Is La-Z-Boy Furniture Toxic?

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When investing in furniture for your home, safety is often just as important as comfort and style. Many homeowners today are more aware of indoor air quality, chemical exposure, and the materials used in everyday household products.

Because of this, a common question we hear is whether La-Z-Boy furniture contains toxic materials. Below, we break down the materials used in La-Z-Boy furniture, common toxins found in the furniture industry, and what La-Z-Boy does to help minimize health risks in real homes.

Key Takeaways:

• La-Z-Boy furniture is designed to meet strict safety and low-emission standards
• Common furniture toxins include VOCs, formaldehyde, and certain flame retardants
• La-Z-Boy uses certified materials to help reduce chemical exposure
• Many La-Z-Boy products meet Greenguard standards for indoor air quality
• Homeowners can take additional steps to further improve air quality at home

In This Article...

• Is La-Z-Boy Furniture Toxic?
• What Materials Are Used in La-Z-Boy Furniture?
• What Safety Certifications Does La-Z-Boy Have?
• What Toxins Are Commonly Found in Furniture?
• How Can You Improve Indoor Air Quality?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Is La-Z-Boy Furniture Toxic?

La-Z-Boy furniture is not considered toxic when used as intended and is manufactured to meet or exceed safety standards in both Canada and the United States. Rather than claiming furniture is completely chemical-free, La-Z-Boy focuses on using low-emission materials, responsible sourcing, and third-party certifications to reduce potential exposure risks.

Magaly del Castillo, an interior designer at La-Z-Boy Cyrville, regularly addresses these concerns with homeowners. "Many customers ask if furniture can affect their indoor air quality, especially if they have kids, pets, or allergies. La-Z-Boy puts a lot of effort into choosing materials that are safer for everyday living."

This approach is especially important for living room furniture, which is often used daily and placed in shared household spaces.

What Materials Are Used in La-Z-Boy Furniture?

Fabrics and Leathers

La-Z-Boy offers hundreds of fabric and leather options, many of which are designed with durability and safety in mind. Specialty fabrics, including those with iClean Technology, provide stain resistance without relying on harsh chemical coatings.

Magaly explains how this benefits families. "These fabrics are great for busy households because they help protect the furniture while also being easier to clean, without adding unnecessary chemicals into the home."

La-Z-Boy also offers antimicrobial fabrics that use non-toxic silver technology to help inhibit bacterial growth.

To learn more about our La-Z-Boy Fabrics, take a look at this guide.

Cushion Foam

La-Z-Boy cushions are made using high-resilience polyurethane foam, which is engineered to maintain comfort and structure over time while producing lower emissions than lower-quality foams.

"Not all foam is created equal," Magaly notes. "The foam La-Z-Boy uses is designed to last longer and release fewer odours, which makes a noticeable difference in frequently used seating."

ComfortCore® cushions, available in many stationary frames, add layered support and optional gel-infused upgrades for temperature regulation.

Wood Frames

Most La-Z-Boy furniture frames are constructed from oriented strand board, or OSB. This engineered wood product meets strict standards for low formaldehyde emissions and offers strong structural stability.

OSB is also considered a more sustainable option because it uses fast-growing wood strands efficiently, reducing waste while maintaining durability.

You can learn more about the Quality of Wood Used at La-Z-Boy by reading this article.

What Safety Certifications Does La-Z-Boy Have?

UFAC Certification

UFAC certification ensures upholstered furniture meets fire safety standards by reducing the likelihood of ignition. This helps protect households from furniture-related fire risks.

Proposition 65 Compliance

La-Z-Boy complies with California Proposition 65, which requires transparency around chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. Compliance ensures chemical exposure stays within regulated limits.

Magaly often reassures customers about this. "People see Proposition 65 warnings and get nervous, but compliance means the product is meeting strict safety guidelines, not that it is unsafe."

UL Greenguard Certification

La-Z-Boy also participates in the UL Green Guard certification program, which ensures that its furniture meets low chemical emission standards. Over 700 La-Z-Boy products have achieved the Green Guard Gold standard, which tests for over 360 chemicals. 

This certification ensures that La-Z-Boy furniture contributes to healthier indoor air quality, making it especially valuable for households with children, pets, or individuals with respiratory sensitivities.

What Toxins Are Commonly Found in Furniture?

Across the furniture industry, certain substances may be present, particularly in lower-cost or unregulated products. These include volatile organic compounds from adhesives and finishes, formaldehyde used in bonding agents, and some flame retardants.

Other chemicals, such as benzene, may appear in dyes or coatings. It is important to note that these toxins are regulated in both Canada and the United States, and their presence does not automatically mean a product is unsafe. Understanding these substances helps homeowners make more informed choices.

If you wish to learn about the various types of toxic chemicals that are used to make furniture, visit the Government of Canada’s webpage on Pollutants from Furniture and Building Materials.

How Can You Improve Air Quality at Home?

Even when you choose furniture made with certified, low-emission materials, there are additional steps you can take to improve indoor air quality. These habits are especially helpful in newer or well-sealed homes where air circulation may be limited.

Improving air quality is not about eliminating all chemicals, but about reducing buildup and encouraging healthy airflow throughout your living space.

Ventilation and Air Flow

Proper ventilation is one of the most effective ways to improve indoor air quality. Opening windows regularly allows fresh outdoor air to replace stale indoor air, helping disperse any lingering airborne chemicals that may be released from furniture, finishes, or household products.

Using exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms also helps remove moisture and airborne particles. In homes with limited natural airflow, even short daily ventilation periods can make a noticeable difference, particularly after introducing new furniture into a room.

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers can be a helpful addition, especially in smaller spaces, apartments, or rooms with limited ventilation. Many modern air purifiers are designed to capture fine particles and volatile organic compounds, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

For best results, look for air purifiers with HEPA filters and activated carbon components. These systems can help reduce airborne pollutants over time and are particularly beneficial for households with allergies, asthma, or sensitivities to odours.

Houseplants

Houseplants can support indoor air quality while also enhancing the look and feel of your home. Certain plants, such as spider plants, peace lilies, and snake plants, are often cited for their ability to help reduce airborne pollutants in small amounts.

While plants should not be relied on as a primary air-cleaning solution, incorporating greenery throughout your living space can contribute to a healthier environment and improve overall comfort. As a bonus, plants also help regulate humidity and create a more inviting atmosphere.

Regular Cleaning

Dust and debris can carry particles from furniture fabrics, finishes, and everyday household materials. Regular cleaning helps prevent these particles from accumulating and circulating throughout your home.

Vacuuming upholstered furniture with a brush attachment, dusting hard surfaces, and cleaning floors regularly can all help reduce airborne buildup. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter is especially helpful, as it traps fine particles rather than releasing them back into the air.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What's Next?

Now that you’ve learned about what goes into making La-Z-Boy furniture, why not get yourself a piece of furniture today?

You can take a look at our furniture online, or you can visit our Ottawa, Gatineau & Kingston locations. You can also schedule an appointment online to talk to one of our design consultants about any questions or concerns you may have about our furniture.

To learn more about La-Z-Boy furniture in general, take a look at our Living Room Buyer’s Guide.

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