Home Update: Review Avocado's City Bedframe
Home Update: NEW solid wood bedframe review
Background: I spent 15 years curating a low-tox home. Carefully buying and/or replacing items with lower tox versions; everything from cookware, to mattresses, to furniture, to toys, to carpeting, decor, dehumidifiers and filters etc.
Sadly, we lost our home in the Pacific Palisades fires in January of this year (2025) and so are slowly rebuilding our low-tox home from scratch. I am turning to some old favorite products and brands, as well as trying out some new ones. I decided to review them all and will be posting them to Substack and my blog. Hope this is helpful if you are also slowly building your own low- tox home!
A bedroom is no ordinary room—it’s the sanctuary where our bodies sleep, detoxify, and rejuvenate. We spend roughly 1/3 of our lives in our bedroom so what you are exposed to in your bedroom matters and can have a significant impact on wellbeing .
Studies show exposure to airborne pollutants can lead to disturbed sleep and respiratory issues. Other studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors and most recently a 2025 study assessing semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in children's bedrooms detected 28 SVOCs in the air, with the highest concentrations found near mattresses and bedding.
Unfortunately conventional bedroom furniture (mattrresses, bedframes, flooring, paint, nightstands etc) all can contribute to unnecessary levels of harmful chemicals including:
1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Found in: Freshly painted walls, synthetic carpets, furniture made from pressed wood (particleboard, MDF), adhesives, and some foam products (upholstered furniture and mattrresses) .
• Examples: Formaldehyde, toluene, benzene.
• Risks: Can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, and in long-term exposure, may affect development.
2. Flame Retardants
• Found in: Upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, curtains, rugs.
• Examples: PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), chlorinated tris, organophosphates.
• Risks: Linked to hormone disruption, developmental delays, and behavioral changes.
3. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
• Found in: Stain-resistant rugs, waterproof mattress protectors, some window treatments, and certain paints. (please note: thanks to a new law that came into effect on 1-1-2025, PFAS are no longer allowed in textiles including upholstery and carpets in California)
• Risks: Persistent in the body and environment, may affect immune function and growth.
4. Phthalates & PVC Plastics
• Found in: Vinyl flooring, mattress covers, plastic toys, window blinds.
• Risks: Endocrine disruption, potential reproductive and developmental effects.
Because of this, curating a low-tox bedroom environment is vital .
A lot of attention is given to mattresses in the low-tox living / wellness space. There is, of course, a reason for this: our body lies directly on the mattress (well, with sheets in between of course) for many hours at a time. However, once you switch from a conventional mattress to a lower tox/ organic mattress its important to NOT STOP THERE>
A fundamental piece in the healthy ecosystem that is our bedroom is the bedframe because, after our mattress and pillows, it comes into the closest contact with our bodies when we sleep.
Traditional frames often contain composite woods that off-gas formaldehyde (even Greenguard Gold certified wooden products will give off (lower levels) formaldehyde, upholstered pieces laden with flame retardants, PFAS, and VOCs, or metal frames that may exacerbate EMF exposure .
But, better options do exist!
SOLID WOOD
Solid-wood frames that do not require any formaldehyde containing adhesives
make sure it uses Toxin Free Wood Stain/ coat or paint or choose Unfinished Wood
NON-TOXIC UPHOLSTERY
The ideal, lowest tox upholstered bed frame is one that is made of:
natural latex instead of PU foam
natural fabric like cotton or linen or hemp that does not require PFAS chemicals for stain/water repellency. Organic certification or Oeko Tex certification is ideal.
After loosing the house in the January fires, I had to get new bed frames for my children. My two youngest (boy and girl) share a room now and so I wanted to find a non-toxic bed frame that was also gender neutral and would grow with them
I could not be happier with what we got!
REASONS I LOVE OUR NEW AVOCADO CITY BED FRAMES
Constructed from solid FSC-certified North American timber (no MDF nor veneers, no glue containing formaldehyde)
Assembly was tool-free: in fact the edges are not glued together nor screwed together, in fact rails lock into finger joints while the legs pull the corners tightly together without additional hardware or tools.
even the wood slats are edged with organic cotton to ensure a squeak-free experience
certifications to back everything up:Made in a FSC® certified factory (C156318), GREENGUARD Gold certified for safe emissions, Formaldehyde-Free Claim Verification from UL Environment
Modern clean design: I actually just love the clean lines. This bed looks great in a child’s room, teen’s room and adults room.
Interested? Lucky for you Avocado Mattress is offering up to 20% off site wide for Labor Day 2025 (10% off furniture) right now!
In addition to these two City Bedframes, we also have - and love- their
Avocado Green Pillow : I LOVE that it is filled with non toxic kapok and natural latex AND that you can personalize it…. you decide how much filling goes into each pillow, making it ideal for every single member of the family, regardless of their preferances.
Down Duvet Insert: filled with down that is ethically sourced and Responsible Down Standard certified. The 650 fill-power down is encased in a 400-thread-count cotton shell… it is also Oeko Tex certified
Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector : vital to protect your mattress from stains, odors, bed wetting accidents and more. This is a GOTS certified Waterproof Mattress Protector. It is crafted with two layers of organic cotton over a thin, quiet, waterproof film derived from cornstarch. Rigorously tested for PFAS chemicals, and MADE SAFE® certified.