Furnishing a Healthier Home: Navigating Non-Toxic Furniture
Ah, my trusty old couch – a faithful companion through the highs and lows of life, but let’s be real, it’s seen comfier days. You know it’s time for an upgrade when getting up feels like escaping quicksand. Picture this: my couch was not just a piece of furniture; it was my dining throne during the era of ‘no table, no problem.’ Fast forward to a change of scenery, and I thought, “Why not aim for a couch that doesn’t double as a marshmallow pit?” The hunt was on for a firmer couch, in addition to an ottoman, and chairs. Armed with my detective hat, I sifted through many options and materials. My criteria? Low VOCs, formaldehyde-free, and a sincere desire to dodge anything labeled with the Prop 65 warning.
So, down I went into the rabbit hole of furniture shopping where finding furniture that didn’t assault my budget and met my non-toxic demands felt like discovering buried treasures. After a few months of navigating this maze, I unearthed some hidden gems. Along the way I learned some valuable tips, tricks, and discovered a few go-to companies for non-toxic furniture options. In case you are looking for some non-toxic furniture I wanted to share my findings with you to save you time.
Tips and Tricks for non-toxic Furniture Shopping
1. Finding Furniture with Low VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can contribute to indoor air pollution and can have negative health effects. You may have heard people calling this “off-gassing” and you may or may not be able to smell the chemical. VOC chemicals in furniture include formaldehyde which is most commonly found in composite wood products, and adhesives. For wood products, the formaldehyde is used in the glue to create the composite wood products, typically on product pages you see the materials being called out as hardwood plywood, particleboard and MDF medium-density fiberboard.
Tip: Look for Greenguard certification which means the furniture gives off low levels of VOCs. Even better is Greenguard Gold certification for even lower levels of VOCs. You can read more about the certifications here. Also look for keywords such as No VOC/Low VOC and Formaldehyde-Free materials.
2. Avoiding The Prop 65 Warning:
Proposition 65 warnings, those ubiquitous labels that seem to scream “Danger!,” are something I wanted to avoid. These warnings indicate that a product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm. I went to one furniture store and the sales person stated basically everything they sell here has a warning. So what’s one to do?
Tip: Contact customer support to clarify what part of the furniture caused the prop 65 warning. Once you find out that information you may be more comfortable making the purchase. Some retailers will include the Prop 65 warning in the description. If nothing is listed and you want to double check things then don’t hesitate to reach out to customer support to find out if there are any warnings.
3. Search Keywords and Use Filters:
After MANY hours/days of searching and a few bouts of frustration, I found the easiest way to find what I wanted was to focus on keywords and filters.
Tip: Search for keywords and filters (Greenguard certified, Sustainable, Fair Trade) when you go to furniture sites like West Elm, WayFair, Crate and Barrel, Ikea, Target. They have non-toxic products, it’s just not with the entire line. So you need to use search and filters to find what you are looking for. This is my favorite way to find more affordable furniture options.
- Terms to search and filter by to find better materials for your home:
- Greenguard – this is my top way to search for products.
- Sustainable – usually when there is a filter you will find a Sustainable section that will include filter options like greenguard, fair trade, sustainable
- Solid wood: Search and filter by solid wood materials
Tip: Check out companies that offer non-toxic and eco-friendly options. Search for and filter for keywords
- West Elm (Certain Lines): When on a furniture category page or searching for options you can use their filter and find the Sustainability section. From there you can select GreenGuard certified. You can also select other features like Sustainability sourced, and Fair Trade so usually you will get more solid wood pieces rather than particleboard.
- Crate & Barrel (Certain Lines): Some of their furniture lines are Greenguard Gold certified, indicating low chemical emissions. Here are some pages to check out:
- Medley Home: Specializing in customizable furniture made with eco-friendly and non-toxic materials. Warning – these are expensive!
- Vermont Woods Studios: Makers of solid wood furniture with natural, non-toxic finishes. Also, this is another expensive option.
- Avocado Green Mattress: Known for their non-toxic mattresses, they also offer sofas and other furniture items with eco-friendly materials.
Final Thoughts
The journey for non-toxic furniture may seem like a daunting quest, but with patience and perseverance, you can find options that align with your health and environmental values. Don’t be discouraged by the challenges; instead, use these tips, tricks, and company recommendations to help guide your search. Remember, your home is your sanctuary, and you deserve to furnish it with pieces that contribute to your well-being and peace of mind. Happy furniture hunting!
