The Durable, Stylish Sofa That Belongs in Every Kid’s Playroom (My Nieces Love It!)

One thing to know about my family is that we love our furniture, and not in the “only sit on the plastic-covered sofa” kind of way. How much we cherish our furniture is shown in how well it’s taken care of considering how often it gets used, for better or worse. In my brother’s case, with four kids in the house under 8 years old, his furniture has certainly seen its fair share of spills, stains, crumbs, and crayons. Even so, it hasn’t kept him or his wife from building a home environment that’s not only safe for children, but makes them feel totally involved, too. That means that my nieces (and their new baby brother) have spaces of their own with kid-friendly furniture and all.

My brother and sister-in-law got their first Nugget around 2020, when they were just a family of four. According to the History of The Nugget, it was the fifth version of the couch. Every time I visited, there was hardly a time when it wasn’t occupied in the playroom, whether or not the kids were present, and that hasn’t changed today. If you’ve been in the market for kids’ furniture, there’s a high chance you’ve seen the original Nugget Play Couch and Chunk Play Ottoman. For those wondering whether or not to finally take the leap and get one, my family and I have years of experience with the brand to tell you why it’s worth it and how it’s only gotten better.

With a 4.9 rating and over 31,000 reviews between the two, The Nugget and Chunk make a perfect pairing for play furniture. The basic sets feature washable covers in classic or double-brushed microsuede that come in a variety of bright and neutral colors. The Nugget, specifically, can also be ordered in a retro corduroy. The interchangeable zippered covers are wrapped snugly around cushy yet strong foam that can handle hours upon hours of playtime or downtime, though they aren’t suitable for sleeping.

The Nugget’s base and cushion have built-in woven handles that help to collapse and move its pieces around freely, and its two triangle-shaped pillows are lightweight and sturdy enough to be used as backrests or support for a play structure. While the Nugget couch can be stacked or arranged vertically against the wall, the Chunk ottoman nests together to form one piece. It’s made up of an outer hoop, two inner pucks, and a pad that acts as a lid.

Not sure what to make out of the Nugget and Chunk? Though the presence of Nugget’s furniture is enough to inspire play, in my opinion, you can get plenty of ideas for creative fun straight from the brand’s website. Each product page also shows a variety of example builds that you can re-create at home. Both the Chunk and Nugget are protected by limited warranty, for one and two years, respectively.

The moment my nieces found out that a Nugget and Chunk were on the way, they asked “When??” every time we spoke on FaceTime. When the day finally came, the Nugget arrived separately in manageable boxes. Conveniently, the play couch was rolled and the ottoman was compressed, and since they were already in their covers, all they had to do was wait for the foam for each piece to fully expand. Devery, my brother, notes that the new Nugget took longer to expand than their old one, likely due to the difference in foam’s feel. “For the kids to be able to play on them, it took just a few hours to expand, but for it to actually reach its true shape, it took no less than a day,” he says.

Compared with their 2020 Nugget, the latest one feels studier and firmer — which is great for all the climbing that happens — yet still soft enough to be a cozy place to chill out. Plus, since the Nugget hasn’t changed in size over the past few years, the old and new cushions can be stored together without pieces sticking out of place.

What I love most about Nugget as a brand is that the furniture truly unlocks the best of childrens’ imaginations. Once their Nugget and Chunk were unpacked and set up, the first thing my nieces did was build a fort with all the pieces. Since then, the Chunk has been a concert stage, a porthole window, wheels, and a table for an imaginary restaurant where I was served tea and steak (the only grocery toys we could find at the time). The Nugget has been a path to walk over lava, a boat, and a clubhouse. They’ve even used the Nugget’s triangle pieces for hurdles at the at-home Olympic Games.

Throughout all of that play, the Nugget and Chunk have made great spots to lounge while watching cartoons, reading books, and relaxing with a snack. I love that it’s furniture that children are excited to receive and take pride in, but also furniture that the family can enjoy together. I’ve lost count of the number of movie nights we spent on their first Nugget, and the new sofa and ottoman hasn’t so much replaced it as become an extension of it. I’d say that really speaks to the quality and impact of Nugget as a brand — I’ve honestly never seen my nieces get so excited about furniture!

If you’re having trouble selecting a color or material for the Nugget or Chunk, fabric swatches are available for $5. For an added layer of protection between the cover and foam of the furniture pieces, Nugget and Chunk liner sets are also available.

It goes without saying that the Nugget and Chunk are best for children, but kids at heart can enjoy them, too! If you’re considering one or both for your home, I’d recommend them to those looking for:

• Durable furniture for a playroom or kids’ bedroom
• Floor cushions that can be stored when not in use
• Kids’ furniture that’s easy to clean
• Dual-purpose kids’ furniture that’s made for lounging and playing
• Play furniture that doesn’t overwhelm your space with lots of pieces 

The original Nugget Play Couch and Chunk Play Ottoman are available exclusively on the Nugget website.

• Nugget, $249-$279 (depending on the selected fabric)
• Chunk, $199-$219 (depending on the selected color)

In celebration of the brand’s 10th anniversary, Nugget launched a limited edition Birthday Box Kit that’s available through Aug. 31. The customizable set includes a party hat and four jumbo stickers that can be used to decorate the orange boxes containing your new Nugget furniture. There’s even a blank space on the birthday cake sticker that you can fill in with the recipient’s name, making the gift that much more special.

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