If there’s just one piece of furniture in your house that you spend the most time on over your lifetime, it has to be your bed. But our beds are unlike any other piece of furniture inside our home. Usually they’re purchased in pieces: the mattress, the pillows, the bed frame and the headboard all bought separately. This can make it confusing and difficult to make a healthy purchase such as finding wooden bed frames that won’t bring additional toxins into your home.
While our beds are one of the most important pieces to be non toxic in our homes, so often it’s the very last item that gets changed and swapped out due to the complexity of the purchase or the cost of the items.
But this is totally understandable, isn’t it? We often put off what takes a lot of research or things we feel confused about. We procrastinate healthy changes that feel overwhelming or confusing.
The truth is, though, choosing wooden bed frames or a toxin free headboard is actually a lot less confusing than you probably think. You just need to know what to look for and what to avoid in terms of materials.
If you’re looking for a toxin free component to your bed, you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share options for non toxic bed frames, what you need to know about metal bed frames, and toxin free headboards for your whole family.
DO I REALLY NEED A NON TOXIC BED FRAME?
A bed frame might seem trivial in the grand scheme of things when it comes to your health and wellness. But the truth is, you’re spending A LOT of time on your bed and mattress, and while yes, the mattress probably matters more, the bed frame should also get a closer look as well.
Depending on what type of bed frame or headboard you have, there can be a number of toxins you’re being exposed to every single night for multiple hours at a time. What’s more is that our bedrooms are closed up and often get even less air circulation while we’re using them, creating an extremely toxic environment.
Formaldehyde is the BIG toxin that’s present in bed frames. It’s often used in adhesives that hold the frame together and can also be used in particle board or plywood present in the bed frame. Not only is this toxin carcinogenic, but it also impacts the nervous system right away. It can be responsible for the inability to concentrate, fatigue, headaches and dizziness. It can also be extremely hard on the kidneys.
Benzene is a volatile organic compound that is present in glues, adhesives and stains that may be used in bed frames. Long term health risks of benzene are leukemia, anemia and a weakened immune system. It’s been linked to negative impacts on fertility and reproduction and can cause irregular periods. Benzene is another toxin that impacts the nervous system and causes systemic problems to the nerves throughout the body.
Flame Retardants can be in wooden bed frames and are especially prevalent in upholstered headboards and upholstered frames. They have been linked to cancer and have a huge impact on the hormone production within the body. They can disrupt the thyroid and disrupt estrogen production. They’ve been linked to reproductive toxicity and can cause immunotoxicity as well. And again, this toxin is one that can impair neurobehavioral function and cause neurological damage, especially in kids.
Pesticides are often found in fabrics made with cotton that is not organic. Pesticides and fungicides can also be found in wooden bed frames as well. Long term exposure to pesticides, even at low levels can cause fatigue and dizziness. Pesticides have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, neurological issues and reproductive issues.
OPTIONS FOR NON TOXIC BED FRAME MATERIALS
The best option for a toxin free bed frame is to find a trusted brand that makes solid, wooden bed frames. This is by far the best material for a toxin free bed frame.
I would do my best to avoid materials like plywood, particle board or MDF when it comes to a bed frame. These types of wood are notorious for containing high levels of formaldehyde, VOCs and benzene. All of which we want to avoid in our bedroom spaces entirely.
Another material to steer clear of is plastic in any way. While this might be more of an option for a child’s room, I have seen bed frames for adults and teens that contain plastic components. These plastics can contain phthalates, bisphenol toxins and can contribute to the harmful exposure of microplastics in your home.
HOW TO BUY WOODEN BED FRAMES
So how do you go about finding non toxic wooden bed frames? Here’s my checklist of things to watch for as you shop to help you make the healthiest decision possible for your room.
Solid HardWood: Wood is often put into two categories; hardwood and softwood. Hardwood is ideal as it actually does not off gas as much as a softwood. It’s also a much denser wood, which means it withstands wear and tear and is more durable. The lifespan of hardwood is much longer compared to softwoods. Hard woods are often treated with fewer fungicides and pesticides as they are naturally more resistant to decay and deterioration.
Toxin Free Adhesive & Glue: Glues and adhesives are often used in the construction of wooden bed frames to hold the components together securely. Some manufacturers will aid this with tongue and groove or dovetail construction. However, MOST manufacturers will still add a touch of adhesive to ensure there are no future issues in the structure. If you can find a company that uses adhesives free from benzene, formaldehyde and VOCs, this is the safest and healthiest option.
Toxin Free Wood Stain & Clear Coat: Wood stains can naturally contain high levels of VOCs that will continue to off gas inside your bedroom and space for long periods of time. It’s important to find wooden bed frames that have natural stains that are free from VOCs and other solvents. Brands that are using a toxin free wood stain or clear coat will often advertise that it does not contain VOCs or is plant based or water based.
Unfinished Wood: Unfinished wood is a great option too. Unfinished wood can be sealed periodically with a food grade linseed oil or a food grade walnut oil to keep your frame protected without a clear coat.
Third Party Certifications: One of the BEST ways to find a solid wood bed frame that is non toxic is to look for third party certifications.
- FSC Certifications ensure that the wood is harvested in a healthy manner and that it does not contain any pesticides.
- Greenguard Gold Certifications mean the product was manufactured with products that are low in chemical emissions and without certain types of VOCs.
- GOTS Certified textiles are made without pesticides and do not contain added chemical treatments to prevent stains, wrinkling or water absorption.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT METAL BED FRAMES
Metal bed frames are not ideal as an option in a healthy bedroom. They are still less toxic than either a plastic bed frame or a manufactured wood bed frame. However, I don’t normally recommend a metal bed frame due to the fact that they can conduct electromagnetic fields. This can disrupt your sleep patterns and in turn negatively impact your overall health and wellness.
That being said, IF you did need a metal bed frame and that was the only option, I would recommend you find something that is solid steel with a powder coated finish. A powder coated finish is baked on and has no off gassing.
Metal frames are also much less expensive than solid wood, which can make it an appealing choice.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEADBOARDS
Headboards can be such a great addition to your bed and bed frame. The best option for a toxin free headboard would be a solid wood board that does not contain toxic glues, stains or finishes.
Another option would be to find an upholstered headboard that contains organic fabrics and batting.
You can find some toxin free bed frames that have an attached headboard, but you can also find just headboards that are low toxin to add to an existing bed frame. Check out my healthy house picks below for specific ideas.
HEALTHY HOUSE PICKS FOR WOODEN BED FRAMES AND HEADBOARDS
Purveyor15: Handmade | Naturally Grown Poplar wood | Chemical free| Unfinished and Ready for your own paint or finish
Medley Home: Zero VOC finish | FSC Certified Hardwood frames made of maple or walnut | Water based, non toxic adhesives | 100% solid wooden bed frames | GOLS Certified Foam Headboards | OEKO TEX Standard 100 Wool headboards
Avocado City Bed Frame: Greenguard Gold Certified | FSC Certified Wood | Solid Wood | No Engineered Wood | Formaldehyde Free | Zero VOC finish | Toxin Free Adhesives Used
Natural Home by The Futon Shop Bed Frame: Solid wood | No toxic finishes | Finished with Linseed oils | Hand Made
Thuma Platform Bed Frame and Headboard: Greenguard Certified | Solid Wood | No Engineered Wood
Savvy Rest Esmont Bed Frame: Solid Wood Construction | Zero VOC Finishes | Hand made | Made from Appalachian Hardwoods & Certified | Greenguard Gold Certified
Plank + Beam: Solid Wood | Low VOC Finish | Solid Pine Wood
The Futon Shop Hemp Mattress Foundation & Headboard: GOTS Certified Hemp fabric (which releases moisture and odors rather than absorbing them) | Naturally antimicrobial | naturally dust mite resistant | Tufted with natural latex | FSC Certified Solid Spruce Wood Frame
Are you ready to switch your bed frame out for a less toxic version? These solid wooden bed frames and organic headboards are a great way to reduce toxins and make sure your room truly is a sleep sanctuary.
