Okay, my Green friends, I need some creative suggestions! I need to replace our old, falling-apart couch, and our original plan was to hit Ikea and buy an affordable one there that we would replace with something nicer down the road. Considering, however, the recently-released studies that found serious carcinogens and toxins linked to thyroid problems in almost all American-made couches (including Ikea couches), we are loathe to replace our (probably toxic) couch with something equally or even more hazardous to our children.
We cannot afford the pricetag of non-toxic sofa at the moment, and I haven't been able to find a resource to order a Canadian couch so I don't know if it's possible or what it would cost. I have done a lot of reserach trying to find couches without the various toxins in them, without any luck (within our budget). We are currently left saving our money while we try to come up with some creative alternatives so that I can throw the old couch out now. Neither he nor I are very DIY or crafty, but I'm willing to try.
Ideas we have played with include reinforcing my son's convertible crib and making it into a daybed-style loveseat, getting some kind of floor-seating, or buying a true twin daybed, possibly from Craigslist or something, and then somehow stuffing it ourselves (not sure how, but I could sew a basic cover if we could find some sort of non-toxic filler) since organic twin mattresses are almost as expensive as the designer couch and thus beyond our current reach. Hubby doesn't like any of these options, but has no ideas, either.
Does anyone have any ideas or see any options we've overlooked? Has anyone else been creative with couches and come up with something interesting?
If its simply seating temporary seating that you are after, I've seen some clever things done with garage sale wood chairs, which are stripped, cut down, and bound together with a long plank of wood across the seat and the back to form a bench.
seats can be padded out with a single long pad you can make out of cotton batting. http://froufrugal.blogspot.com/2011/08/bench-cushion-fail...
good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
Hmmm...I wanted to do this too but it costs too much.
An old couch that is not off-gassing could actually be your best bet! New anything and you introduce toxins, if it has them.
Maybe if you wait the new reports will spur new couches in a year or so to NOT have a lot of the toxic retardants?
ok i dont think i have time to worry about this and replace my couch, but thats not your question so i googled this because i have never heard it and it says:
If you're buying new furniture, Blum recommends items with polyester, down, wool or cotton fillings, which are unlikely to contain flame retardants. Otherwise, to prevent ingesting household dust, she suggests frequent hand washing as well as vacuuming with a HEPA filter or wet mopping.
ALSO it also says this is for couches made in the last 5 years so why not buy a used nice one of craigslist...thats green?
Instead of thinking of traditional forms of seating, you might consider "tatami" mats and beds. It is a traditional form of Japanese "furniture."
Or Futons.
We have Tatami flooring in one of our rooms. It is traditionally made and very eco-friendly and healthy. We got it locally. If made traditionally using Japanese methods, it is non-toxic.
Just Google Search "Tatami Furniture."
You might also consider, "hammock" style "furniture." Some hammocks and hammock chairs, has its own hanging apparatus that you use to hang the hammock. It can be used indoors or out.
And get pillows, for it.
Just re-think, the forms of furniture.
Also look into furniture made with Bamboo, or Rattan etc.
And use pillows on it.
Or make your own.
Hope this helps!
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/10-of-the-best-green-furn...
I love Pottery Barn. They make lovely, non-toxic, quality furniture. No, it's not all vegan, but it's all lovely. They use a lot of recycled and reclaimed wood too. Someday I hope to be able to afford some. :-)
I would consider putting down a rug and pillows/bean bags (choose whichever stuffing you feel comfortable with) for a comfy corner. then get some simple wooden furniture (similar to patio furniture) that is not upholstered (think bench). Put some pillows on it or if you are crafty with a sewing machine make your own pillow/cover. You should be able to buy them new or find used.
Good luck
Ikea uses political prisoners in other countries to make their furniture.
And it's not the couches it's flame retardant chemicals. Just find one that's not flame retardant. Course the trade off is that it can catch fire easier.
You are WAY over thinking this. Buy an older couch or wait till they start making them with less fire retardant materials. If so many people wouldn't fall asleep on the couch smoking then catch them on fire we likely wouldn't have the problem of fire retardant couches.
