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My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

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healthy decor

Most Wallpaper is Toxic, These Ones Aren’t

August 5, 2020 by Corinne 6 Comments

When I set out to write about eco-friendly wallpaper I thought this would be a pretty straightforward exercise of looking at the VOC levels of the inks.

It turned out newer wallpaper materials are far more complex and contain a lot more chemical additives than just paper and ink.

When The Ecology Center last did a study of the 11 leading wallpaper brands, they found that almost all of them contained PVC, and half of them contained other major chemicals of concern, including metals and toxic flame retardants.

This post outlines what I look for in a wallpaper and my top picks for healthy, non-toxic, eco-friendly brands.

The post covers brands available in North America, Europe and Australia.

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What to Look for in an Eco-Friendly Wallpaper:

Water-Based Ink Printed Wallpaper

Generally, water-based ink is preferable to solvent-based ink. Solvent-based ink is likely to be higher in VOCs.

Low & 0-VOC Wallpaper

Wallpapers labeled with the Greenguard certification mean they have low levels of VOCs. But I would be surprised if any water-based ink wallpaper couldn’t meet that level. Look for low or zero-VOC water-based inks or paint. Get a sample if you are chemically sensitive.

PVC-Free Wallpaper

The vast majority of wallpaper is coated in PVC/vinyl which contains harmful plasticizers that are not counted as VOCs or measured in certifications like Greenguard Gold. In 2010, The Ecology Center tested 2,300 types of wallpaper (from 11 different brands), 96% of them had PVC as a coating.

Flame-Retardant-Free Wallpaper

Fifteen percent of wallpapers tested by the Ecology Center contained Brominated Flame Retardants (BFR) in 2010. This flame retardant is not likely used very much anymore, but others will have taken its place. Some brands contained tin, which is another flame retardant. Silver and titanium dioxide can also be added to the mixes. Newer chemicals include intumescent flame retardant, which is supposed to be safer.

Toxic-Metal-Free Wallpaper

The Ecology Center report also revealed that wallpaper commonly contains arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, and tin. With 1/5th of all samples containing cadmium.

Healthy Eco-Friendly Brands of Wallpaper

PVC-Free Wallpaper Lines

1. Spoonflower

eco-friendly peel and stick wallpaper
Photo via spoonflower.com

Spoonflower wallpaper is made with water-based inks. They are formaldehyde, phthalate, and PVC-free.

They sell traditional (non-pasted), pre-pasted and peel and stick papers.

This is one of a few brands of peel and stick that is not made of PVC, so I really like this brand.

The peel and stick and pre-pasted are not fire rated so they would not contain a flame retardant. The non-pasted is fire rated and it’s not clear if it contains a chemical flame retardant.

The peel and stick does have a noticeable but fairly mild odor both from the plastic side and from the sticker side (as expected of anything that is a sticker or tape), the pre-pasted was the lowest in odor with the glue seeming odorless to me, the non-pasted one was in the middle odor wise – the woven backing does have an odor.

They sell samples 10$ each.

They have offices in the US and Germany, and ship around the world. You can buy the wallpaper on Amazon.

2. Juju Papers

modern ecofriendly non-toxic wallpaper
Photo via jujupapers.com

Juju Paper is a clay-coated wallpaper made with inks that are water-based and low VOC.

No PVC and no flame retardants are added, they stated in an email.

The papers are made in the USA and you can buy them online at Burke Decor.

3. Farrow & Ball

Classic styles of 0 VOC no offgassing breathable wallpaper
farrow-ball.com

Farrow & Ball, a well-known UK based paint company, also makes wallpaper.

They use their line of low and zero-VOC water-based paints to create the wallpaper. Their paint is far lower odor than even 0-VOC acrylics. The binder in their paint is PVA, making it one of the lowest toxin paints I have ever tested.

These are PVC free. The company claims they are free of flame retardant chemicals.

I was happy with the samples I ordered. They seemed odorless to me. They appear more like a painted surface than an ink or plastic coated surface since they are made with paint.

They have showrooms in Europe, the US, and Canada. You can also buy it through their website and Amazon.

4. Ferm Living

modern simple design of low VOC water based wallpaper no flame retardants
Photo via fermliving.com

Fern Living papers are printed with water-based colors on non-woven fleece paper.

They are PVC-free and the company claims they don’t add flame retardants.

They ship within Europe and the US and have showrooms in Europe.

In the US, you can order through Burke Decor (they also ship to Canada and internationally).

5. MissPrint

Organic healthy wallpaper, free of toxins
Photo via missprint.co.uk

Missprint’s wallpapers are printed with organic pigment inks, which are non-toxic, free of heavy metals, and classed as non-carcinogenic.

This is non-woven wallpaper, applied by pasting the wall.

The wallpapers are not coated in PVC, nor do they contain any PVC. They do not contain any fire retardant chemicals or metals.

All MissPrint products are made in the UK and they ship worldwide via their website. Some designs can be found on Amazon UK.

6. KEK Amsterdam

Oeko tex 100 non toxic wallpaper, formaldehyde free
Photo via kekamsterdam.com

This environmentally-friendly wallpaper meets the Oeko-Tex® 100 Standard.

The wallpaper is free from formaldehyde and other harmful VOCs. The toner is even food safe.

It’s made of high-quality non-woven wallpaper. All of their wallpaper is PVC/vinyl-free, except for the Hotel Chique collection which is vinyl coated.

Based in Amsterdam, you can buy this brand online in North America through Burke Decor.

7. Graham & Brown

VOC-free healthy wallpaper
Photo via grahambrown.com

Graham & Brown uses water-based inks to produce a final VOC-free product.

They have a few different types of wallpaper: flocked, paper-based, as well as vinyl.

The “eco collection” mentioned on many other websites no longer exists, however many of their papers are still eco.

Some of their wallpapers are PVC – they recommend these for kitchens and bathrooms. It’s not possible to tell on their website which ones are vinyl other than the ones labeled kitchen and bathroom surely are.

Out of the sample I got: Rene Shimmer, Skulls Black, Brian Eno Flower Mask, Grasscloth and Orbit White Grey, only the last one is vinyl, the company said in an email.

The company has not yet responded to an email asking about flame retardants.

This UK company has gone international. If you are in the US you can order through Burke Decor and Amazon.

Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada can order directly through their website.

8. Madison and Grow

Breathable wallpaper that is free of PVC, chlorine and formaldehyde
madisonandgrow.com photo credit Marcia Prentice

Madison and Grow uses elemental chlorine-free fiber. Their papers are hand-screened with water-based 0-VOC inks. 

The wallpaper is breathable and PVC-free. They do not use flame retardants in any of the papers (or linens).

You can buy it through select showrooms in the US and Toronto, or through your designer.

9. Flat Vernacular 

PVC-free wallpaper that is healthy for the home.
Photo via flatvernacular.com

Flat Vernacular’s digitally printed papers are made with water-based inks that are low-VOC. The grasscloth wallcoverings are handwoven from sisal fiber and are also printed with low-VOC waterbased inks.

Their hand-printed papers are printed with solvent-based inks.

All of their wallpapers are vinyl/PVC-free.

They don’t add chemical (or metal-based) flame retardants to the digitally printed wallpapers.

Their wallpapers are made in the USA. You can buy them from their online shop.

10. Eskayel

Water-based ink wallpaper, eco-friendly and free of toxins, modern
Photo via eskayel.com

Eskayel’s Classic papers are manufactured with chlorine-free fiber that is clay coated.

The wide-format “Classic Papers” are made with latex saturated nylon-reinforced paper. They are printed digitally using the HP Latex aqueous pigment ink system which is non-toxic and VOC-free.

Their “Prima Wallpaper” is latex saturated nylon-reinforced paper and claims to be VOC-free as well.

The grasscloth wallcoverings are handwoven from sisal fiber which is backed with chemical-free cotton paper and printed with water-based latex inks. The grasscloth is breathable and VOC-free.

They have Class A fire rating. The company has not yet responded to requests for information about if flame retardants are added.

11. Maison C.

High end wallpaper, water-based, Low VOC, PVC-free
Photo via maisonc.com

Maison C papers are printed in an “ecologically friendly manner” in the USA. They are PVC/vinyl-free.

They have two different papers that they use, one is Type II paper (PVC free), and one that is clay coated.

All inks are water-based and low-VOC. No flame retardants are added.

They are sold through showrooms in the US and Canada.

12. Makelike

Natural dye wallpaper on Recycled paper.
Photo via makelike.com

Makelike papers are printed by hand with natural dyes/inks on recyclable paper. Unlike most conventional wallpapers, Makelike’s papers are not bleached.

They don’t use PVC anywhere in the products and they are not treated with flame retardants.

Based in the US, you can buy it from their website, they ship internationally or you can find a local stockist.

13. Woodchip & Magnolia

Sustainable wallpaper made from managed forests and no toxins
Photo via woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk

Woodchip & Magnolia is a UK based company that produces their papers in small batches. They use water-based inks. 

They have a whole “eco manifesto” and are very dedicated to sustainability.

They don’t use any PVC in any of the wallpapers and they don’t add any flame retardants. The substrate reaches the highest FR standard without the need for additional flame retardant chemicals.

Based in the UK, they ship worldwide.

14. Stories for Walls

Safe flame retardant wallpaper for kids rooms, vinyl free.
Photo via storiesforwalls.com

Stories for Walls makes traditional non-woven pre-pasted wallpaper. It’s PVC-free.

It meets flame retardant standards, but the company did not respond to an inquiry on if flame retardant coatings or chemicals are added.

15. Erica Wakerly

Modern style traditional wallpaper materials with safe inks.
Photo via ericawakerlywallpaper.com

Erica Wakerly papers are printed with environmentally friendly, light-fast, and non-toxic water-based inks.

The wallpapers are tested and certified for fire ratings without needing to add any flame retardant chemicals or coatings. They do not coat the paper in PVC.

A British company, Erica Wakerly has stockists around the world. If you are in the UK you can buy it online.

16. Brewster Home Fashions

Beach style wallpaper that is waterbased and 0 VOC
brewsterwallcovering.com

Brewster Wall Coverings carry a line on Burke Decor that is listed as PVC-free and 0-VOC. They use waterbased inks.

It is listed as washable.

You can buy them online through Burke Decor.

17. Veruso Lino

Biodegradable totally natural sustainable and eco-friendly wallpaper
Photo via wallpaperfromthe70s.com

This is a completely purist option! It is biodegradable because it is not made using inks or paints. It does not use any artificial dyes and produces no VOCs.

It is made of 65% flax and 35% viscose. There are no other ingredients.

The flame-retardant attributes come from the natural properties of the material. No chemical additives are used.

You apply it with a simple methyl cellulose paste.

The company that sells this line, Wallpaper from the 70s, also sent a number of other samples. Like with all brands here the simplest options of true paper based wallpaper with ink (or paint) are low odor and are a great bet. Some of their samples did have more of a plastic coating and those did have some offgassing as expected.

This is a German company. You can buy it online – it ships around the world (including to North America).

18. Mind the Gap

Funky wallpaper made with water based non toxic inks.
Photo via mindtheg.com

Mind the Gap papers are printed with eco-friendly latex inks, which they say are odorless.

This non-woven paper is certified by the Nordic Swan Environmental Standard. None of their papers are coated in PVC.

Made in Romania, you can find them in North America through Burke Decor.

19. York Wallcoverings

Peel and Stick non-vinyl wallpaper free of PVC and toxins.
Photo via yorkwallcoverings.com

York Wallcoverings uses low VOC, Water-based inks, printed on managed renewable forest paper.

Another exciting thing about this brand is that they have a vinyl/PVC-free peel and stick (pictured is one of the designs). This is on non-woven paper.

You can buy their papers on Burke Decor, and Amazon (US, Canada and UK).

20. Magnolia Home by Joanne Gaines

No heavy metals wallpaper modern and unique looks.
Photo via magnolia.com/magnolia-home

Joanne Gaines collection of wallpaper is non-woven prepasted paper.

It’s low VOC, make with water-based inks and I like that they make a point to make sure there is no cadmium or mercury.

Even the Peel and Sticks are listed as PVC-free on some vendor’s websites.

21. Seabrook Wallcoverings

beach house style wallpaper that is ecofriendly and PVC free but still washable.
Photo via seabrookwallpaper.com

The Tortuga Collection by Seabrook Wallcoverings uses a non-vinyl acrylic-coating on the paper. Acrylic is much safer than vinyl.

This wallpaper comes unpasted and is washable.

22. Wallquest

Photo via wallquest.com

Wallquest papers are printed on paper from renewable forests or recycled sources. They use water-based inks.

None of the non-vinyl wall coverings have PVC added as a coating.  

You can buy it from Burke Decor.


Types of Wallpaper by Application

  • Pre-pasted – has the paste is already on the back. Usually, you just add water.
  • Unpasted wallpaper – you either add the paste to the wall or to the paper.
  • Peel and Stick – there is no paste, it’s like a sticker. This is almost always vinyl. (Spoonflower has a non-vinyl peel and stick!)

Types of Wallpaper by Material

  • Vinyl – the most common type of wallpaper is vinyl backed which is vinyl on the face with paper or fabric on the back. Paper can also be vinyl coated (which is a slightly different type than vinyl-backed). Solid vinyl wallpaper is also available, this makes up most of the peel and stick market. If a paper is labeled as strippable, this is most likely vinyl coated, but not always.
  • Paper – this type is printed onto paper. Many paper wallpapers are clay-coated. Many paper wallpapers are not coated in plastic (acrylic or vinyl). Ask if you are unsure. They are often very breathable.
  • Non-woven – a mixture of synthetic and natural fibers (just like gauze or teabags). The fibers are combined with binders and reinforced with acrylates. You can “paste the wall” instead of the wallpaper. It may or may not be vinyl coated.
  • Fabric – these wallpapers are made of textiles like cotton, silk, raffia, felt, linens, or twines, and sometimes they are laminated onto regular wallpaper. They can sometimes be coated with vinyl or acrylic.
  • Grasscloth – made from natural fibers including grasscloth, hemp, jute, reed, or arrowroot. You will also want to know what the backing material is, it might be paper.
  • Flocked – these have a suede-like or fuzzy velvet-like texture, and they are printed on a paper backing. The texture is a polyester, nylon, or rayon flock applied to an adhesive-coated backing. If it says wipeable, I would inquire into the face coating.
  • Metallic – these are usually paper backed with foils laid on top. The foil is usually aluminum.
  • Hessian – made of hemp or jute, this natural textile has a burlap look.
  • Wood veneer – this is a real wood veneer backed on to paper, hung with standard wallpaper paste. The coating is likely a waterbased polyurethane. You should verify the backing and coating.
  • Mylar – the top layer decorative design is covered with a thin film of polyester making it washable. The backing is paper.
  • Fiberglass – this can be in the form of a fiberglass fabric like wall covering. It can be vinyl-free or it can be coupled with vinyl wallpaper.

Non-Toxic Wallpaper Paste

When hanging wallpaper, you’ll also want to make sure you use a non-toxic paste (glue/adhesive).

First, talk to the company about which type of paste is needed. Or start with looking only at paper-based or non-woven wallpapers that can be applied with the least toxic cellulose or starch paste.

Personally, I would stick to light to medium weight paper-backed wallpaper that is not coated with vinyl. These wallpapers are breathable, less toxic than other options, and can be hung with a simple non-toxic paste below. Just check with the company to be sure. Many non-woven wallpapers can also be applied with the basic paste.

If you would like to go with a wall covering that needs a stronger adhesive. I would talk to the brand about the options and test them for your own tolerability if you are sensitive to chemicals.

Types of Paste:

Standard Adhesive 

Made of methylcellulose or starch these work for light to heavy paper-based wallpapers. They are totally benign.

Auro makes a wallpaper paste that is just methylcellulose for paper-backed wallpaper, both thin and some heavy wallpaper types.

The powder is made of pure (beech) methylcellulose and is mixed with water. There is no need to buy a branded version unless that is easier for you.

Make you own:

  1. 1. Methylcellulose – you can buy methylcellulose on Amazon to make your own paste. Cellulose paste is particularly suited to light to medium weight paper backed paper. It can also work on some grass-cloth and paper-backed cork wall-coverings.
  • 2. Starch-based paste – usually made from flour and alum. Caution with alum, as this is aluminum sulfate. In some cases, an essential oil might be added as a preservative. Dextrin can also be used in some formulas.
  • Branded starch-based powder like Graham and Brown’s paste does have a biocide in it.
  • If the company allows for methylcellulose as a paste, I would mix it myself.

Vinyl Adhesive

Clay-based paste has a base of clay, dextrin, and cellulose. What else is in it is not obvious.

A popular brand Shur Stik lists VOCs as less than 10 g/l – which means there is more in here than the natural substances listed above. Roman Pro 732 lists VOCs as less than 5 g/l.

This adhesive is used on vinyl wallpaper, heavyweight fabric, flexible wood, mylar and foil types.

Clear vinyl paste is made of natural polymers such as wheat and corn starch or of synthetic polymers. It’s not been made obvious what the synthetic polymers are. Other additives may include cellulose, biocides, and flow agents.

Roman PRO-838 Heavy Duty Clear Wallcovering Adhesive is a clear wallpaper paste for medium to heavy wallpaper, that has the VOCs listed as less than 5 g/l, which is very low.

Other Additives

Some pastes have PVA in them, this is a safe adhesive that is the base of white Elmer’s glue and carpenter’s glues.

Typical wallpaper paste is made with fungicide – both dry mix and ready mix.

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

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Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy decor, healthy interiors

The 10 Best Non-Toxic Rugs You Can Buy Online

September 19, 2019 by Corinne 29 Comments

Non-Toxic Eco Rugs: The Top Natural and Organic Options

There are only a few companies who have gone the extra mile to fully disclose what is in their rugs. These are the top companies making green healthy rugs safe for those avoiding toxins in the home.

Those avoiding chemicals should avoid rugs with a synthetic latex backing, glues, moth treatments which is a pesticide, usually permethrin (on wool), and other topical treatments such as stain guard treatments.

For those very sensitive to chemicals you may even want to avoid rugs treated with detergents, or dyes (possibly even eco dyes).

Wall-to-Wall Carpet is Covered Here

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

1. Earth Weave (Wool)

Earth Weave – Earth Weave rugs are made out of wool, with no mothproofing and no other chemical treatments. The dyes are organic.

The rugs do contain natural latex. Custom sizes are possible.

You can order them through Green Design Center.

A 4 x 6 rug is $418

2. DMI (Seagrass)

DMI – makes rugs out of their carpet material. These are seagrass rugs with no dyes, insecticide or chemical treatments. They do contain natural latex in the backing.

They also make wool rugs.

Contact Green Design Center to choose the custom size.

3. Novica (Wool)

Novica  – has a number of Mexican Zapotec 100% wool rugs dyed with natural dyes. They do not contain any other treatment, they claim, such as mothproofing, stain-resistant coatings and natural latex.

A 4 x 6 wool rug is about $390.

4. Loloi Rugs (Wool/Mixed)

Urban Natural – carries Loloi rugs that are 100% wool as well as ones that are wool/jute. They use vegetable dyes and do not use adhesives.

You can buy samples of the Loloi rugs from Urban Natural.

A 4 x 6 rug is about $220.

5. Hook and Loom (Wool or Cotton)

Hook and Loom – is a great choice because of how forthcoming they are, and the fact that they used untreated wool.

The wool rugs are made from undyed natural wool, no detergents, no pesticides, no flame retardants, and no latex.

A 4 x 6 wool rug is around $245.

They also have cotton rugs that are made from recycled cotton with some polyester.

A 4 x 6 is around $90.

6. Organic Weave (Wool & Cotton)

Organic Weave –  Another top pick – these are the only GOTS certified organic rugs I have seen. Their rugs are made from wool and cotton and dyed with all-natural dyes.

They claim no chemicals in the cleaning of the raw material and the dyeing of the yarn or in the final cleaning of the rugs. No synthetic moth treatments or chemical flame retardants are used. The wool rugs do have latex.

They deliver to Canada and the US without import duties.

A 5 x 8 rug is around $2400

7. Lorena Canals (Cotton)

Lorena Canals – What I like about these rugs is that they are washable. That might suit some people more than the other options. They are 97% cotton and made with “eco dyes”.

A 4 x 5 rug is $230.

8. Cali (Bamboo, Cotton, Jute, Bamboo, Wool)

Cali Bamboo – carries some rugs that are undyed and unbleached but I did not hear back from them with the full specs (mothproofing etc.).

They carry a number of lines: rugs are made of various materials from wool mixes, jute, bamboo, PET (plastic), nylon, and cotton.

Rugs made out of denim scraps usually retain the chemical fabric treatment of the blue jeans or might be recycled.

Bamboo rug pictured is $135 for 4 x 6.

9. Rawganique (Hemp or Hemp/Wool)

Rawgnique – makes wool and hemp mix rugs (pictured) out of 50% wool and 50% hemp.

They are 100% natural and organic. They contain no rubber, no synthetics and they are not treated with any chemicals including pesticides.

The hemp is unbleached and dye-free, the wool is natural and eco-dyed.

A 4 x 6 rug is $229.

10. Libeco (Linen) 

Libeco – Libeco is a company that makes linen in Europe. All of their linen is either organic or usually grown without pesticides (only in the odd occasion is it useed). It is all Oeko Tex 100 which certifies no chemical additives to the rug. 

When the linen is in its natural color it does not have dyes.

Technically they are dry clean only, but you can hand wash them and dry them flat on hung in a way that they won’t wrinkle.

A 4 x 6 rug is $415.

Bonus, Plastic Woven Rugs

Some who are very sensitive to mold, dust, and allergens often like plastic woven rugs.

Sensitive folks have reported liking:

  • Polypropylene rugs from The Company Store.
  • Nylon washable indoor/outdoor rugs from Pottery Barn (which do have rubber latex on the backing).
  • Washable polyester and polyurethane rugs with a backing that is made from polyester and rubber (latex-free) from Ruggable.
  • 100% polypropylene rugs from World Market (some have said they also like their natural fiber rugs, even though the company does not divulge a lot about how they are treated).

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

 

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Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy decor, healthy interiors

A Guide to Non-Toxic Sealers and Varnishes

June 12, 2019 by Corinne 192 Comments

Updated Winter 2021

This post is my overview post on sealers. I’m starting with oil sealers for wood because these are the only totally pure and natural options. Natural waxes are sometimes used with oil finishes and so those follow.

But what about if you want to add a stain to the wood? Onto looking at both non-toxic water-based wood stains and natural oil stain and finishes in one.

Then an overview of clear 0-VOC water-based wood stains – some of these are durable enough for floors and others are only for furniture or walls.

Cabinet paints are next. A notoriously difficult surface that needs a smooth and durable coating without added toxins or VOCs.

Another way of looking at sealers is not just as a protector against water and stains but to seal in an offending chemical or odor. An overview of those sealers is included.

Next are exterior sealants, a category that is almost always higher in VOCs than their interior counterparts, these are the healthier options.

Lastly, an overview of stone and concrete sealers and where you can use each of the non-toxic brands in this category.

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.

If you need assistance choosing the best paints, sealers, and finishes for your sensitivities and project, please contact me for a one-on-one consultation. 

1. Natural Non-Toxic Wood Sealers

i. Natural Oil Wood Finishes

Rubio Monocoat on floors by @wdflooring
@fourboardwoodworks flooring & installation
@thomashartshelby photography

Linseed, tung, refined hemp, soy, and walnut oil are drying oils.

Drying oils penetrate, harden and preserve wood – providing a long-lasting finish that does not turn rancid. 

Coconut oil if refined can be used on wood and won’t go rancid. But it’s not a drying oil, meaning it won’t polymerize and form a durable coating (source).

I wouldn’t recommend using olive or other (non-drying) oils that can go rancid on wood.

Linseed and Tung Oil

natural non-toxic linseed tried and true

Linseed Oil and Tung Oil are the traditional natural finishing oils for wood.

Although they are natural, legally 0-VOC, and technically non-toxic, they do offgas aldehydes (and other compounds), that can be bothersome for the chemically sensitive.

I review tung and linseed in detail in their own dedicated post. That includes a look at Rubio Monocoat and Odies Oil.

I look at additives including possible metals, chemicals added, as well as which compounds they offgas and when they fully cure.

Linseed and/or tung are often labeled as “teak oil” or “danish oil”, though this is a general term that can mean either it’s pure or mixed with additives, as I go over in the post on these oils.

Hemp Oil Finish

Hemp Oil is my top choice for an all-natural drying oil for wood due to how mild and safe the odor is.

It does have a light aroma, which I would consider pleasant. I would test for your own sensitivities (and allergies) by buying a small amount first.

Hemp oil is the only ingredient in the Milk Paint Company and the Homestead House brands. I used the Milk Paint brand and was happy with it. If you order it directly through their website you can get 10% off with code mychemicalfreehouse.

I used hemp oil on all the interior wood in my chemical-free tiny home – floors, stairs, interior door, and window sills. The ladder to the loft did get grimy, though the dirt did wipe off easily.

It’s not the most durable of the wood finishes compared to some more conventional options but I was very happy with it.

Make sure it’s refined hemp oil (made for a wood finish) as opposed to the edible oil from the grocery store.

This finish is certainly one of the safest and healthiest options for wooden toys, butcher block countertops, and other food-safe surfaces.

Walnut Oil

Walnut Oil another drying oil, is used on surfaces like concrete countertops, raw slate, non-glossy marble and granite, soapstone, sandstone, and onyx.

I tested the Milk Paint walnut oil and the odor is very mild, even lighter than hemp. I was extremely happy with its performance on stones.

I go through sealing various stone types more in the countertop post.

You can buy Milk Paint walnut oil on Amazon or on their website. You can use code mychemicalfreehouse for 10% off on the website.

Rosewood Oil

Another oil to check out is Penofin Verde which is Brazilian rosewood oil mixed with other natural oils.

They use “vegetable ester solvents” and zero VOC pigments.

I would expect a solvent odor and offgassing here.

Oils need to be reapplied to wood every few years or more in high traffic areas.

For information on using natural drying oils on stones (which ones work to protect stone and which ones can discolor them), see my post where I test them all.

ii. Natural Wax Wood Sealers

Beeswax & Carnauba Wax

Wood (but not floors) can then be finished with a beeswax polish for extra durability. Beeswax takes 30 days to fully dry.

I used beeswax on my window sills over the hemp oil to provide a more water-resistant finish and I was really happy with it.

It also works well on counters, cutting boards, and toys.

This Beeswax/Carnauba Polish works well but does have mineral spirits in it. Mineral spirits do evaporate quite quickly and leave the product once cured. I haven’t found odorless mineral spirits to be a very toxic ingredient.

Hemp and beeswax mixed, make a great food-grade finish for cutting boards and other items. I like Fusion brand which is 100% hemp and beeswax with no additives.

Walnut oil with carnauba wax works great as well. I have used this brand on many surfaces.

Wax usually needs to be re-applied every year.

Natural Shellac Resin

Shellac is a resin, and one of my top picks for many different purposes.

Shellac, in the purest version, is just the natural flakes of the resin produced by a beetle, and alcohol.

You can purchase flakes from www.shellac.net or Amazon.

Shellac can be used on many indoor surfaces, including floors, toys, and furniture.

Natural, de-waxed shellac, would be the purest choice for most projects. It does come in a synthetic formula as well, so be sure to check which one it is. Regular (waxed) would be used for some applications.

If you want to buy it ready-made, Zinsser makes one they claim is only shellac and alcohol. I discuss this more in the posts on sealing in toxins since this finish is great at sealing in offgassing and odors.

Oils for Earthen Floor Finishes

If you don’t have ox blood on hand, no problem, you can seal your earthen floor with any of the hardening oils we talked about under wood finishes.

I would use Hemp Oil, though a final coat of linseed and possibly wax, may be needed to get it to hard enough. I did find that to be the case on a project I worked on.

Beeswax can also be used in the final coat for extra protection if desired.

iii. Natural Non-Toxic Wood Stains

natural non toxic hemp oil wood

Natural Oil Wood Stains

Each oil in the section above will tint the wood to some degree, so you should test for the look you want to achieve – you might find that you don’t need a stain at all.

You may need a stain just to lighten it.

If you do want a stain I prefer the oil and stain in one options:

1. Rubio Monocoat

Rubio is a low odor modified linseed with many color options. We don’t know a lot about what’s in it other than (modified) linseed and wax. It’s significantly lower odor than pure linseed. It does have a drier, the Part B. I review it in more detail in this post.

It comes in 40 different colors including lightening shades like greys and whites.

They claim 0-VOC, though the MSDS does indicate some VOCs. Despite the unknowns, I really liked this brand for both low odor and performance.

2. Penefin Verde

This is Brazilian rosewood oil based, with other natural oils. They use natural solvents and it contains a mildewcide. It comes in 18 shades including lightening grey and whites.

They claim no odor, though the SDS indicates mild odor, and extremely low VOCs.

3. Tried and True

Tried and True premixed oil and pigment stains went on beautifully. I tested the Java color on oak.

This is pure polymerized linseed and pigment, nothing else added. This is the most natural option, with no solvents or additives.

It comes in 5 darkening shades.

Legally linseed is 0-VOC, but it does give off natural volatile compounds. I do a deep review of linseed and tung oil in a dedicated post.

4. Osmo

A well-known brand available worldwide. Their stains alone are low odor but they are meant to be used with the top coat of Polyox Oil.

Polyox contains sunflower, soya and thistle oil, with waxes, including paraffin, plus de-aromatized white spirits, siccatives, and polysiloxanes. They declare all of their ingredients.

The Polyox oil had a very noticeable solvent odor for me, the majority of that odor did flash off quickly but the general odor did take more time than I expected to go down. I would not consider this low enough in toxins for me to use.

I did really like the stain colors though. The Wood Wax comes in bright colors (along with the usual wood stain colors and greys and white) which would be fun for art and toys.

The Oil Stain, which is for floors, comes in 10 colors including lightening shades.

They claim very low VOCs.

Water-Based Non-Toxic Wood Stains

The truly non-toxic water-based wood stains are more difficult to apply than the oil-based ones.

1. ECOS Paints stains

ECOS makes the most tolerable finishes in my view. The stains come in 14 different shades (one grey one) and a clear coat of varnish follows.

This was highly tolerable for me when I was at my most sensitive. They also have tinted varnishes.

All of their ingredients are fully declared. These are acrylic based, which is usually more tolerable than polyurethane.

2. AFM Durotone

A recently improved formula from a popular brand for the chemically sensitive.

It comes in 11 colors including one lightening shade.

A topcoat is required, either water-based or oil.

iv. Clear Water-Based Wood Sealers

1. ECOS varnishes, which are acrylic based, are super low toxin. They don’t seem to be as durable as the polyurethane alternatives according to many people I have talked to.

I used ECOS sealer on the wood in my kitchen and I was very happy with it. I have not had problems with water marks, and for me, any trade-off was certainly worth the low toxicity.

I find this to be a very tolerable brand that I was able to apply myself at a time when I could hardly tolerate any coatings.

2. AFM Polyureseal is liked by many. It is a very tolerable formula by a high-quality brand. You can expect this brand to be durable.

Vermont Natural Coatings’ interior floor finish is extremely similar to this one.

3. Another low toxin polyurethane that holds up well and is becoming more popular is Vermeister. Some vendors claim it contains no acetone or ammonia, which are exempt VOCs. The SDS sheet does however list ammonia.

4. Very low odor polyurethane and acrylic also include, BioShield Aqua Resin, Earthpaint Aqualine and Easy Safe 1K, and Vermont Natural Coatings. I compare them all in a dedicated post.

I tested and compared all of the clear non-toxic wood finishes – the full post on all the top brands is here.

5. Danish Soap finish. An unusual non-toxic way to finish floors is a Danish process using soap as the finish. You can either use just soap, or soap and lye. Lye is quite toxic while it’s reacting, and I don’t know how long that takes to dissipate.

When used in the making of soap the lye reacts with other components and in the end you just have a safe soap product.

v. Non-Toxic Kitchen Cabinet Finishes

Clear Finish for Cabinets:

  • AFM Acrylacq is a clear alternative to conventional lacquer. It is acrylic and siloxane. You can get a matte look by using 2 coats of gloss finished with a coat of matte. Or you can use the gloss or satin. This is a durable finish. AFM is my top choice in this category. VOC 93 g/l.
  • AFM Poly BP This is a polyurethane finish (with a little bit of acrylic). This is another durable finish for cabinets. VOC 93 g/l.
  • Vermeister Polyurethane finish that claims 0 VOC. It does contain an exempt VOC though, ammonia (ECOS clear varnish does as well!)
  • EarthPaint Easy Safe 1k or NanoTech Clear.
  • Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey All-in-One Stain&Finish, and PolyWhey Floor Finish can both be used on cabinets.

Most of these are also floor finishes, my detailed testing of these brands can be found here.

Natural Oil Finish for Cabinets:

  • Rubio Monocoat oil plus for furniture comes in a lot of cool colors. It is easy to touch up and has been reported to work well on cabinets. If you don’t mind the natural linseed oil and some unknowns with the formula, I really like the quality of this finish.
  • Penefin Verde rosewood/linseed 1g/l VOC.

vi. Sealing in Toxins

Sealing in Fungicides

If you are buying new wood-framed windows, the wood will likely have been treated with fungicides and should be sealed with AFM Safe Seal, AFMTransitional Primer, or Zinsser Shellac.

This version of shellac from Zinsser claims that the only ingredients are shellac and alcohol. That’s one you can find at Home Depot as well as Amazon. You can also mix the flakes yourself with Everclear alcohol.

Sealing in Formaldehyde

AFM Safeseal is used to seal in formaldehyde in engineered wood products.

You can also use shellac which is one of the best sealers to seal in odors and VOCs, including formaldehyde.

I have tested these side by side on formaldehyde offgassing, they both performed very well. Shellac beats Safeseal.

Safeseal is made with acrylic polymers. It works quite well.

Sealing in Wood Odor/Terpenes

Clear Coat Options

Shellac is the best sealer for sealing in the odor of wood. Depending on where the wood is, you may need to go over that with another sealer that can take water better.

That shellac is dewaxed, it’s thinner, but it’s easier to paint or coat over. You can go over dewaxed shellac with AFM Acrylacq.

Acrylacq can also be used on its own. The vendors estimate that it seals in the odor on its own by about 80-90%.

Painted Options

Paint on it’s own also seals in a good amount of wood odor and is usually sufficient for most sensitive folks.

Paints with good sealing properties include AFM Safecoat Paint. Higher gloss options seal in more. This is a better seal than other “green” brands like ECOS, but all acrylic paint seal wood odor to some degree.

Adding their transitional primer will be an even better seal.

The other option is to use shellac followed by paint. I like Bullseye (waxed) shellac followed by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint or Rustoleum Chalked.

For more on this topic, see my posts on Sealing in New Offgassing and Sealing in Fragrance, Smoke and Related chemicals.

You can always contact me for one-on-one help so we can find the best product for your application.

vii. Exterior Wood Sealers

exterior non toxic wood finishes

Natural Oils

To protect exterior wood against the elements, you could use more potent oils than you might used inside – oils like Rubio Monocoat hybrid, and Penofin Verde.

Rubio doesn’t declare all of their ingredients but I was quite happy with it. Penefin has natural solvents and I would expect a fairly strong odor there, though I have not tried it myself.

I like Milk Paint Company tung oil with pine and zinc called Outdoor Defense Oil. It contains no other additives. If you do well with tung and pine oil, this could work for you.

AFM Safecoat makes a Natural Clear Penetrating Oil, a linseed based outdoor sealant. It’s made of flax, linseed, hemp, and soybean oils. They claim it’s free of isoaliphate, cobalt, and lead driers as well as aromatic hydrocarbons, mildewcides/fungicides or preservatives. Mold growth can occur with extreme humidity on exterior surfaces (like with all linseed based finishes).

Synthetic Sealants

Clear sealers include the zero-VOC Cedar-Seal, the same company makes another sealer for other woods.

AFM has a new exterior clear sealer called Polyureseal EXT which is an acrylic/polyurethane.

2. Non-Toxic Tile, Concrete & Stone Sealers

i. Stone, Concrete and Brick Sealers

For a detailed look at concrete floor finishes, see this dedicated post.

1. AFM Mexeseal is a surface coating for masonry/stone. It is for unpolished marble, limestone, granite, sandstone, slate, fireclay (brick, tile, terra cotta, pavers), and concrete. Mostly for honed stones – though it can work on some polished stone (you would have to test it). Good for slate floors, and concrete floors. In sum, use on porous interior tile or masonry surfaces where oil and water repellency are desired. Not for use outside. Not for interior showers. The product is polyurethane and acrylic. Very low VOC.

2. ECOS sealer/stain is for concrete, masonry, brickwork, and plaster. They make a solid color concert sealer and semi-transparent concrete sealer. These are acrylic coatings with a little bit of silicone in there.

3. ECOS clear sealer is acrylic, just like the stains with pigment. You can use it on concrete floors.

4. Lithofin for initial treatment for rough & honed surfaces – natural stone, engineered stone, and tiles: ceramic/porcelain/quarry and to touch up and protect polished travertine and limestone surfaces which have become matte or dull over time.

5. AFM Penetrating Water Stop (zero-VOC) for porous, mineral containing surfaces such as brick, pavers, concrete block, and other cementitious materials, stone, and stucco. I used it on my concrete bathroom tiles and on the clay plaster in my kitchen. The only components listed on the SDS are silicone and lye. This product does not create a film on top of the surface, it is like a densifier.

6. AFM Watershield is a clear, penetrating sealer that repels water, grease, and oils. For use on porous surfaces such as concrete, stucco, brick, and stone. This can be used over American Clay Plaster. This can also be used outdoors on vertical wood surfaces e.g. under eaves that are raw wood or those stained with water-based stains such as AFM Durotone. Not for use on decks or horizontal fence railing. This is an acrylic sealant so it will be at least in part, a surface coating.

7. Milk Paint Soapstone Sealer is walnut oil and beeswax. It works well on soapstone, concrete, raw slate, honed marble, granite, sandstone, and onyx. You can buy this from the Milk Paint store and Amazon. I have used this sealer on many stone surfaces and I have been really happy with it. It’s all-natural and low odor. It needs some time to cure, but all natural oils do. You can get 10% off with the code mychemicalfreehouse.

8. Hemp Oil is also a drying oil, and like walnut oil, it does work on most stone and concrete (as well as wood). It can change the color of some stones, so test it first. It passed my tests, but it can yellow or green just a little, depending on the base color of the stone.

9. Metacreme is a synthetic water-based low odor sealer for natural stones and concrete. I have tested this one on stone countertops and found it quite good. It has a chemical odor that is fairly mild. It works on marble, in wet areas, and goes over the grout as well. This could be used if walnut oil is changing the color of stone too much, though in my tests it did not hold up as well to what I threw at it.

10. Acri-soy is a concrete sealer that can also be used on stone as well. This is an acrylic made from natural sources. This page explains what that means.

11. Tung oil also makes a good finish for concrete and many stones. It can be used on concrete floors as well. It is often preferable to other oils in outdoor conditions. The odor is higher than the other natural oils and even the synthetic sealers (I review the offgassing odors of tung and linseed in a dedicated post). Though some might prefer this oil and not be bothered by the natural odor. Tung oil forms a very durable film.

For a detailed look at my testing of natural sealers on stone surfaces see my dedicated post.

ii. Concrete-Based Grout Sealer

For sealing grout there are a number of good options, I discuss grout sealers options in my post on grout and thinset.

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

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Filed Under: Healthy Building, Healthy Interiors Tagged With: Healthy building, healthy decor, healthy interiors

Non-Toxic Sofas & Furniture | 2021

June 8, 2019 by Corinne 53 Comments

This is a complete list of eco-friendly non-toxic sofas that you can buy online. I start with conventional sofas, digging into what’s really in them, and then 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 0-VOC finishes. Then on to simple inexpensive furniture made of safe 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).
  • 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 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 – both 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.

If you need assistance choosing the best sofas and furniture for your needs and sensitivities, please contact me for a one-on-one consultation. 

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. Urban Natural

They carry Cisco Inside Green and Essentials collection, see the section below on all the details on Cisco’s materials.

The carry regular sized sofas, loveseats and sectionals.

They carry a few other lines that are typical material sofas:

  • Younger + Co does not mention anything about what is in their sofas.
  • American Leather claims they use water-based pigments on the leather, polyurethane (with soy) foam, and they are free of flame retardants.
  • Environment sofas use reclaimed/recycled wood and canvas. The cushions are organic feathers + down, with or without polyurethane. You can upgrade to organic latex, jute, hemp, and wool.
  • Luonto uses polyurethane foam. There is no other indication of what kinds of materials they use.

They carry sleeper sofas by American Leather and Luonto.

Made in the USA. Delivery to contiguous US states.

Start at $1900

2. Medley

Medley sofas are made with either polyurethane or organic natural latex, 0-VOC glues, no flame retardants, fabric options that are all-natural, organic, or both, solid alder frames with natural or 0-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.

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

3. Cisco Brothers

non polyurethan non latex couch sofa, recliner, sectional, USA, Canada

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.

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

Made in the USA. Sold at locations throughout the US and Canada.

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 0-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.

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.

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 offer standard size couches, loveseats and sectionals.

They deliver to the contiguous US states.

$1000 – $2900

6. Couch

non toxic chemical free couch made in seattle order in seattle

Made with solid alder, low-VOC wood glue, water-based stains, and polyurethane foam or latex.

The latex is either 100% natural or 70% natural/30% lab-made rubber, with no flame retardants. Very few of the fabrics are treated with flame retardants. Polyester batting can be swapped out for wool batting.

They make leather sofas.

They offer sofas, loveseats, sectionals and sleeper sofas.

Made in America, order in-store in Seattle, limited shipping outside of Seattle.

Start at $1700

7. 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

8. 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 and some sleeper sofas.

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

Start at $1400

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.

This Zinus Daybed will accommodate a MondoKing Thermarest.

Futons

An option from Amazon

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) but 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 from Amazon: solid wood outdoor sofa, metal-framed outdoor chairs, and a plastic-based outdoor sofa.

2. Non-Toxic Furniture

Tables, Chairs, Bookcases and Storage

For non-toxic 0-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.

UrbanNatural

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.

Medley

Something simple – this solid wood desk with an incredibly low VOC (maybe 0-VOC) finish came highly recommended by someone sensitive. It’s only $156, so a total deal. From Stables! You could use it as a desk as well if you put some rolling metal drawers under it.

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

Urbangreenfurniture

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.

Glass and Metal Desk from Amazon

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

Bedroom Furniture

Romina

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. 

non toxic formaldehyde free furniture solid real wood safe and healthy
Medley

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, Bedding and Bed Frames
  • Non-Toxic Rugs
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Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 6 years of experience helping others create healthy homes

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Filed Under: Healthy Interiors Tagged With: healthy decor, healthy interiors

DIY: Building a Non-Toxic Sofa

July 2, 2015 by Corinne 6 Comments

Here is my chemical-free new sofa!

This post contains affiliate links to products I used. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

We used maple because it is a hardwood that is non-aromatic (it does not have a strong terpene smell). 

The stain we used was Naturhaus Harmonic. The ingredients are: beeswax, carnauba wax, shellac, and a cosmetic emulsifier. It had a very sweet smell for the first two days. 

Other options for stains are AFM Safecoat WaterShield or Ecos.

The glue used was Titebond. 

The Foam is a piece of 3″ natural latex. This has a natural rubber smell (which doesn’t fade completely with time) but does not give off VOCs at the level of conventional foam, nor does it contain flame retardants. (I no longer recommend natural latex to sleep on and I am not sure if it is suitable for a sofa – here is my warning).

SOFA DESIGN

Metal brackets reinforce the frame so that the side piece can be leaned on. The inspiration picture had low sides that would not be as comfy; I didn’t think I’d be able to curl up on that sofa.

The dimensions are 28 in depth (standard sofa depth), height from seat 16 in (fairly standard), length 5 feet (length was made to fit in my tiny house).

The costs were:

Maple               468
Metal Brackets 200
Labour               40 hours
Foam                 804 (from a local shop. Much cheaper on Amazon) Fabric               150
Sewing             237

The total was around $3500.

This is expensive, even for a chemical-free sofa!

Another option is to buy a sofa from a company that makes non-toxic upholstered furniture. You can get a better price this way.

I have looked into and compared these companies in this post.
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Filed Under: Healthy Interiors, Tiny Homes and Trailers Tagged With: healthy decor, healthy interiors

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Hi, I’m Corinne, I am a Certified Building Biologist Practitioner with 6 years of experience helping people create healthy homes.

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