Chemical-free, natural, and organic sofas: where to find one, and why you need one

Please note: This is an archived article about organic sofas, a product category we no longer carry. The Natural Sleep Store has discontinued its sofa line. The information below is provided for historical reference only.

I started The Natural Sleep Store 12 years ago because I bought a memory foam mattress that smelled so bad I couldn't bring it into my house. During this process I researched the cause of the odor and learned about all the toxins emitted from a non-organic mattress. Unfortunately, these same toxins can be found in most conventional sofas and upholstered furniture. Although most of us spend more time in bed than on the sofa, it is so important to keep one's entire home as pure as possible to avoid the toxic chemicals that are known to cause harm to our health. For this reason it is important to choose a natural or organic sofa and other natural furniture.

Why an organic sofa? Conventional sofas are filled with chemicals that could be harmful to your health. Conventional sofas are made with fossil fuel-based foams that are processed with a variety of solvents. These solvents get trapped in air bubbles — what makes foam, foam — and are then slowly released and evaporate into the air we breathe. This is what we call outgassing. The amount of solvents evaporating into the air reduces over time, but then the polyurethane foam itself begins to degrade, releasing additional particles into the air. Of even more concern is the unknown threat of flame retardants added to conventional sofas. Flame retardants do not need to be disclosed to the consumer by manufacturing companies — so how do we know what chemicals we are bringing into our homes? Many flame retardants are known carcinogens linked to serious health problems.

Today there are a variety of options ranging from "low outgassing and chemical-free" to natural materials to all organic. Beware — some larger furniture companies offer organic fabric but make no claims about being free of flame retardants or having a healthy foam option. Be sure to research all the materials used in a sofa before purchasing.

TFS Honest Sleep Organic Sofas

We were proud to offer organic sofas by TFS Honest Sleep! At great prices, you could choose how many cushions you want, what you want your seat cushions made from (which determines firmness), and you can choose from a variety of organic fabrics. If you are just looking to avoid outgassing and chemicals — there are none in these sofas — the natural option is the most economical. Made from organic cotton, coconut coir, natural wool, and natural latex, these sofas will keep your home free from toxins. Or if you are serious about organics, you can choose an all-organic upgrade for a little extra. Available both as a sofa and as a sectional with a chaise. We were thrilled with these organic sofas by TFS Honest Sleep.

Savvy Rest Organic Sofas

We love Savvy Rest. We have been selling Savvy Rest mattresses since we opened our doors, and Savvy Rest also offers an organic sofa, as well as an organic loveseat and an organic armchair. Aside from having no chemical flame retardants, Savvy Rest sofas also have no formaldehyde glue, cardboard, metal coils, particle board, plywood, veneer, polyester, polypropylene, polyurethane, toxic stains, dacron batting, feathers, or down. Savvy Rest uses certified natural talalay latex and organic wool for their sofa cushions. You can choose from a variety of organic cotton and natural hemp fabric options with 25 different fabric choices. The frames are made from sustainable maple with natural jute webbing and finished with a Zero-VOC finish. Every detail has been considered in this organic sofa line. If you are a hardcore organic enthusiast, this is the sofa for you. The one drawback is that Savvy Rest only offers one style — so if this particular style does not suit your decor, you might not find what you want.

Medley Natural Sofas

In my own ongoing search for natural furniture, I recently stumbled on an amazing option at very reasonable prices: Medley! You can find many different styles of natural sofas, loveseats, armchairs, sectionals, and ottomans at Medley.

In our blog we typically only highlight our own products — but I like Medley so much I want to share it with everyone who has been searching for natural furniture. If you just want to avoid chemicals, you can choose lower priced options like CertiPUR-US certified foam — a traditional fossil fuel-based foam tested to have VOCs lower than 3 parts per million. Want to avoid fossil fuels? You can choose natural latex foam made from the sap of rubber trees. All Medley furniture is made from fabrics not treated with chemical flame retardants or other finishes like Teflon. All Medley frames are made with solid wood and carry a lifetime warranty. You can choose synthetic fabrics for a more durable option, or choose from a selection of organic fabrics. Depending on whether you are just trying to avoid chemicals, want an all-natural sofa, or want organic fabric, you can fully customize the piece that suits you. There is also a great selection of styles — I personally love the mid-century style Zavis sofa and Pel armchairs.

Keep yourself and your family healthy — find a natural or organic sofa that is free from harmful toxins. We recommend researching manufacturers like Savvy Rest and Medley to find a chemical-free, all-natural, or fully organic option that suits your style and budget.