In our search for an excellent nontoxic wood platform bed, first, we need to learn about the raw materials used to build bed furniture. These materials include:
1. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
According to Wikipedia, “Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. MDF is generally denser than plywood. “
Simply put, it’s compacted wood dust.
It is relatively less expensive than other materials and it is very smooth so it is easier to paint and apply veneer.
However, MDF has VOCs.
2. Plywood
Plywood, on the other hand, is a” material manufactured from thin layers or “plies” of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. “(Wikipedia)
Plywood is a strong and durable material that is also not too expensive.
However, the adhesives used in plywood have become a point of concern. Both urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde are carcinogenic in very high concentrations.
Plywood has VOCs.
3. Particleboard
Particleboard, “a low-density fibreboard (LDF), and chipboard – is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even sawdust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binders, which is pressed and extruded.” Wikipedia
Another compacted wood dust product ( less dense than MDF).
It is inexpensive and readily available.
Particleboard had VOCs.
4. Real Wood – Hardwoods or Softwoods
Wood is a “porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin that resists compression.” (Wikipedia)
Wood furniture may or may not have VOCs.
MDF, Plywood, and Particleboard all require glues or adhesives, resins and preservatives (such as formaldehyde) to give them just enough rigidity to be used as furniture. These products also must be finished with veneers, laminates and furniture coatings which leads to high levels of VOCs.
Real wood, on the other hand, can stand on its own and be finished with zero toxic finishes.
So why do we need to get a non-toxic Bed frame?
Every night, when we lay in our beds, we inhale all the toxins near us- including our bed frame. These toxins affect our health and can have short and long terms effects on our general well being. Needless to say, we strive to get only safe materials close to our bodies.
Today, we have a few available options when purchasing our bed frames:
- Nomad Furniture – Has Unfinished Bed Furniture or with zero VOC Linseed oil or clear coat.
- Savvy Rest – Has Unfinished Bed Furniture, zero VOC Linseed oil clear coat, or zero VOC stain.
- Bedworks of Maine –Has Unfinished Bed Furniture or water-based low VOC clear coat (extra charge). Standard stains, paints and clear coats are not low VOC products but offer higher protection for the wood.
- Pacific Rim – Has Unfinished Furniture or with Tung oil, Linseed oil and oil-based polyurethane mixture. (The Tung and Linseed oil are zero VOC, while the polyurethane is not a low VOC product. The polyurethane gives added protection to the wood.)
- Vermont Woods – Has aesthetically beautiful, zero VOC bed furniture. The wait time is incredibly long ( 16 weeks as of this writing). But it can be worth it.
- Stem has a 100-day trial and is on the expensive side ($2400)
- The Futon Shop has reasonably priced bed furniture
- Avocado – has reclaimed wood that is zero VOC
- Urban Woods –has unfinished or unfinished furniture. low VOC
- Dapwood – “handcrafts their eco-friendly furniture only from solid, premium Midwestern and Appalachian hardwoods that are sustainably managed and in plentiful supply.” It is wood furniture done the old way with no toxicity its prime consideration.
In conclusion, we find that the best platform beds are made by Vermont Wood, Dapwood and Savvy Rest.
In our search for an excellent nontoxic wood platform bed, first, we need to learn about the raw materials used to build bed furniture. These materials include:
1. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
According to Wikipedia, “Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. MDF is generally denser than plywood. “
Simply put, it’s compacted wood dust.
It is relatively less expensive than other materials and it is very smooth so it is easier to paint and apply veneer.
However, MDF has VOCs.
2. Plywood
Plywood, on the other hand, is a” material manufactured from thin layers or “plies” of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. “(Wikipedia)
Plywood is a strong and durable material that is also not too expensive.
However, the adhesives used in plywood have become a point of concern. Both urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde are carcinogenic in very high concentrations.
Plywood has VOCs.
3. Particleboard
Particleboard, “a low-density fibreboard (LDF), and chipboard – is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even sawdust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binders, which is pressed and extruded.” Wikipedia
Another compacted wood dust product ( less dense than MDF).
It is inexpensive and readily available.
Particleboard had VOCs.
4. Real Wood – Hardwoods or Softwoods
Wood is a “porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin that resists compression.” (Wikipedia)
Wood furniture may or may not have VOCs.
MDF, Plywood, and Particleboard all require glues or adhesives, resins and preservatives (such as formaldehyde) to give them just enough rigidity to be used as furniture. These products also must be finished with veneers, laminates and furniture coatings which leads to high levels of VOCs.
Real wood, on the other hand, can stand on its own and be finished with zero toxic finishes.
So why do we need to get a non-toxic Bed frame?
Every night, when we lay in our beds, we inhale all the toxins near us- including our bed frame. These toxins affect our health and can have short and long terms effects on our general well being. Needless to say, we strive to get only safe materials close to our bodies.
Today, we have a few available options when purchasing our bed frames:
- Nomad Furniture – Has Unfinished Bed Furniture or with zero VOC Linseed oil or clear coat.
- Savvy Rest – Has Unfinished Bed Furniture, zero VOC Linseed oil clear coat, or zero VOC stain.
- Bedworks of Maine –Has Unfinished Bed Furniture or water-based low VOC clear coat (extra charge). Standard stains, paints and clear coats are not low VOC products but offer higher protection for the wood.
- Pacific Rim – Has Unfinished Furniture or with Tung oil, Linseed oil and oil-based polyurethane mixture. (The Tung and Linseed oil are zero VOC, while the polyurethane is not a low VOC product. The polyurethane gives added protection to the wood.)
- Vermont Woods – Has aesthetically beautiful, zero VOC bed furniture. The wait time is incredibly long ( 16 weeks as of this writing). But it can be worth it.
- Stem has a 100-day trial and is on the expensive side ($2400)
- The Futon Shop has reasonably priced bed furniture
- Avocado – has reclaimed wood that is zero VOC
- Urban Woods –has unfinished or unfinished furniture. low VOC
- Dapwood – “handcrafts their eco-friendly furniture only from solid, premium Midwestern and Appalachian hardwoods that are sustainably managed and in plentiful supply.” It is wood furniture done the old way with no toxicity its prime consideration.
In conclusion, we find that the best platform beds are made by Vermont Wood, Dapwood and Savvy Rest.
