interior of a living room with two arm chairs

15 Design Products for Better Indoor Air Quality

Now more than ever, product certifications are placing the power of good indoor air quality in interior designers’ hands.

Hours spent poring over products to compare volatile organic compound (VOC) levels can be reduced to minutes, thanks to the expanding number of certifications that confirm at a glance whether a sofa, paint, or flooring supports healthy indoor air quality. In addition to GREENGUARD and FloorScore (as well other ecolabels mentioned here), new labels such as the Climate Neutral Certification make it easier than ever to specify breathable interiors that also have lower carbon emissions. A great example is Backdrop, which is the first paint and wallcoverings company to be certified under Climate Neutral’s three-part “early and aggressive action” plan for carbon reduction, offering products that are certified for low VOCs. Here, are 15 design products with certifications aimed at improving indoor air quality at home and in commercial applications.

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SUMNER LAGOON

A new plain-woven upholstery, designed to complement the Vermont-made Ericson lounge chair, looks like linen but is actually durable upcycled polypropylene yarn certified GREENGUARD Gold.

ROOM & BOARD

roomandboard.com

two people sitting in front of paint samples

BACKDROP PAINT

Launched four years ago by its husband-and-wife founders, Backdrop makes paints which are Green Wise-certified and low-VOC, along with wallpaper that’s certified GREENGUARD Gold, designed in Los Angeles, and digitally printed in Brooklyn, New York, by its parent company Schumacher. Its paints are certified by the international Coatings Research Group Inc. and Climate Neutral. 

BACKDROP

backdrophome.com

interior of a kitchen with  gray countertop

YOTA

These cabinets, including panel doors, carcasses, and sliding mechanisms, are all California Air Resources Board Phase 2 (CARB2)–certified.

MANDICASA

mandicasa.com

detail of a gray rug

RE-RUG

Designing a process to weave yarn from leftover wool led to a collection of rugs that celebrate the tonal richness of recycled feedstock—and it’s Climate Neutral–certified.

NANIMARQUINA

nanimarquina.com

detail photograph of fabric samples

SUPREEN

Stain- and water-resistant without the use of PFAs and fluorocarbons, Supreen is Healthier Hospitals Initiative–compliant, and now available in additional menswear-inspired styles.

NASSIMI

nassimi.com

interior of a lobby with textured floor

PURLINE

This commercial flooring is a bio-based polyurethane that is recyclable, certified Cradle to Cradle Silver, GREENGUARD Gold, and verified Declare LBC–compliant.

MATTER SURFACES

mattersurfaces.com

colorful patterned fabric

FANFARE

 

Made of 100 percent recycled, postconsumer polyester, this Crypton-treated fabric is also certified GREENGUARD Gold.

MAYER FABRICS

mayerfabrics.com

white fiberglass insulation

INSULPURE

 

This fiberglass building insulation is made with recycled content, rated GREENGUARD Gold, and formaldehyde-free.

CERTAINTEED

certainteed.com

upholstered fabric headboard and a bed

BIO-MBO

Developed by Patricia Urquiola, Cassina, and researchers from Milan Polytechnic, this upholstered headboard features a patented air-filtering fabric that captures pollutants.

CASSINA

cassinausa.com/ww/en

detail of white and gray solid surface material

LIGHT HAZE

 

Being low-VOC, recyclable, and GREENGUARD Gold distinguishes this scratch-, impact-, and heat-resistant solid surfacing.

DURASEIN

durasein.com

a collection of wooden tables

GEMMA TABLE

 

Designed by Altherr Désile Park, this versatile collection is also certified SCS Indoor Advantage Gold for air quality.

LELAND

lelandfurniture.com

person holding a fabric sample

NATURAL WINDOW COVERINGS

 

Natural fabrics woven from plant fibers distinguish these artisan sheers by a Colombia-based studio and reduce the risk of VOCs.

VERDI

Intl.verdi.com.co

blue wallcovering in a mudroom

WALLQUEST DUPONT WALLCOVERING

Tedlar coating makes this wallcovering easy to wipe clean and protects it against dirt, stains, scuffs, and fading.

WALLQUEST

wallquest.com

a photograph of an air purifier

RABBIT AIR A3

Certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, this device uses a HEPA filter and six-stage filtration to combat VOCs in up to 1,070 square feet. 

RABBIT AIR

rabbitair.com

detail of quartz surface

 

CAMBRIA

 

Made in the United States, these quartz surfaces are Living Building Challenge–compliant, carry the Declare label and Health Product Declaration, and are certified GREENGUARD Gold.

CAMBRIA

cambriausa.com

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