Spotlight on Nugget: What Makes the Play Couch Brand So Special?
- Briesha Bell
- Nov 30, 2025
- 7 min read
When it comes to picking out a play couch, you’ve got some options these days. My top recommendation is the Nugget play couch. Nothing against the other brands— Nugget happens to be one of the only brands that I’ve been able to observe children playing with consistently over many years. The one other brand that I’ve seen kids play with firsthand (Kiidu) closed shop.
Related: What's the Deal with Play Couches?
Please note, I'm not an affiliate with Nugget and they're not paying me to recommend them. I will admit to having a slight bias, due to the fact that four of the families I work with who own play couches all have Nuggets.
But why did all four of these families go with the Nugget play couch? Let’s take a look at what makes Nugget a leader in a growing industry, where kid’s furniture meets toys. Then, I’ll help you answer a few lingering questions you might still have about the brand.
✨What's so special about the Nugget play couch?
It's the Nugget brand that makes the company so special. Here are four reasons why Nugget play couches stand out above its competitors: the vibe, rapport, verifiable Greengold Gold certification, values-driven company.
✅ Vibe:
Just three seconds browsing their website and you can immediately tell that Nugget stands for play and fun! Between their bright orange logo, emphasis on imaginative play, and authentic photos of kids at play with their play couches, they make it so easy for you to envision your kiddo having just as much fun with their Nugget set.
Sure the kids are photographed by a photographer. But, the photos throughout their Builds Inspiration page are clearly not staged. It looks like they just take kids to a playroom with a play couch and say, "okay, go have fun now, feel free to do whatever you want. I'll be in the background snapping some photos.”
Nugget carries their bright and playful branding into a small selection of their fabric covers, while also meeting the preferences of millennials that gravitate towards muted color palettes. Rather you’re looking for a pop of color to add more character to a playspace or if you just need a color that matches the aesthetic of your living room, the fabric covers are available in 20+ colors.
✅ Solid Rapport:
Nugget is the original play couch creator, they've been in the game since 2014. While a number of other brands have released their own versions of play couches, none of them have been around or stuck around as long as Nugget.
It’s also worth noting that up until a couple years ago, Nugget exclusively sold play couches. That means they spent nearly 10 years tweaking and perfecting their play couch before expanding their product line. Plus, nothing shouts reputable like 50,000+ five-star reviews from satisfied customers.
If I haven't convinced you to be a Nugget fan quite yet, here's something else to chew on (get it?)— the company has sold over 1 million Nuggets!
That's right, their play couches are sitting in the homes of over 1 million households. This impressive stat shows us that there's a unique magic that Nugget brings to little ones and is a great example of a brand that's committed to making mindful memories.
✅ Verifiable Greenguard Gold Certification:
Each of the Nugget fabric covers, as well as the liner set, are all Greenguard Gold Certified. This means that no harmful flame retardant or chemicals are applied to the foam or the fabric. And they have the receipts to prove it.
Some play couch brands make similar certification claims. But, unfortunately a number of them fail to publicly list the suppliers of their materials, which makes it very difficult for potential customers to verify their claims.
🔗 Links to Nugget’s Greenguard Gold Certifications through third-party testing via UL Solutions: Double Brushed | Corduroy | Microsuede | Mixed Material | Liner Cover Set
✅ Values-Driven Brand:
Nugget continues to demonstrate that they're an ethical company that values diversity, inclusion, equity, justice, and equality. This is shown through their commitment to their Black Futures initiative, Talk Starters series, sponsorship of the Raising Us podcast, and partnership with Ms. Rachel.
✨Common Nugget Play Couch FAQs Answered
Before making a purchase on a high ticket item like the Nugget play couch, you probably have some questions. I’ve attempted to answer some of the more common ones below.
Overview of Questions
🤨Are Nugget play couches actually worth it?
📍Where are the materials for the Nugget sourced?
👧🏼What age is best for a Nugget play couch?
😡Why doesn’t my kid play with their Nugget play couch?
🔸Does a Nugget set come with a liner cover set too or only with the fabric covers?
🛋️Does Nugget Make Any Other Play Furniture?
⭕What Can Kids Do with a Play Ottoman?
➕Should I Buy the Nugget + Chunk Bundle?
📦 What is the foam made from? Is there an off gassing to consider?
🤨Are Nugget play couches actually worth it?
Yes, I say, buying a Nugget set is 100% worth it, as long as you have the space! Although I don't own an Original Nugget set, I've observed how kiddos from four families that I babysit for (10 kids total) engage with their Nuggets during countless play sessions. Amongst all four families, it’s hands-down one of the most used toys they own.
📍Where are the materials for the Nugget sourced?
Nugget sources the fabric for their covers from Vietnam, China and El Salvador, and their foam is produced in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. All of their products are assembled by their production team in their factory which is located in Butner, North Carolina.
👧🏼What age is best for a Nugget play couch?
Nugget play couches are marketed for ages 1+. While 1 and 2-year-olds can safely play on nuggets, little ones in this age range require assistance and support to engage with the couch as a toy.
Once toddlers develop more gross motor skills, like the ability to jump (typically between ages 20 months-2 ½ years), they're able to get a lot more use of their nuggets.I'd say, Nuggets are most suitable for ages 3 and up, particularly if you're looking for indoor toys that provide an outlet for a kiddo with a lot of energy.
With that said, children that have older siblings tend to learn how to maneuver the play couches much earlier than kiddos without older siblings.
Tbh, I've actually seen the most imaginative use cases for Nuggets amongst kids ages 5 and up, which speaks to the value and longevity of the play furniture.
😡Why doesn’t my kid play with their Nugget play couch?
When it comes to engaging with Nugget play couches, between ages 3 and 4 is when you'll truly begin seeing your kiddo optimizing their play couch. If your kiddo is any younger, it’s normal for it to take some time for you to feel like your investment was worthwhile.
Why? Because this tends to be the age range when kids develop the strength to move and position the rectangular base (12 lbs.) and cushion (9lbs.) independently without a grownup. Equipped with their newfound agency, you'll start to notice a lot more creative uses and integration of their Nugget into daily play sessions!
🔸Does a Nugget set come with a liner cover set too or only with the fabric covers?
The liner set is sold separately. This means it’s not included in your purchase of a Nugget set, which only comes with your selected fabric cover.
🛋️Does Nugget Make Any Other Play Furniture?
Yes, the Chunk ottoman is Nugget’s latest addition to their product line of play furniture. Also, once a year, close to the holiday season, they release Mini Nugget play couches.
The Chunk is a circular ottoman that grownups can use as a functional piece of living room furniture, or kids can use as a playroom toy to complement their imaginative play.
The play ottoman is made up of 4 pieces total: 1 hoop (the surrounding of the ottoman); 1 pad (ottoman lid); 2 pucks (circular foam pieces that can nest inside the ottoman or be used in play).
As for the Mini Nugget, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a mini play couch. Kiddos that love their Nugget can get a kick out of pretending that their stuffies, baby dolls, or action figures have their own play couch.
⭕What Can Kids Do with a Play Ottoman?
Kids can use a play ottoman as a playroom table, as a seat, for toy storage (think: a home for their playsilks), as a hoop or goal. I can also see kids with siblings using the smaller circles as stepping stones during a classic game of “the floor is lava.”
I only know one family with a Chunk. It’s set up in their playroom with their play couch. One child, Charlie*, age 3 ½ at the time, enjoyed using the ottoman almost as a springboard or vault to launch herself on to the play couch where she continued to practice tumbles.
➕Should I Buy the Nugget + Chunk Bundle?
There are some pretty cool configurations kids can build with the Nugget and Chunk bundle, and having both can take your kiddos play to the next level. Plus, they throw in a 10% discount.
Personally, I only recommend you buy the Nugget + Chunk bundle off the bat if all the kiddos that will be playing with it are 3 years old and up. For obvious legal reasons, their website notes that adult supervision is required for all Nugget products. But the Chunk would truly require constant supervision for children under 3, as the ottoman can pose minor entrapment risks.
If you’re on the fence about the bundle, don’t feel too guilty about skipping the Chunk up front, kids can do so much with a Nugget set alone! Plus, delaying the purchase will give you another opportunity to buy from the awesome company later down the road.
📦 What is the foam made from? Is there an off gassing to consider?
Here’s the response the company provided when a shopper asked this question: “We use open-cell polyurethane foam. Most of our customers don’t experience off-gassing, as this process has usually happened before Nuggets and Chunks are sent out. On the rare occasion that there is a lingering scent when the product is first opened, it typically dissipates within a few hours.”
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