Often, the greenest and most affordable furniture you can purchase is antique or pre-owned. However these options aren’t always free of harsh chemicals. The most affordable options for green furnishings and finishes will be at some of the bigger chain stores. Several retailers, including Crate & Barre, IKEA, and Target now carry a line of more responsible furniture.
The Swedish company IKEA is known for modern design at an inexpensive price. The company has corporate environmental initiatives ranging from purchasing wood from sustainably managed forests, to reducing formaldehyde in pressed wood products.
Crate & Barrel's Lockport sofas and chairs have Forest Stewardship Council-certified hardwood frames, use a soy-based poly-foam for the seat cushions and recycled post-consumer fibers for the back cushions, have slipcovers, and use water-based stains and fabric treatment.
Target’s "eco-friendly" furniture lines are called Linear and Intown. They have a minimalist, modern look and are made with FSC/Rainforest Alliance Certified SmartWood, formaldehyde-free plywood, and water-based stains and finishes.
Haskell Sears Design is located in Chattanooga and has years of experience restoring antiques and crafting new, unique furniture. HSD uses formaldehyde free pressed wood and water based stains and paint. Not only does it help support your local economy, but minimizing the transportation distance greatly reduces a product’s embodied energy. Websites specializing in green furniture include:
Furnature - they sell sofas, chair, bed frames, and mattresses. Their products are free of harmful chemical.
Vivavi - they offer mostly high-end furniture and furnishings that are more modern.
Learn more about selecting healthy, eco-friendly furniture in GreenHomeGuide’s Green Furniture Know-How section.
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