Play couches are so much fun for all your little ones, from toddlers to big kids. But there’s so many options out there that’s it’s hard to choose. That’s why I want to help you decide whether a Nugget couch or a Brentwood Home play couch is better for your family.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my full policy here.
But the biggest concern about play couches is that they can be loaded with toxic chemicals, like flame retardants, phthalates, and formaldehyde. That’s why it’s so important to be careful with looking for a “Nugget knockoff.”
RELATED: Non-toxic play couch review – Brentwood Home play couch
I’ve got a Brentwood Home play couch at our house for the kids, and my in-laws have a Nugget over at their house. So I thought this was a great chance for me to compare the two and help you choose.
While most people talk about “Nugget knockoffs,” the Brentwood Home play couch is really next level (not a knock-off). With that said, they’re both a great product (although full disclosure, I think the Brentwood Home play couch slightly beats out the Nugget), so I want to help you decide what’s best for your family.
Table of Contents
Differences between the Nugget and the Brentwood Home Play Couch
On the surface, many of the play couches out there are very similar – two foldable rectangular cushions and two triangular shaped cushions. However, there are some big differences – some of which you can’t see just by looking.
Number of pieces – the Nugget vs the Brentwood Play Couch
One of the fantastic advantages to the Brentwood Home modular sofa is that it has two extra pieces. There are two “speed bumps,” so you get 6 pieces.
I like how the speed bump pieces make it look like a real couch. And honestly, those pieces let you do a lot more that you can’t with the Nugget.
One of my kids’ favorite play couch builds is this fort structure. You couldn’t do it without the speed bumps as pillars.
Non toxic certifications – Brentwood play couch vs the Nugget
The most important difference thing to me (as a environmental health chemist) is the safety of the materials used in a play couch. Many of the cheaper “Nugget knockoffs” are loaded with toxic chemicals in the polyurethane foam – phthalates, formaldehyde, and more.
Both the Nugget and the Brentwood play couch contain CertiPUR-US certified foam, meaning the foam is free of toxic heavy metals (like lead or cadmium), phthalates, and formaldehyde. And they’re also low in volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), making them safer for everyone’s breathing space.
However, the Brentwood Home play couch wins in this area too. I looked extensively, but couldn’t find anything on what’s contained in the Nugget’s microsuede cover. Unfortunately, many microsuedes contain formaldehyde, which is linked to wheezing, asthma, and cancer.
The Nugget may or may not have a safe cover; they don’t provide the information. However, the whole Brentwood Home play couch (including the cover) is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, meaning it’s free of toxic chemicals (including formaldehyde) throughout.
In addition, the Brentwood Home play couch is made with climate-neutral technology, meaning it is made with 100% renewable energy. Brentwood also uses natural and recycled materials. Their foam is made with up to 20% Biofoam from corn, sunflower seeds, and soybeans, while the covers are made with REPREVE from recycled water bottles.
Color options – the Nugget vs Brentwood play couch
This is one area where the Nugget wins. There are a ton of color options with the Nugget, with frequent releases of limited edition colors. They’re like Easter eggs – you kind of want all the colors.
The Brentwood home play couch has only six colors – green, pink, blue, golden yellow, grey, and orange, but they’re all beautiful colors that would go with your decor (instead of being super bright like some kids’ stuff is).
On the plus side, the Brentwood play couch ships quickly – no waiting for three months (like we had to do for our Nugget). Granted, I believe the Nugget has expanded their factory since we ordered ours, so it might be easier to get now than it was before.
Nugget play couch or Brentwood Home play couch – which is right for you?
Hopefully I’ve covered the main differences between the Nugget and the Brentwood Play Couch. In my opinion, the Brentwood comes out on top for two big reasons:
- The two extra speed bump pieces really add fun and versatility to the builds you can make from the Brentwood Home Play Couch.
- The environmental certifications on the Brentwood Home Play Couch are more stringent.
Like I said, this is no “Nugget knockoff.” The Brentwood Home play couch is fantastic in its own right.
If you have any questions, be sure to let me know in the comments. And if you’re ready to get your own play couch, you can order it here.
I rad that the Brentwood is not as firm as the nugget. Can you tell me if there is a difference?
It’s a little less firm, but not much. We can still make good builds with it. Thanks for asking!
Thanks for writing the comparison. Are both brands similar in firmness to support builds? Thanks!
Hi Kay, yes, they’re pretty similar. The Nugget may be just a little firmer, which helps when my kids want to build a slide, but they’re close.
Can you take the covers off to wash?
Absolutely!