Eco-friendly furniture making is a growing business, with manufacturers popping up all across the globe as concern for healthy home choices increases.

Look for furniture made without toxic chemicals and marked low VOC. Your couch may look harmless, but unless you know exactly how it was manufactured, there's a good chance that it's off-gassing harmful chemicals into your home. The most common off-gassed substances are VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which have been connected to cancer and birth defects.

Note:

• Avoid furniture that is marketed as stain-resistant, and do not apply stain-resistant treatments onto fabrics.
• Avoid products that contain PVC, such as inflatable furniture, artificial leather, PVC-coated fabrics, and vinyl furniture covers.
• Choose products that do not contain toxic flame retardants (PBDEs), which are often used in furniture upholstery and foam.

For foam mattresses, choose from companies that do not use toxic flame retardants (PBDEs), such as IKEA.