Bedroom Furniture Plan

You can also avoid many of the common mistakes most people make when choosing furniture for their bedroom. Many bedrooms are beautiful to look at, but unfortunately are very toxic to sleep in!

After you’ve decided upon your budget, here’s what to do to make a healthful bedroom oasis:


For optimum health:

*As part of your bedroom furniture plan, limit your choices to those that are essential for you and that you feel you truly can’t live without. This will greatly reduce chemical exposures in the bedroom.

This usually includes a bed or futon, a night stand or two, a bedroom dresser and perhaps a decorative table or chair. Lamps are also part of the plan for most people.

*Choose solid, real wood furniture whenever possible and without plywood or particle board to avoid chemical outgassing from chemicals and glues. Avoid petroleum distillate finishes ( most finishes contain these unless you specifically ask about products used or finish it yourself with a natural non-toxic product).

Be aware that certain woods ( such as pine) can cause allergic symptoms or irritation for some sensitive individuals because of the mild odors and chemicals they naturally release.

Check out Amish solid wood furniture or other natural wood furniture.


Bedroom Furniture-what to avoid:


*Most furniture is covered with toxic lacquers and finishes.and is constructed with harmful glues. If the furniture contains particle board it will outgas toxic chemicals and significant amounts of formaldehyde. Check that any “solid” wood furniture does not have a particle board backing ( such as on the back of dressers or nightstands) if you prefer to keep outgassing to a minimum.

Beware of furniture made in China especially if it’s painted, as many of their paints contain very high levels of lead. Lead is harmful to the brain especially in children. It also causes other serious health problems.

*Avoid upholstered furniture if you can as these offgas many chemicals including formaldehyde especially if they are “stain resistant”. They also will most likely contain fire retardants which off-gas harmful bromines. These are carcinogenic and DNA-damaging chemicals. Thyroid disease can occur from exposure to these chemicals. It is unhealthy to be exposed to these for long periods of time. This also includes foam-filled and fabric-covered headboards for beds. You may not want to sleep next to all those chemicals!





For less expensive bedroom furniture options:


Choose your own unfinished wood furniture and choose non-toxic, low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) finishes, oils or paints.

Consider buying used bedroom furniture as often older furniture has less outgassing depending upon the type it is and finishes that were used. Just make sure it doesn’t contain lead paint which is more likely to be found if it was made or painted before the 1970’s.


To Summarize:

*Determine what you can spend for the room

*Consider a bedroom theme ( perhaps a French country theme, Modern or Rustic styles)

*Decide what is essential to the room (bed, bedroom dresser, bedroom décor, etc.)

*Explore healthy options for bedroom flooring, bedroom mattresses, and bedding.



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