5 COMPANIEs that are Leading the Way in LOW-Tox Home Decor
A boys nursery using GOTS certified fabric from Two Sisters Ecotextiles for the custom canopy.
If you’re on a low-tox journey, you’ve probably done all the research on beauty and cleaning products along with water filtration and organic foods. But what about the furnishings and products that occupy the very space we spend the most time in? I’ve done a lot of research on this for my own home and unfortunately the most well-known, accessible and most marketed companies are not considering health effects of the materials they use. Which means that the majority of us are unknowingly purchasing furnishings that contain chemicals of concern, bringing them into our homes and likely have a PROP65 label affixed to them. Google Proposition 65 warning for furniture, it’s maddening. However, the list of companies offering better choices IS growing. For this, we are all thankful!
So what should you be concerned about and what are the alternatives? Let’s cut to the chase.
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound, which includes any number of hazardous carbon-based chemicals emitted into the air at room temperature (called off-gassing) by the products in your home. Yes, into the air you and your precious baby and family breathe! In fact, indoor air pollution greatly exceeds outdoor air pollution which is concerning, considering that Americans spend on average, 90% of our lives indoors - bring on all the air filters!
If you haven’t heard of VOCs, you’re not alone. Many people are unaware that the products in their homes might be slowly off-gassing hazardous emissions. This includes items such as fabrics, carpets, mattresses, manufactured wood products, flooring, paint, and even wood finishes like stains and lacquer.
One of the most common compounds released through off-gassing is formaldehyde. A person’s reaction to formaldehyde may include respiratory problems or irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, or skin. These reactions can happen in anyone, but children, older adults, and those with asthma are more likely to experience short- and long-term health effects due to their sensitivity… and that’s just one VOC. Scary stuff!
I share a bit more about VOCs and what you can do to prevent them in my post, 7 tips to help you create a healthy and toxin-free nursery. For now, I want to share a few companies that have stepped up to help keep our families safe.
Here’s a round-up of those I’ve come to love and trust for their safer, low-tox products — and examples of their stylish applications, of course!
1: Two Sisters EcoTextiles
Custom drapery in our Hot Air Balloon Playroom using fabric from Two Sisters EcoTextiles.
Two Sisters EcoTextiles is my go-to for custom upholstery and drapery because all of their fabrics are organic and earth friendly - exactly what we should be using in our homes, especially children’s rooms. They have beautiful solid color textures and are now offering a small selection of patterns which is exciting - but what they do carry is exceptional — and our clients love them, too.
The “two sisters” of Two Sisters EcoTextiles are Patty & Leigh Anne, who have dedicated countless hours to researching ethical and sustainable production processes. None of their fabrics contain any harmful residual chemicals - which trust me, is so hard to find! Their passion for sourcing and offering the best in safe, organic fabrics is so admirable. I have designed draperies, bedding and upholstery for many clients using their materials. Without a doubt, I feel completely confident in my fabric purchases from them and I know you will too.
Go-To For: Custom upholstery and drapery fabrics for the entire family. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and/or Oek-Tex certified textiles.
2: Coyuchi
100% cotton products keep your little ones safe. Source
Bedding — the cherry on top of a beautiful bed and where your babe will spend 12-16 hours a night sleeping. Hopefully…
Coyuchi only uses 100% organic cotton, and never synthetic blended fibers. They go to great lengths to keep their products toxin-free (more on toxin-free bedding here), which is why I trust and regularly order their products. Coyuchi’s fitted organic crib sheets are literally my go-to for every client’s nursery. (Bonus: They’re also Fair Trade, which means ethical labor and environmental practices. Win-win!)
Coyuchi makes sleeping in the healthiest bedding absolute bliss… and I speak from personal experience, too. I have a large collection of their bath towels, sheet sets, blankets and the waffle bathrobe, which makes me feel like I’m at the spaaaah.
Go-To For: 100% organic bedding, blankets, bath towels, sheet sets, and more for the entire family
3: EcoBalanza
Sectional custom made for my home from EcoBalanza using a Two Sisters EcoTextiles fabric.
EcoBalanza is a handcrafter of ethical, sustainable, and custom upholstered organic furniture, from the frame to the very last thread. That’s right, custom organic! Founder Aimee Robinson’s passion and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the industry for organic, sustainable and quality hand-crafted furnishings has been at the center and purpose of EcoBalanza since 2007. It’s rare to find a company that cares about sustainable, toxin-free materials in fine furnishings. “I was curious about the supply chain, where the materials came from and who made them.” After rigorous and creative exploration over many years, Aimee has lined up a stable of suppliers who share her values. This is a company to look into for your custom upholstery needs throughout your home.
In fact, I’ve been fortunate to have had several great conversations with Aimee and we worked on the dining room chairs and a sectional together for my own home. They are beautiful, well made and we sit comfortably knowing that they were handcrafted with safe materials.
Go-To For: Custom, organic upholstered furniture
4: Cisco HOME
Cisco’s hand-crafted sofas ensure peace of mind. Source
Cisco Home is a Los Angeles-based furniture company that specializes in elegant design, thoughtful sustainability, and community building. They believe in low waste and using repurposed and eco-friendly materials in their designs.
I have visited the showrooms in Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, and High Point North Carolina, and they didn’t disappoint. There are style options for everyone from sofas and lounge chairs to beds and ottomans with a large assortment of fabric options. Built on the four pillars of sustainability, comfort, craftsmanship, and community, each piece is crafted by a skilled team of Makers that work together to make your home healthy and comfortable. You can’t walk out without placing an order and feeling good about it.
Go-To For: Eco-friendly, organic seating, beds, furniture
5: Romina Furniture
Elevated designs and Greenguard certified products make these cribs extra safe. Room designed by Vanessa Antonelli (Source)
Romina is a favorite in my nursery resource library, and I love that they set the bar high — quality furniture made the right way, for the right reasons. All of their offerings are Greenguard certified (more on that in a bit), from cribs, to furniture, to casegoods. They also prioritize ethical and sustainable manufacturing processes which is another gold star next to their name.
I’ve seen Romina’s collection numerous times at trade shows and have ordered cribs and dressers for a few clients in the past. In person, you can see that their pieces are made with such high quality and are so beautiful. What’s not to love when you have peace of mind?!!
P.S. Have you considered a round crib? Get all the feels from the round cribs in this post.
Go-To For: Cribs, case goods
How to Select Safe Furnishings & Household Products
So how do you know what to look for? To put it simply… certifications! Third party certifications are really important in qualifying a product since there is so much greenwashing going on out there. Any brand can market their products as organic, non-toxic, eco-friendly, or sustainable but without a certification to back up these claims and provide full consumer transparency, it’s just marketing lingo.
The key is to look for solid wood construction (no plywood, particle board or composite wood products) without any added chemical treatments. Look for zero VOC all-natural paint, zero-VOC all-natural stains and adhesives, and certified GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) textile and foam materials. If a solid wood product is not an option for you, then the minimum I recommend is the Greenguard Gold certification which tests for low chemical emissions. (Discover these certifications and more in my free resource: 5 Tips for Making Your Nursery Safer.)
Start with the Crib & Mattress
I always start with the crib and mattress because this is where your baby will spend 12-16 hours a day. I do my best to recommend cribs for my clients that meet the highest standards for safety, are made of solid wood, non-toxic finishes or at a minimum are Greenguard Gold certified - tested for over 10,000 chemicals and VOCs. The mattress is equally as important since it’s the single-most prominent item your baby will be in direct contact with for hours on end. A mattress that is certified for the entire finished product (not just individual material certifications) is what you want.
Look for Certifications
If your product doesn’t list any certifications, this doesn’t necessarily mean it is toxic; but I’d be eager to learn more about what materials were used, which will require you to do some extra research. For bedding, fabrics and mattress materials, the GOTS and GOLS certifications are both highly respected standards and labels to definitely look for. And for casegoods such as the crib and dresser, look for CARB 2 Compliant, NAF, or Greenguard Gold certifications.
It is important to note that while the Greenguard Gold certification is a better option for casegoods, this does not mean that those products are free of chemicals, rather, they contain a very low emissions level as required for this standard. Baby steps in the right direction, mama!
Bonus Tip
Look for all-natural, toxin free laundry detergent! The clothes and sheets that touch your baby’s skin are important, too. Check out the product I use in my home here.
Admittedly, it is nearly impossible to make every single item in your home 100% safe, and attempting to do so can feel overwhelming. I suggest starting with a few items at a time, or if you need some help, let’s chat! Together, we can make safety and sustainability look and feel incredible.