polyurethane, the more you have to offgas. Not all futons have foam though. You have to check what the fill is.

The more components you have inside a typical sofa, the more offgassing you have from pressed wood products, stains, and glues.

Futons eliminate pressed wood products and cut down on glues used. They often don’t have stains.

Metal frames eliminate all offgassing of both stains and wood glues.

If you want a proper futon bed for sleeping made of truly safe or natural materials check out my post on mattresses where I outline a number of options in this category.

Outdoor Furniture

You could also look at outdoor furniture to be used inside.

The benefit here would be the simplicity of the design. Metal, plastic or solid wood as the base. Cushions that can be left outside to offgas or replaced with a cushion of your choice.

Outdoor cushions are made with either polyurethane or polyester fill and the covers can have waterproofing on them, but because of the ability to remove them from the sofa and offgas them, this could be a simple, affordable and healthy option for many.

Here are three options you might find on Amazon: solid wood outdoor sofa, metal-framed outdoor sofa, and a plastic-based outdoor sofa.

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2. Non-Toxic Furniture

Tables, Chairs, Bookcases and Storage

For non-toxic zero-VOC tables, chairs, bookcases, benches and storage units look for solid wood (with zero-VOC stains and varnishes), and zero or low-VOC adhesives.

Low odor woods are preferable for some sensitive people.

Avoid laminated wood which has particle board or MDF board. Plywood is not as high in offgassing as MDF or particle board.

There are some formaldehyde-free pressed wood products like Purebond plywood (though some sensitive folks react to that proprietary glue).

Some types of furniture are more likely to have a veneer of real wood glued on to a lower quality wood. In some styles this is hard to avoid.

Urban Natural – Uses either natural oils and a beeswax finish or a zero-VOC water-based catalyzed varnish finish. The glues vary by manufacturer. One brand uses a Cradle-to-Cradle certified (toxicity level yellow) glue.

Viesso – Uses ECOS 0-VOC finishes (which are very well tolerated by the chemically sensitive) or natural oil and wax finishes on wooden furniture. They use 0-VOC glues.

Medley – Has some beautiful solid wood furniture, sealed with WoodShield and made with 0 VOC glues. You can use the code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

Something simple – solid wood desks from Staples with an incredibly low VOC (maybe 0-VOC) finish came highly recommended by someone sensitive. It’s only $156, so a total deal. You could add some rolling metal drawers under it for desk storage.

Amazon has a good selection of solid wood-framed chairs.

West Elm also has nice solid wood chairs (dining room).

Simple non-toxic side tables can be found on Amazon. I like this little bamboo one with a clear coating on it.

Non-Toxic Vintage Furniture

Vintage or reclaimed wooden furniture might be safe and healthy if you are sure it hasn’t been refinished recently with conventional products, and it has not been exposed to chemical cleaning products, smoke, mold, pesticides, or other chemical substances.

With upholstered items, take extra care to make sure it wasn’t from a time frame when flame retardants were even more toxic. The post on flame retardants goes into more detail.

Solid Wood Amish Furniture

If you can’t find what you are looking for in the eco stores or in big box stores, try Amish furniture making companies. They build solid wood furniture. They often use linseed oil as a finish but unfinished can usually be requested.

Non-Toxic Desks

Vermont Woods makes solid wood desks with a very low VOC lacquer.

Uplift makes standing desks with solid wood.

Solid wood desks from specialty stores tend to be pricey.

A dedicated post on non-toxic desks (and desk chairs) is here!

On Amazon, you can find simple solid wood desks, like this sturdy solid wood sawhorse style desk.

You can also find glass and metal options (they change what they carry over time).

Bedroom Furniture

Green Cradle – This company makes 100% solid wood bedroom furniture, either unfinished or finished with linseed oil. They have dressers, chests, armoires, bookcases, nightstands and cribs.

Pacific Rim Woodworking – This company makes beds and dressers out of solid wood, Purebond (no added formaldehyde) plywood, and they have options for natural and 0-VOC finishes. 

Romina Furniture – Makes furniture for the bedroom for babies, kids and teens. They use solid wood only, organic natural glues, and a variety of non-toxic finishes.

Baby Eco Trends – Makes furniture for babies and children. Solid wood, Amish made, with a choice of finishes. 

Medley – Makes bedroom furniture out of solid wood and bamboo, with all-natural finishes. You can use code MyChemFreeHouse5 for 5% off.

Zin Home – Makes bedroom furniture, much of it out of reclaimed wood, and some with natural finishes. They were not able to tell me what all the finishes were, as the items are made overseas.

Vermont Woods – Solid wood bedroom furniture (some pieces have veneer), with very low VOC lacquer.

TY Furniture – A focus on non-toxic furniture, this company uses solid woods, non-toxic natural oils and wax finishes with non-toxic glues.

3. Alternatives to Wooden Furniture

Solid wood furniture from specialty stores tends to be expensive. Here are some alternatives.

These would also suit those who don’t do well with the odor of wood or have severe allergies and reactions to mold, dust, and allergens.

Non-porous, low toxin furniture that can easily be wiped down with a variety of cleaning products is a huge advantage for many.

Many of these options are also less expensive which is well suited to those starting over after a moldy or toxic house.

Glass, Metal, Stone & Plastic Furniture

Metal Furniture

Metal is one of the safest materials. Metal may need to be washed down in order to remove factory oils, but otherwise most finishes don’t offgas.

Powder-coated metal is the safest painted look finish. Electroplated finishes are totally safe, along with metals that doesn’t require any finish like chrome and stainless steel. Metal finishes, even if they used a paint, usually cure quite quickly. 

Bertoia style metal chairs, pictured, are popular. There are many metal chairs on Amazon that are very affordable.

Other furniture items you can find in metal are cabinets, drawers, even a chest of drawers though there are some wood products in there, shelves, tables of all sizes, kitchen prep islands, desks, bed frames, TV stands and more.

I really like this coral console table storage unit.

Glass Furniture

Glass is the most inert material for furniture. It will most often be coupled with metal like this glass and metal coffee table, black glass and metal desk, and this bar cart.

It’s possible to find pieces that are pure glass, like this table from Amazon (pictured) which is surprisingly affordable for a glass product.

Hard Plastic Furniture

Hard plastics are generally safe and are tolerable for most people. Almost all furniture made of hard plastic will be a low or no offgassing plastic. Sometimes it needs a couple days to air out.

I have seen many of these mid-century style chairs (pictured) in person and they were very inert. Some have metal legs if you want to avoid all wood.

Hard polypropylene, ABX and acrylic are all highly tolerable, low to 0 offgassing plastics. These polypropylene shelves/organizers pictured below could look cool (they come in metal as well).

You can also find many items made of clear acrylic like this really neat trunk, coffee tables, side tables, shelves, and other unique storage units on Amazon.

Sterilite is a plastic that even the very chemically sensitive usually do well with (a mix of polypropylene and polyethylene). You can find drawers made of Sterilite.

Outdoor faux rattan is usually made of safer plastics (like polypropylene) that will work for most folks who are sensitive to chemicals.

Make sure it’s not made of PVC which I have come across (rarely) with outdoor wicker. The one pictured could even be used indoors in a beachy style home.

Stone Furniture

Marble and other stone can be made into tabletops. Marble is made with a resin used to fill in the fissures, and a sealer would also be applied to furniture. You will have to reseal it if it gets heavy use.

It’s harder to find real stone furniture online. This is one real marble table from Amazon. You will find real stone furniture more readily in brick and mortar or specialty stores.

Faux marble is most often laminate (with particleboard) not ideal for the chemically sensitive. Though it could also be a safe hard plastic, or a less safe hard plastic (like cultured marble). It could also be engineered stone which is usually 0 VOC. Be sure to check out what it is made of.

This faux marble island is quartz, which is safe and 0-VOC (but like marble, not cheap).

Rattan, Seagrass, & Banana Leaf Furniture

You might also want to consider furniture made of natural fibers: rattan (a vine), banana leaves (the leaves from banana trees), seagrass (a reed) and bamboo (a grass).

The outdoor “rattan” is usually plastic woven in a wicker style, and works best for outdoor furniture. Real rattan and similar fibers can be used to make low toxin and even stylish indoor furniture.

The term “paper rope” is not a natural grass or reed, but rather paper mixed with glue and “sizing” chemical twisted together. It resembles rattan. If you are looking for real rattan, be sure to double-check.

Rattan can look stylish inside, despite being very simple:

Are Rattan, Banana Leaves and Seagrass Treated?

Many very sensitive folks do well with these fibers. Though it’s possible the plants were sprayed while they were growing or sprayed with pesticides in transit if they are coming from tropical countries as an import (source).

Rattan

Rattan is a vine that is technically a wood product. Amazon carries a selection of natural rattan chairs, most of them $100 – $200. IKEA carries rattan chairs from $50 – $180.

You can also find rattan headboards (IKEA has one with a wire frame), trays, baskets, stools, coffee tables, storage pieces and even mirrors.

More bed frames in my post on mattresses and bedding.

Banana Fiber

Banana leaves or banana fiber are the leaves from Banana trees. You can find it made into stools or poufs.

IKEA has a banana fiber stool and so does Amazon.

Seagrass

The terms seagrass and water hyacinth are used interchangeably in the furniture industry.

The leaves and stems are made into furniture like this storage basket. You can also find seagrass coffee tables, rugs (more in my post on non-toxic rugs), and various types and styles of storage baskets.

Related posts:

• Mattresses
• Non-Toxic Rugs

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 6 years of experience helping others create healthy homes

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