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Summary: The Nugget Play Couch is a great pick for your child’s nursery or playroom for its nontoxic materials, give-back initiatives, and the versatility of the product. It’s not a budget item at $249, but it is a solid investment for parents. The brand is dedicated to crafting ultra-unique children’s furniture that encourages imagination and gross motor skills, and the Nugget is their first and most popular innovation.

What I Love:

  • The Nugget is made without flame-retardant chemicals, and it’s GREENGUARD Gold certified, and the cushions have Certi-Pur US foam. Prioritizing high-quality, nontoxic materials was a highlight for me as a toddler mom who constantly reads the labels on everything. 
  • All cushion covers are removable and machine washable, though I saw excellent results after spot cleaning stains — even from foods like chocolate and blackberries.
  • The double-brushed microsuede fabric is incredibly soft, and surprisingly cohesive with the rest of my home’s aesthetic (a rarity for children’s products!). Microsuede and corduroy are other fabric options that come in various colors. 
  • You can purchase a $10 swatch kit, so you can rest assured that you’ve picked the appropriate color or pattern for your home. 

Things To Note:

  • It’s relatively pricey, and it comes with a strict return policy and warranty. 
  • I wouldn’t recommend it for small space living, unless you have extra storage space. Alternatively, you could invest in the Chunk, which is made with the same materials and about half the width of the Nugget.

As the mom of a very busy toddler, I’m constantly attempting to strike a balance between getting all of his energy out and creating a safe, controlled space. That’s where The Nugget comes in, a play couch that gives him a series of soft cushions to create his own personal couch, chair, or what he lovingly refers to as his “tunnel.” The setup was even more appealing when we experienced a slew of rainy days recently and had to get creative with indoor play ideas. 

Another curveball many parents can relate to? My little guy likes to taste test everything (yes, even play couches!), so I was drawn to Nugget’s long list of certifications. Our editors have also taken notice of the Nugget, ranking it the best overall nontoxic play couch, most notably because of the brand’s focus on third-party certified, high-quality materials. The Nugget is GREENGUARD Gold certified, filled with Certi-Pur US foam, and it’s not made with any flame-retardant chemicals. Nugget also has a number of give-back initiatives, and the brand reports that they’ve given $1 million in philanthropic donations to date to organizations such as Everytown and Equity Before Birth.

About Nugget

The Nugget, also known as “the original play couch,” was founded back in 2014 and launched on Kickstarter in January 2015. The initial design was referred to as the Nugget 1, an 11-piece set of foam blocks with a bamboo base and hard foam legs. It went through several iterations before becoming the Nugget many parents and kids know and love today — a four-piece foam building block set comprising a base, cushion, and two triangle pillows. The product went viral a few years back, and at one point, I remember reporting on Nugget dupes because it was so difficult to get your hands on the real thing. Fortunately, their inventory is significantly more plentiful today. 

Two gray foam play couches with angled backrests, a Woody doll, a wooden animal puzzle, and a plush giraffe are arranged against a light-colored wall on a wooden floor.

“Imaginative play and gross motor skills are the key developmental benefits to the Nugget, inspiring your little one to move the pieces around in various configurations.”

Imaginative play and gross motor skills are the key developmental benefits to the Nugget, inspiring your little one to move the pieces around in various configurations. Over the years, the Nugget has become even more sleek and there are now 25 different colorways to choose from including a collaboration with Ms. Rachel. In 2024, the brand announced the arrival of the Chunk (aka “the original play ottoman”), and their lineup features a miniature version of the Nugget, books, prints, and more.

Delivery and setup

I received my Nugget couch within one week of ordering, and everything arrived in one relatively compact cardboard box. The Nugget weighs 27 pounds total, so it didn’t require any heavy lifting to move it into my home. To make things even easier, all four pieces of the play couch were rolled up in a vacuum-sealed bag. The cushions took a few seconds to take shape immediately upon opening, and the larger piece returned to its original size overnight. 

A large orange Nugget box sits on a wooden floor near a door and a children's basketball hoop.
A child touches a rolled-up mattress wrapped in plastic on a wooden floor, with an open cardboard box nearby.
The Nugget arrived quickly, in a 27 lb, compressed bundle that required absolutely no setup at all — even the cushion covers were already on!

After writing about and testing baby products for the better part of a decade, it’s rare to find anything that requires no setup whatsoever. Enter the Nugget, with covers that are already zipped on. Once they’ve settled into their shape, you and your toddler can explore all of the different types of formations. Plus, I’m pleased to report that I didn’t notice any smell, or “off-gassing,” which made it a snap to instantly add to my son’s playroom. 

Two tan foam cushions set up as a makeshift couch next to a Nugget box, a small basketball hoop, and a white cabinet in a living room.
A beige modular foam couch with triangular back supports is set on a wooden floor near a small indoor basketball hoop by a window.
After unwrapping the cushions, the Nugget was completely decompressed and back to its original shape in less than a day.

Putting the play couch to the test

My son recently started going to a play gym, and the extra-plush cushions are reminiscent of that environment. We tried out a few different configurations, but he’s partial to what he calls the “tunnel” — aka the thinner piece (referred to as “the cushion,” per the brand) folded up into a triangular shape. He brings toys under there, and it’s quickly become his preferred place to snack. After all, what’s better than breakfast in the tunnel?

A foldable foam play couch is arranged as a tent with two triangular cushions on the sides. A toy giraffe is visible in the background near the wall.
A young child sits with their back to the camera inside a makeshift tent made of beige couch cushions, playing with stuffed animals.
My son is a huge fan of his Nugget, and particularly loves the configuration he calls “Tunnel” — for obvious reasons!

Fortunately for my husband and me, it’s easy to spot clean the material, and the cushion covers are removable if you need to throw them in the wash for a deeper clean. I haven’t had an intense spill quite yet, but there’s so much peace of mind that comes with knowing I can wash them on a cold setting with like colors. (Note that the brand recommends line drying the covers to prevent shrinkage.)

“It’s easy to spot clean the material, and the cushion covers are removable if you need to throw them in the wash for a deeper clean.”

After about three weeks, I’m not sure we can go back to our pre-Nugget life. My son frequently shouts, “Tunnel!” and I’ve seen a number of benefits, too. I’m grateful that we now have a space that’s low enough for us both to comfortably climb on and read books, listen to songs on his Toniebox, and work on puzzles. When I need a break from chasing after him, it’s nice to rest on the comfy cushions while he moves on to his next playroom activity. 

A close-up of beige textured fabric with visible weave patterns and subtle creases.
A left hand with a light pink manicure and two silver rings rests on a beige fabric surface.
The cushion covers are removeable and washable, though I have found spot cleaning the fibers to be super easy!

My son wants his Nugget out 24/7 (typically in the tunnel configuration, of course), but when we do need to store it, the base and cushion fold in half. So when we need more space, we can fold them, stand them up, and slip them into the playroom closet.

Is the play couch really worth it?

At $249, this play couch isn’t cheap. That said, I strongly believe it’s hard to put a price on an object that allows my son to sit (even for a minute or two!) and spark his creativity during playtime. If you plan to have your Nugget on display and ready for play in a living room or playroom, I highly recommend ordering the $10 fabric swatch set to make sure it matches the rest of your interior design. This way, you can compare it to other furniture items and decor in your home before committing to one colorway. 

Both the fabric and foam components of the Nugget come with a two-year limited warranty from the date of your delivery, and only people who purchased directly through the website or authorized sellers are eligible. The warranty doesn’t cover every situation, but you can review the full details and exceptions here. At one point, they offered a free 30-day trial, but that is no longer available.

A young child sits smiling inside a small tent made from beige couch cushions, with puzzle pieces scattered on the floor nearby.
A woman reads a book to a young boy while they sit on a beige sofa; a toy giraffe and wooden puzzle are nearby.
The Nugget is an investment at $249, but there’s no doubt that my busy toddler will use his play couch for years and years to come.

The return policy is fairly strict, too, considering it has to be an order placed within the U.S., within 30 days of the delivery date, and “unopened, unused, and in the original packaging,” according to the brand. You can’t return any orders delivered to Canada, collaboration products, orders with three or more products, any products that have been opened and used, and gift card purchases. If you received a damaged product, you have to act fast and contact Nugget within 48 hours to process a return or exchange.

The brand says it’s appropriate for kids 1 year old and up, but I’m really happy I waited until my son turned 2. As parents, we’re constantly flooded with product recommendations, and I’d recommend saving this for an older toddler’s birthday or another special holiday. I should also send out a warning that this takes up a lot of real estate (the overall dimensions are 66” W x 33” D x 22.25” H), so you should measure your space to determine whether it’s a fit for your home’s layout. It’s a big purchase (in both size and value), but one I expect to use for years.

“It’s a big purchase (in both size and value), but one I expect to use for years.”

Later on, you can even swap out the cushion covers to switch up the look of the play couch. I kept it simple with Dunebuggy (a warm beige), but chances are my son will eventually request a punchier color like cobalt blue or lime green. No matter the arrangement or color scheme, the Nugget is a worthy investment — and trust me, you’ll be perfecting your own “tunnel” in no time.

Blake Bakkila is a freelance writer and editor with eight years of experience covering topics including baby and parenting, food, health, pop culture, and interior design. In addition to The Good Trade, her work has appeared in the digital publications of Architectural Digest, Sunset, Good Housekeeping, and more. She highlighted the best, most game-changing baby and parenting products as the former senior commerce editor at What to Expect and BabyCenter, and she’s also held editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, Health, Real Simple, and People. Blake holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. When she’s not typing, you can usually find her watching anything on Bravo, entertaining her son Rhode, and conducting field research on the best ice cream in Southern California.