Your bedroom is a sanctuary but there are toxic chemicals lurking in our furniture that can keep it from being a true safe haven. This guide to sustainable and non-toxic nightstands is here to help you check one to-do off of your list in creating a toxin-free bedroom.
Note that this guide contains affiliate links. As always we only feature companies that might rigorous standards for sustainability that we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
What is a Non-Toxic Nightstand?
There’s a lot to look out for with non-toxic furniture, which I’ve covered in detail in that article. For this guide we’re focusing on nightstands, which are primarily made with wood or engineered wood. So I will focus on what to watch out for with wood furniture.
Solid Wood Nightstands
When possible, prioritize solid wood for a non-toxic nightstand because many composite woods (though not all) are made with adhesives that contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
With nightstands, even if the nightstand is solid wood, the drawers are frequently made with composite wood. If this is the case, ensure that it is free of formaldehyde and other toxic substances.
Zero VOC or Low VOC Finishes
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, include a variety of chemicals (such as formaldehyde). Some of these VOCs can be extremely toxic and harmful to our health, including another known human carcinogen, benzene. The EPA reports that VOCs are up to 10x higher indoors than outdoors, due to products we bring into our homes such as paints, building and furniture materials, and wood preservatives.
When it comes to wood products like nightstands, pay special attention to the finishes used on these pieces. Although wood is a natural material, it can still be finished with toxic chemicals.
Pure linseed oil — an oil made from flaxseeds — is a commonly used non-toxic finish.
What is a Sustainable Nightstand?
Again we’ll focus on wood here since most nightstands are made with wood (or composite wood) and typically do not contain any cushioning or fabrics.
Responsibly Sourced Wood
While wood is a natural renewable material, deforestation is a driver of climate change and biodiversity loss. Plus forests can help stem the effects of the third element in our triple planetary crisis, pollution.
When looking for sustainable wood nightstands, look for:
- Upcycled and repurposed wood
- Wood from reforestation projects
- Traceable, local (or at least domestic) wood
- FSC-Certified wood (though I would be remiss not to note that the FSC is far from perfect as a certifier)
Locally Made Nightstands
When it comes to bulky, heavy objects like furniture, domestic production is a higher priority on my list when determining sustainability. Transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions so the less a piece of furniture has to travel to get to me, the better.
In my case, this means made in the US. (I only know of one furniture company made in my state.)
Many sustainable American-made furniture companies even have their own furniture workshops, for maximum traceability, high social standards, and quality assurance.
Secondhand Nightstands
When it comes to sustainability, it’s hard to beat secondhand. This is furniture that already exists and may even be otherwise headed to a landfill. I’ve written in depth about my top picks for buying and selling secondhand furniture.
I’ll summarize it though as:
- Apps like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace (I’ve had the most luck with those two)
- In-person options like furniture resale stores and at estate sales (the former is more curated, the latter might have better deals)
- Online secondhand furniture marketplaces like AptDeco and Kaiyo
Are secondhand nightstands non-toxic? Typically, no, given that the majority of furniture in general is not made with healthy materials. However if furniture is used it has likely off-gassed significantly already so there will be fewer fumes compared with buying that same piece new.
Be sure to check that the secondhand nightstand has come from a smoke-free home (and pet-free if you have allergies).
Where to Find Sustainable and Non-Toxic Nightstands
Feeling overwhelmed by everything there is to look for in a non-toxic or eco-friendly nightstand? I feel ya! That’s why I’ve done the hours of research and digging for you to curate the best of the best in non-toxic and sustainable nightstands.
You’ll find highlights of each company as well as other important information alongside each brand or retailer.
1. Medley
Crafted in the US by a production team with over 170 years of combined experience, Medley’s sustainable nightstands are built to last — the furniture frames even come with a lifetime warranty.
Medley’s expert team of furniture craftspeople make each nightstand with FSC-certified solid walnut or maple for the tops, sides, and drawer(s). For the rest, Medley uses low-VOC CARB 2 compliant maple or walnut hardwood plywood to keep the nightstands light but sturdy.
Conscious Qualities: Zero and Low VOC Finishes, FSC-Certified Wood, USA-Made
Price: $745 – $1295
2. Copeland @ Urban Natural
Copeland crafts transitional furniture made with exceptional attention to quality in Vermont from hardwood sourced from the American Northern Forest. The company also uses renewable electricity from their own on-site solar array.
And Copeland’s standard finish for their products is a GREENGUARD Certified for low chemical emissions.
Conscious Qualities: Locally Sourced Solid Wood, GREENGUARD Certified Finish, Heirloom Quality, USA-Made
Price: $240 – $2205
3. Thuma
Modern, simple, and available in four different finishes, Thuma’s upcycled rubberwood nightstands are versatile storage furnishings that complement a range of interior design styles.
These sophisticated nightstands can be available to ship in just 1-3 days and arrive fully constructed, no assembly required.
Conscious Qualities: Upcycled Solid Wood, GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Price: $445
4. Avocado
Made with solid maple or walnut in their own FSC-certified woodshop in Los Angeles, Avocado’s nightstands are sustainably made to last. The nightstands even come with a 10-year warranty.
Avocado seals the nightstands with a zero-VOC stain and while plywood is used for the drawers, the maple wood option is formaldehyde-free verified by UL Environment.
Conscious Qualities: Zero VOC Stain, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, FSC-Certified, In-House Production
Price: from $249
5. Healthier Homes
Founded by “healthy home builders” Rusty and Jen, Healthier Homes curates furnishings without the toxins rampant in modern-day mass produced furniture.
Choose from the solid mango wood Playa End Table (pictured here) finished with a low VOC finish or the solid wood Mindi Wood Bedside Table finished with a water-based low VOC finish.
Conscious Qualities: Solid Wood, Low VOC Finishes, Sustainable Furnishings Council Member
Price: $695 – $869
6. MasayaCo
Handcrafted in Nicaragua, MasayaCo’s talented artisans craft the Terrabona Nightstand from 100% sustainably sourced solid teak wood.
The sustainable furniture brand sources wood from their own reforestation projects (they’ve planted 1.2 million trees to date!) and they leave 40% of their reforestation projects untouched, on average.
Conscious Qualities: FSC-Certified, Reforested Wood, Traditional Artisan Techniques
Concern: Little information on finishes
Price: $495
7. Maiden Home
Luxe and elegant, Maiden Home’s direct to consumer model gives us access to quality sustainable furniture without the traditional layers of markups.
The brand’s solid wood nightstands are made by furniture craftspeople in the US from domestically-sourced, solid ash wood.
Conscious Qualities: Solid Wood, USA-Made, Woman-Founded
Concern: No information on finishes
Price: $1250 – $2315
More Furniture Guides:
11 Best Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Beds for a Sound Sleep
15 Non-Toxic Furniture Companies for a Healthier Home
Top 10 American-Made Furniture Brands Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity
The post 7 Best Places for Sustainable and Non-Toxic Nightstands appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.
And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with exploitation.
On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.
The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.
There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.
So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!
Where to Find Ethical and Fair Trade Rugs
Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.
1. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim.
Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.
Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.
Price Range: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
7. Rejuvenation
Best for: Classic rug styles made in Fair Trade factories
Categories: Accent Rugs, Runners, Area Rugs
Home retailer Rejuvenation has a selection of rugs made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Their collection includes undyed hand-loomed rugs to geometric flatwoven wool rugs. And while I’d typically avoid synthetics, it tends to be unavoidable for outdoor rugs — so Rejuvenation’s Fair Trade 100% recycled poly rug is a good option.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified, Mostly Natural Materials
Price Range: $79 – $1,649
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. shipping for 10% of product price (add $20 for HI, AK, and US. territorries)
Liked this guide to ethical rugs? You might also enjoy:
Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space
Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably
Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With
The post 5 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
As a longtime book lover, I may be biased, but I think a full bookshelf is one of the most beautiful additions to a space. There’s nothing better than seeing a showcase of your favorite reads alongside a TBR list.
A bookcase, though, can of course be used for all sorts of purposes from placing your favorite photos of family and friends to showcasing treasured vintage finds.
Whatever the case, this guide will help you find the right sustainable bookshelf for your living room, office, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good read!
So what make a bookcase more sustainable? What makes a bookshelf non-toxic?
First of all: sustainable and non-toxic are two overlapping — but distinct — criteria. And both of those terms can come with a lot of opinions and varying definitions.
When it comes to sustainable bookcases, I look for:
- Respons