Crate and Barrel's upholstered furniture collection

Why It's Good:

It can be hard to find eco-friendly upholstered furniture as widely available and affordably priced as the new choices at Crate & Barrel. Staying true to their reputation, this collection is for everybody from an urban-dwelling bachelor to family in the 'burbs. Modernists with an affinity for a retro-ish vibe will crave a pair of the 50s-inspired Marsden Chairs. The Azure Sofa would make a strong statement piece around which to decorate a room (an idea I got from a professional decorator who was overheard singing its praises). For all the pink people out there, what's not to love about the Savior Chair upholstered in this luscious velvet. The black and white floral Josephine Chaise begs relaxing on with a glass of champagne and some organic chocolate. Ooh la la.

Why It's Green:

Most of Crate and Barrel's frames are from wood that is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or non-profit organizations (like these pieces) which oversee the conservation and responsible social and economic management of million of acres of global forests. These items are filled with soy-based polyfoam and regenerated synthetic fiber that is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic upholstery fill, which is toxic-chemical-laden and not biodegradable. Crate and Barrel is also the first American national home retailer to work with the Tropical Forest Trust (TFT), which ensures that certain hardwoods used in their furniture are from plantations that are responsibly and socially managed for conservation purposes.

A Crate and Barrel of Fun With Eco-Friendly Furniture

Usually, we're all about buying vintage when it comes to furniture—the styles are more unique and chic, with their interesting, quirky shapes and aged finishes, and of course, it's green to reuse old things. And what about the thrill of a making a true flea-market find. Love it! I find myself in the grips of "eco-analysis paralysis" when it comes with buying new, "regular” furniture, which brings to mind all kinds of horrors. To name just a few, there's the toxic, off-gassing formaldehyde in pressed wood (check out some better alternatives here), the high-VOCs in finishes and paint (...and here), the big carbon footprint created during manufacturing and shipping, and oh, let's not even talk about how and where they got the wood, i.e., what pristine and lush virgin forests will never be seen again on our green earth. See what I mean?

That said, we all do need to buy new furniture at some point—we can only buy as eco-friendly as we can afford, and being green does sometimes come with a higher price. Now, however, we have the option of a gorgeous new collection of well-priced, environmentally friendly upholstered furniture at Crate and Barrel. Sofas, chaises and side chairs all come with shapely silhouettes available in a mix of punchy colors and patterns. And the best part is that they are made from certified responsibly harvested wood, with eco-healthy insides. There's no reason why we can't have tomorrow's antiques with an eco-minded new purchase today.—Julie Fowler