Non-Toxic Furniture On A Budget (Detailed Compilation)

This article is focused on simple and inexpensive furniture items that are non-toxic and suitable for the chemically sensitive.

When sticking to the cheapest options, we generally cannot go with small-business handmade shops but instead need to go with the larger at-scale brands.

For the most affordable sofas, see this article.

This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Non-Toxic Materials

Metal

Metal is one of the safest materials for chemically sensitive folks.

Metal may need to be washed down in order to remove factory oils for the extremely chemically sensitive, but otherwise, most finishes don’t off-gas.

Powder-coated metal is the safest painted-look finish. Metal finishes, even if they have a paint finish, usually cure quite quickly. 

Electroplated finishes are totally safe, along with metals that don’t require any finish like chrome and stainless steel.

Glass

Glass is the most inert material for furniture, though not usually an inexpensive option.

This is the only material that all chemically sensitive people do well with.

Hard Plastic

Hard plastics are generally safe and are tolerable for most sensitive people.

Almost all furniture made of hard plastic will be low or no off-gassing. Sometimes they need a couple of days to air out.

Hard polypropylene, polyethylene, ABX, and acrylic are all highly tolerable, low to no off-gassing plastics.

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

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, as this does usually off-gas. 

Solid Wood

Solid wood is a non-toxic material though some chemically sensitive people are reactive to the natural odorants.

Many people who are chemically sensitive do best with low-odor woods like poplar and maple.

You also want to look at the finishes.

Many water-based finishes are going to be fine once they get to you, solvent based finishes will have off-gassing.

Some high-end companies use natural oils which have natural odors but are fine for most people.

If wood is unsealed you can seal it with natural finishes, or use a sealer to seal in the odor of the wood.

With bed frames, the most non-toxic styles will have solid slats.

Though plywood/laminated slats are fairly fast to off-gas (usually) and will work for most people.

Rattan/Seagrass/Water Hyacinth/Banana Fiber

Similar to woods, these natural fibers can be 100% natural and have some natural odorants.

If they have a finish it’s likely to be water-based.

1. Chairs & Ottomans

This solid wood-framed armchair, from Amazon uses string as the backing and seat. Under or around $100.

These solid oak chairs have a clear lacquer (we can’t tell from the description if there is an offgassing there). They are under $200 for two.

There are many metal chairs on Amazon that are very affordable (100 and something for many styles).

I have seen many of these mid-century-style plastic chairs in person and they were very inert. Under $150 for 4 chairs is a good deal. Some have metal legs, some have wooden legs.

IKEA carries real rattan chairs from $50 – $180.

IKEA has a banana fiber stool for $60 and Amazon has a cat tail grass stool for under $50.

IKEA ADDE Chair (white) is a simple kitchen table chair that is metal and polypropylene. It is only $12.50!

IKEA NOLMYRA Chair is very simple indoor lounge chair with a plywood base and mesh fabric. Polyester is extremely low in offgassing. $50

IKEA FRÖSET Dining or Kitchen Chair (white stained oak veneer), this chair is all plywood. $125

IKEA LISABO Kitchen Chair (ash) is made of solid wood and plywood. It’s $65.

IKEA ULRIKSBERG Armchair (rattan/anthracite) is all rattan and metal, there should not be any offgassing here. $159

IKEA LIDÅS Chair (white/Sefast white), these mid-century modern chairs by IKEA are made with a solid polypropylene seat and come in many colors and styles. $55

IKEA SKARPÖ Armchair, outdoor, (white), is made of solid polypropylene which does not offgas. $80

And most of IKEA’s outdoor chairs are safe as they are either plastic, wicker, metal, or solid wood. I won’t list all the outdoor options.

Stools

IKEA ALSEDA Stool (banana fiber), banana leaves, and steel, there should not be any offgassing here. $65

These cattail poufs from Amazon are a good deal at under $40.

2. Tables

This little metal side table is from Amazon. Under $40.

It’s possible to find pieces that are pure glass, like this coffee table from Amazon. At under $200 it’s affordable for an all-glass product.

Though you will spend less on a metal and glass coffee table, like this one. Under $140.

This all-metal side table is a good deal at under $30.

Clear acrylic trunks could be used as storage and as a coffee table or side table. You can get two trunks for under $50.

You can get an acrylic plastic coffee table for between $100-$150.

You can also find acrylic side tables for under $40.

At IKEA you can get an INGO, solid pine kitchen table for $100.

Another IKEA option, the JOKKMOKK solid pine table comes with 4 chairs for $200.

The IKA GRÅSALA / ADDE Table and 4 chairs, in gray/black are made of a particleboard fully encased in melamine table and metal + polypropylene chairs. Totalling $170 for all.

3. Desks

Amazon sells a black all-glass and metal desk for a good price, under $150.

Here is another glass and metal desk from Amazon, for around the same price.

IKEA’s desks are all particleboard you could use one of the solid wood kitchen tables, listed above, as a desk.

These metal drawers would work well under a desk. Under $100.

4. Living Room Storage

I really like this metal console table storage unit. Under $70.

These acrylic shelves are a unique storage unit from Amazon. Around $250.

A little metal and glass bar cart can be quite affordable. Under $65.

IKEA IDÅSEN High cabinet with drawer and doors (dark green), this series looks like school lockers and is all metal. It’s getting up there in price at $380.

The IKEA FJÄLLBO TV unit (black), is metal and solid wood. $150.

5. Bedroom Storage

These polypropylene shelves/organizers could look cool (the same style comes in metal as well). Both are under or around $50.

You can find drawers made of Sterilite. Under $40.

From Amazon you can get an all-metal dresser. Based on the videos there is no fiberboard backing. Under $160 plus delivery.

The TARVA Nightstand ($80) and TARVA Dresser, made of pine, are mostly solid wood with fiberboard (HDF) on the backing and draw bottoms. If you like you can seal the fiberboard with shellac and/or AFM Safeseal to block most of the offgassing.

IKEA BJÖRKSNÄS Nightstand (birch), is mostly solid wood except for the bottom of the drawer which is fiberboard and can be sealed as per above. $130.

6. Bed frames

This metal bed is inexpensive for a twin (Amazon). Also the slats are metal. Under $70.

Carolina Leg Co makes an affordable bed frame from poplar or oak, that was recommended by a sensitive person. It looks like the slats are solid wood. It’s $290 for a queen.

The Futon Shop offers a number of wooden platform bedframes, some with tatami mats, some with solid wood slats. The Hop Natural Bed Frame in Oak is the simplest solid wood option that comes in at $675.

You can find rattan headboards (IKEA has one with a wireframe). $90.

IKEA’s cheapest bedframe, the NEIDEN, is solid pine, you need to buy the wood veneer slats for a total of $150 (see a review of the NEIDEN here).

From IKEA, the KLEPPSTAD Bed frame is made of a metal frame, standard laminated slats, and a fabric that is pulled over the headboard. $180.

TARVA Bed frame is their classic solid pine bed, with wood veneer slats. $250.

IKEA’s SAGSTUA Bed frame is an all-metal bed frame for adults (except for the slats). About $300.

FYRESDAL this all-metal daybed frame, which extends out into a bed – it even has metal slats. This should be completely 0-VOC. $330.

VEVELSTAD bed frame has a metal frame, rattan headboard, and veneer wood slats. $360.

Kids Bedframes

MINNEN is an extendable bed frame for kids, from IKEA, it’s all metal except for the slats. $200.

SNIGLAR Bed frame is a kids bed made of solid beech wood. There is a little bit of fiberboard at each end and it has the usual wood veneer slats. $100 (They also make a SNIGLAR crib, reviewed here).

7. Mattresses

For around $250 (plus tax and shipping), you can get 3″ natural latex from Amazon (queen). 

The Futon Shop has a good variety of very affordable mattresses. Their prices start at $575.

Some of the most affordable natural latex options are also by The Futon Shop. The simple options start at $800 for a queen.

FYRESDAL Daybed is also all metal. It does come with 2 foam mattresses. The foam is not 0-VOC but it is low-VOC. Around $400 with the mattresses.

IKEA also has simple mattresses that are just a polyurethane slab like the ÅGOTNES for $69. But for a little more you can add springs and reduce the amount of foam even more – the VADSÖ is $99. These are the simplest options, they have thicker options as well.

White Lotus makes a simple mattress based on their naturally derived polyurethane. It’s $986 for a queen through their website.

8. Futons

The Futon Shop is an obvious option for very affordable futons that many sensitive folks do well with. Starting at about $300.

Rawganique has 100% organic cotton futons as well as cotton and wool. The company focuses on reducing chemical processing as much as possible. Starting at $522.

Zafu kapok fiber futons are really cool. They have an organic cotton cover, with eco wool and kapok fiber. This brand came recommended by sensitive folks. $1,059 for a queen.

9. Vanities

ENHET Bathroom vanity is made of all metal with a ceramic sink. Around $300.

PS. For sofas, see: 10 Most Affordable Non-Toxic Sofas

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.