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Our editors have built their homes around comfy sustainable furniture — these are our favorite lounge chairs that are sustainable and use natural materials at a range of prices.
Imagine this: It’s late in the afternoon on a winter day, it’s getting dark out, and you’re curling up with a book and a mug of tea. Where are you? In your favorite lounge chair, of course!
Here at TGT, we love bringing intentionality into everything we do — and that extends to lounging, whenever possible. If you have the space, a designated lounge chair lets you set aside a spot for activities of your choosing, helping you stick to routines. Maybe you want a space to check emails, drink coffee, and journal to begin each morning. Or maybe you like to read or knit in the same place at the end of every day. Whatever the function, a lounge chair is there for you.
Why consider sustainable furniture?
Below, we’ve rounded up lounge chairs from some of our favorite furniture and home goods brands that prioritize sustainability when crafting pieces made to last. We always aim to spend money in accordance with our values, which is why we look for sustainability and eco-friendly credentials before we recommend a product or company to our readers.
Most furniture today is cheaply mass produced of engineered materials, making it difficult to recycle and destined for the landfill after a handful of years. In 2018, Americans threw out over 12 million tons of furniture — 80% of which ended up in a landfill — and that’s not to mention the ecological impact of mass-produced furniture, like deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Just like each piece of clothing in your wardrobe, each piece of furniture you purchase should be chosen mindfully and with longevity in mind. Shopping for furniture made of solid wood rather than engineered wood means you’ll invest in products that’ll last for generations, and we love keeping our eyes open for products made of reclaimed or recycled wood along with third-party certifications that ensure a piece is free of harmful chemicals like VOCs.
Our criteria:
Our team has curated our homes with sustainable furniture for over a decade. For this guide, we’ve selected our favorite lounge chairs that are sustainable and use natural and recycled materials at a variety of price points. These thoughtful, high-quality materials ensure that the lounge chairs on this list are built to last. We regularly update this guide with emerging favorites that meet the following criteria:
- SUSTAINABLE | These brands are transparent about where these products are made and hold third-party certifications like FSC, GREENGUARD, and Fair Trade so you can ensure they’re ethical and sustainable.
- NATURAL & RECYCLED MATERIALS | We’ve prioritized brands that use real, natural wood and other safe and sustainable materials for a durable and safe product. None of the pieces on this list are finished with harmful chemicals.
- AFFORDABLE | We know that furniture is an investment, so we’ve included options for different budgets. We also encourage you to use this list as inspiration for shopping secondhand!
If you’d like to outfit your space with more natural and sustainable furniture, browse our favorite sustainable furniture brands.
1. Avocado
Best For | A chair and ottoman set
Safe Materials | solid maple, solid walnut, alpaca wool, organic latex
Price | Starting at $1,499
Love the timelessness of mid-century modern furniture? Then check out this lounge chair from Avocado. Crafted in their FSC-certified LA workshop of solid wood and renewable alpaca fiber, this chair has some of the most impressive sustainability certifications on our list. The chair has GOLS-certified organic latex cushions upholstered in alpaca wool, renowned for its durability, its softness to the touch, and its exceptional breathability that keeps the chair so comfortable. The wool comes in two colors — cream and wheat — without any chemical dyes. The chair has a sleek, timeless design, comes in both solid walnut and solid maple options, and can come either with or without a matching ottoman. And Avocado itself remains a favorite brand here at The Good Trade, boasting certifications like 1% for the Planet and Climate Neutral.
Customer Review | “We purchased two of these, to use as a set, and are truly impressed. The chairs are solid and made well. The contrast of the walnut and the alpaca fabric on the cushions is really unique. The alpaca has a soft, natural, almost fuzzy texture. And the cushions themselves are made of latex, and feel really great. Super comfortable. Very pleased.” – Mark A. (Read more reviews.)
2. Maiden Home
Best For | High-end design
Safe Materials | Steel, leather, linen, solid maple, oak, or ash,
Price | Starting at $1,475
Designed in their Tribeca studio, Maiden Home’s furniture collections are all about unique designs and high-quality materials. They have a robust lineup of lounge chairs, each of which is handcrafted and has a sophisticated, elegant design — and while some of them look straight out of a design magazine, they’re almost all under $2,000. On the more traditional side, we love the wingback Christie chair or the plush Dune chair, while pieces like the Mercer chair and the Oliver chair have more modern, whimsical designs. Each chair is meticulously crafted to last with materials like heavy gauge steel springs and high-density foam and down cores. And they’re all upholstered in sustainable, durable materials like linen, leather, or shearling that come in a handful of different neutral and neutral-adjacent colors.
Customer Review | “I am beyond thrilled with my Chrystie Chair. It is a wonderful reading chair, and the shape is timeless. The slate mohair is the perfect shade of a french blue that I was searching for. The Chrystie Chair was the perfect investment piece, and I cannot wait to see how it evolves in my spaces over time.” – Abbey Dahl (Read more reviews.)
3. Sabai
Best For | Recycled and upcycled materials
Safe Materials | FSC certified wood, recycled and upcycled fabrics, hemp
Price | Starting at $745
Sabai is working to set a new standard in the furniture industry, crafting pieces that are ethically made, free of PFAs and flame retardants, and that don’t break the bank. They focus on making seating, tables, and decor, all handcrafted of sustainable materials in their North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan workshops. They make a few different lounge chair options, like the ‘70s-inspired Bacana armchair, the traditional Evergreen chair, and the timeless Essential chair, all upholstered in your choice of sustainable material like hemp, recycled velvet, or upcycled poly. Each chair comes in trendy color options, too, including both neutrals and jewel tones — and if you want to see what a color will look like in your home before taking the plunge, they offer fabric swatches. Each piece of furniture ships flat in multiple boxes and is designed to be a breeze to assemble with universal tools.
Customer Review | “We are so happy with our new chair. It looks fantastic in the corner of our living room. It was a cinch for my handy husband to put together. The fabric is lovely and is easily cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.” – Erin H. (Read more reviews.)
4. West Elm
Best For | A huge variety
Safe Materials | Linen, leather, solid wood
Price | Starting at $329
West Elm has practically countless lounge chair options, in a wide range of different styles and prices. They have plenty of GREENGUARD Gold certified options, meaning the furniture pieces were tested to make sure they don’t off-gas over 10,000 different harmful chemicals, including VOCs. We love looking for chairs upholstered in natural materials like linen or leather, which is why a couple of our favorites include this mid-century inspired Russell Bent Ply chair and the classic Delray chair, both of which are GREENGUARD Gold certified and come with options for linen upholstery. Other popular accent chairs that the brand makes include the Dallas swivel chair and the Penn chair. West Elm offers limited warranties on most products, and 60% of their product sales support at least one of their sustainability initiatives, whether they’re investing in local craftspeople or supporting organizations like Fair Trade USA.
5. Medley
Best For | Super earth-friendly materials like latex and wool
Safe Materials | latex, wool, cotton, jute, FSC certified wood, down
Price | Starting at $1,630
Medley is all about simple, timeless furniture pieces that are handcrafted with natural materials. They utilize materials like jute, down, wool, and FSC certified woods in the construction of their tasteful, classic pieces. But what really sets them apart is their plant-based latex + wool furniture line, designed with the utmost in both comfort and sustainability in mind and featuring jute and cotton webbing, natural latex filling, and wool or down wrapping. Some chairs we love from this line include the Eim accent chair, made to order in the US from materials like solid wood, natural latex, and wool, and the Zavis chair, with a high, sloped back and plenty of natural latex foam and wool fiber padding that makes it so comfy. Each piece is made to order and delivered with white-glove service, and the company has some impressive third-party certifications like GREENGUARD Gold, GOLS, and Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
Customer Review | “The fabric is beautiful, the chair generously proportioned and comfortable, and the appearance lovely. It fits in so well! Everyone associated with its arrival were wonderful to work with: Sales allowed me to delay delivery yet take advantage of a sale. Customer service kept me updated and responded quickly and helpfully about the delivery. Even the delivery company were great, providing me with a COI at the very last minute. It’s new but feels like a forever piece.” – Katherine D. (Read more reviews.)
6. Etsy
Best For | Secondhand furniture
Safe Materials | varies by seller
Price | Starting around $200
Etsy can be a goldmine of secondhand and artisan-made products, as is the case for their lounge chair selection. You’ll find plenty of rare vintage options, which is just about the most sustainable way to purchase furniture, like this checkered vintage recliner from the ‘60s or this mid-century chair that’s made with solid oak wood and has been professionally reupholstered so it’s ready for its second life. Keep an eye out for furniture handcrafted by small businesses on Etsy, too, like these handcrafted Moroccan chairs made of solid walnut and woven leather, or this “Dux” lounge chair that’s custom made by West Coast Modern which handcrafts all their furniture to order from their California workshop. Spend a few minutes browsing Etsy and you just might find your new “it” piece of furniture — just make sure you’re shopping from small artisans or secondhand resellers!
Customer Review | “This piece is beautiful! Very well made, high quality material. My communications with the seller were very good. We couldn’t be happier.” – Dana Grabowski (Read more reviews.)
7. Masaya Co.
Best For | Combats deforestation
Safe Materials | FSC certified solid teak wood, vegan cactus leather
Price | Starting at $845
Masaya Co. is a furniture company based on one simple concept: reforestation through design. The brand plants and maintains seedlings on deforested land while it maintains old-growth forests, too, sustainably harvesting the wood that then becomes their tables, shelves, beds, benches, and lounge chairs. They make a large lineup of lounge chairs — some have arms and some don’t, while some are made with woven cord and others with padding made of sustainable vegan cactus leather. All their chairs are crafted with solid teak wood harvested from their FSC certified reforestation project, and they all have boho or Japandi-style designs. We love the Diria armchair, upholstered with plant-based vegan leather, and the Masaya lounge chair with cord that’s handwoven in a vibrant, geometric pattern.
Customer Review | “I love these beautiful chairs. They are well made, gorgeous to look at and extremely comfortable. I am overjoyed!” – Joedett B. (Read more reviews.)
8. Urban Natural
Best For | Perusing different sustainable brands
Safe Materials | solid wood, leather
Price | Starting at $569
Urban Natural carries furniture from tons of different brands — all of which are made from sustainable materials and by fairly compensated expert craftspeople. Each piece is heirloom quality, and most brands that Urban Natural carries craft their furniture in the US. All workshop partners must meet at least three of their five values: ethically sourced, handcrafted, made with organic materials, made sustainably, and made in the USA. Urban Natural carries countless lounge chairs with some really stunning, unique designs — a few of our favorites include the Revie chair by American Leather, the classic Tulip chair by Cisco Home, and the modern Leander sherpa swivel chair by Rowe, all of which are handcrafted in the US of sustainable materials.
9. Sundays
Best For | Timeless, modern design
Safe Materials | solid wood, cotton, PFAS-free stain-repellent treatment
Price | Starting at $750
Started in 2019 by four friends, Sundays crafts furniture pieces that are modern, built to last, and laid back. They sell sofas, tables, chairs, shelving, rugs, mirrors, and more, all of which are simple, functional, and beautiful — and, most importantly, will last for generations to come. The Pillow Talk lounge chair has an exposed solid ashwood frame and plush cushions filled with a foam and down blend, while the Get Comfy lounge chair has a classic yet down-to-earth design and is crafted in Europe of a solid wood frame and a cotton blend upholstery. Another chair you’d be remiss not to check out? The Coastline lounge chair, which looks and feels like a soft little cloud and won the “Best Reading Chair” in Esquire’s 2024 Home Awards. All of the chairs are treated with a stain repellent that’s free from PFAS and other harmful chemicals, and Sundays offers free delivery on everything.
Customer Review | “I bought 2 of these for my family room and I love them! They are super comfortable, well made, great fabric and beautiful. Delivery was quick and free! I am so happy with my purchase.” – Trish (Read more reviews.)
Featured image is from Avocado
Natalie Gale is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a Boston-based freelance journalist. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!
