Furniture
10 Designer-Approved Sustainable Furniture Brands
It's almost like shopping with a BFF by your side.
Secondhand shopping or thrifting is often touted as the main way to source sustainable furniture—one person’s trash really can become another person’s treasure when it comes to home accents both large and small. However, if spending your weekends searching for diamonds in the rough at a flea market or antique shop doesn’t exactly strike your fancy, that’s more than okay—it certainly isn’t the only way to furnish your home in an eco-friendly fashion.
There are many online sustainable furniture shops that have made eco-friendly commitments like using recycled materials and working directly with artisan communities (in fact, it’s likely you have some of their pieces in your home already). But since the pandemic has made it a little difficult to browse stores with friends, we asked our favorite interior designers and home influencers to share their favorite sustainable furniture brands.
Ahead, 10 expert-approved sustainable furniture brands whether you’re shopping for sofas and sectionals or coffee tables and kitchen chairs.
1. Maiden Home
Maiden Home is a favorite among designer and home influencer Kevin O’Gara, and founder of Soeur Interiors Larisa Barton, both of whom cited an enthusiasm for the brand’s North Carolina roots. “This used to be where almost all the furniture in America was made,” O’Gara notes. “While it’s definitely a luxury brand, it has partnered directly with artisans to bring handmade furniture to the market without the showroom and boutique markups, and the pieces are really stunning,” he adds. “It uses renewable soy-based foam and all local and non-toxic materials, so you can avoid the chemicals that are required to ship textiles overseas.”
Barton also appreciates the brand’s commitment to quality pieces and how the company “offers a customized shopping experience with [styles] that are on trend while still remaining classic.”
2. The Citizenry
Known for its assortment of globally sourced home goods that range from area rugs to storage baskets, The Citizenry is a favorite of DBF Interiors founder Dominique Fluker. “The Citizenry invests 10 percent of its proceeds back into artisan communities,” she shares. “I’m drawn to this brand because of its handcrafted global home decor. I strive to present quality and unique pieces that exude a touch of luxury.”
3. Albany Park
Home influencer Lauren Urie was thrilled when the founders behind husband-and wife-owned Albany Park commented on an Instagram photo of one of her favorite furniture finds. “I bought the vegan leather tan mid-century modern chair, and it is beautiful and very well sustainably crafted,” she notes. “The furniture can fit many styles, including my boho farmhouse, as well as homes that are modern, mid-century modern, traditional, and more.”
4. CB2
Interior designer, realtor, and podcaster Kelly Collier-Clark of Plot Twist Designs appreciates how, unlike many trade-exclusive options, CB2 is easily accessible for her e-design clients while offering a collection of more than 100 sustainable pieces. It also helps that the brand's modern contemporary aesthetic is what a majority of her clients want. “What I love most about its furniture aside from its commitment to having sustainable options is that its style is always on trend while timeless at the same time.”
5. Joybird
Known for indoor and outdoor furniture alike, Joybird “not only makes beautiful furniture but also supports some great organizations,” says home influencer and fashion designer Dani Nagel. “We make a lot of clothing to order for my fashion brand in order to reduce waste, and that’s how Joybird produces as well. Overproduction is a huge problem, so small batch and made-to-order is a great way to combat that.” And, she adds, this means it’s easier for customers to select a vibrant, one-of-a-kind piece that suits their style.
6. Branch
Hyphen & Co interior designer Anna Filippova frequently suggests Branch, a company specializing in residential and commercial office furniture, to her clients. “The office desks are very minimal and modern, an aesthetic that fits nicely with any design style and environment,” Filippova shares. “The furniture is made out of recycled and recyclable materials. In addition, the company does a great job with warranty options and a program that refurbishes previously purchased furniture to prevent adding to landfills, and giving them a second life.”
7. Cisco Home
Becky Shea Design creative director Becky Shea frequently turns to Cisco Home. “Its core focus is working with wood materials that are FSC certified, while combining water-based stains and natural fabrics for the upholstery. It goes as far as to source wood, leather, and fabric already in circulation that they can breathe new life into.” But that’s not the only reason why Shea is such a fan. “In addition to being very socially aware of its footprint, Cisco hires some of the most talented craftsmen to hand make each and every piece from start to finish in the U.S.,” she adds. “They do not use machines, which to me is [essential] when procuring a piece that has love, light, and passion woven into every fiber.”
8. Whittington and Co.
For more than a decade, Vanessa Francis, founder of her eponymous design firm, has sourced products from Canadian-based Whittington and Co. both while furnishing her own home and working on client projects. “The exceptional quality, service, and ability to fully customize are some of the reasons I love this brand,” Francis shares. “Its team of artisans and craftspeople create fine upholstery using locally harvested, kiln-dried maple hardwood frames and eco-friendly soy-based foam.”
9. West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Rejuvenation
The Williams-Sonoma family of brands includes West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Rejuvenation, and greatly appeals to Brandi Wilkins for their commitment to 1) using 100 percent responsibly sourced cotton, and 2) selling 100 percent Greenguard Certified bedroom and nursery furniture. “This is awesome for a brand that’s such a household name,” says the designer and founder at Three Luxe Nine Interiors. “I’ve used many items from the Williams-Sonoma brands in my own home and in our client projects," says Wilkins, citing their livable, approachable pieces and accessible price points.
10. Etsy
For interior designer, artist, and influencer Natalie Papier of Home Ec., Etsy is a go-to for vintage and reclaimed furniture. It also has thousands of pieces—much more than you'd ever be able to see during a trip to the antique shop. "The selection allows me to find unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for my designs while staying environmentally conscious. I recently sourced this vintage, refurbished headboard for our own bedroom. The price, quality and communication with the seller were all stellar."
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