Latex is a good option but you might also look into some soy based cushion options which cost much less. These are pretty readily available in the industry.

Freethinker, thank you for responding. I had a discussion with my upholsterer yesterday. He recommends a synthetic foam; states he can duplicate the same comfort level. I'm going to have him let me try out a sample cushion before committing. I'll also research the soy based. Thank you for the information.

Texasgirl another thing you want to ask about is to make sure that the cushions either have no flame residents in them of conform to the new California standards which are much less toxic. Avoid foam from China.

Freethinker, sorry for the delay in responding but busy at the end of the work week. So you are saying look for foam with no flame retardants, correct? I'm grateful you responded as both your suggestions of what to avoid are important -- Thanks!

100% natural latex foam will out perform any synthetic foam by a wide margin, 3 to 4 times longer than 2.0 -2.5 desity HR or Ultracell foam and more than 10 times longer than anyconventional polyurethane foam.

And you can purchase 100% natural latex foam as a custom seat upgrade for much less, about $350 at selected manufacturers.

Just about now; all new higher end custom built sofas will be manufactured with no flame retardants. Where you will find these chemicals is in stores and online which ship from their stocked inventory and usually always medium to low quality upholstery.

I purchased a 100% latex mattress from www.foambymail.com. They sell latex seat cushions for reasonable prices and will cut custom sizes.

Latex is a good option.Natural latex foam will out perform any synthetic foam by a wide
margin, 3 to 4 times longer than 2.0 -2.5 desity.

V-Dub Pro, thank you for weighing in on this topic. I have a full size sofa and love seat. The first estimate coming in is roughly $1000 for 100% natural latex foam. I live alone so the full size sofa won't see that much wear as I use the love seat for TV viewing. If I just went with the natural for that smaller sofa, do you think the difference in how the two sit would be readily apparent to visitors? I have personal knowledge of how well natural latex lasts. The double bed mattress I sleep on is natural latex foam. It is 30 years old, has seen daily use, and still looks and sleeps like new. It's a heavenly mattress, not too soft or firm, not too warm, and has wonderful body support. I adore it. Anyway, hope you can give me some guidance regarding this issue. My upholsterer, who has many years of experience, believes a good quality synthetic foam will provide the same comfort as the natural. My personal experience is the opposite, but I'm certainly no professional.

Beaniebakes, thanks for the info. I will certainly check them out.

If you go with latex, for a sofa cushion, make sure it is Dunlop, not Talalay.

Tibbrix, why is that? By the way, from the above comments, I think I'll go with the natural latex for both sofas.

Talalay and Dunlop are the processes by which the latex is made. Talalay creates a softer latex and is very good for pillows. Dunlop creates a firmer latex so is better for cushions and mattresses.

Hello texasgal47

Latex mattresses are known for being durable, natural and healthy but aren't known for comfort.Latex foam is a type of foam designed to outlast traditional spring mattresses. It can be made using natural or synthetic ingredients.A latex mattress roughly provides comfort equivalent to that of a spring mattress, but with extended durability (10-30 years). Many people equate synthetically produced latex foam with cheap polyurethane foam (furniture foam) or memory foam. This equation is completely incorrect. Latex can be produced both through natural means or synthetic processes. While synthetic latex is not produced through natural means, it is still latex foam and possesses the characteristics which make latex foam such a great product.

rmanbike, you wrote, "And you can purchase 100% natural latex foam as a custom seat upgrade for much less, about $350 at selected manufacturers."

Do you know which manufacturers? Also, I've been reading old posts while researching a new sofa purchase. You seem very, very knowledge. Can you share your top five sofa manufacturers? And (if not in that top five), your best picks for a sofa under 10K?

I never knew researching a sofa would be so complex... but I really want to make sure I am buying a long-term and reliable piece, also made in America is important to me. Thanks!

If you can't buy containers which I am fairly certain you don't want to most of the upholstery manufactures are still made in the USA, some are better than others but most do a pretty good job.

buildinghopecottage, if your looking just for a sofa your budget is a bit overboard. Even with a high budget, I suggest manufactures that only use hardwood frames where the joints are all double dowelled then glued and screwed together. Plywood frames that have mortised joints which is glued and stapled is a much weaker joint. Sadly to say most big name highend manufacturers are going this way, including Henredon, Century, Vanguard to name a few. When a manufacturer has over 200+ styles, stocking solid hardwood frames is just too expensive. But they can take a sheet of plywood and put on a CNC router and whip out a frame in minutes.

Look for smaller manufactures, they may not have a huge selection, but they can stock the frame parts needed to build solid frames like your parents and grandparents bought before. Make sure they use a heavy wire 8 to 8.5 gauge steel springs, either coils or sinuous.

Any manufacture that offers a quality Latex seating will build a frame and upholster it so that it will last a lifetime.

Try seaching "custom sofa natural Latex seats and backs"

I hope this helps.

I am actually not aware of too many companies that use natural latex cushions. In fact I know of no others.

I have researched this a bunch. I do not recommend polyurethane foam made from petroleum. Soy foam still contains lots of petroleum. First you need a well made 100% hardwood frame. Burlap or hemp deck. Cotton padding over that. Then down filled back cushion and a Dunlop latex foam down core wrapped with down for the bottom cushion.

Many sofa companies now offer latex cushions but most in California. Cisco brothers, viessso, Ekla, the sofa company, verde in Chicago. The foam store in San Francisco has latex cushions. Hope this helps.

My wife had a swivel rocker done with talalay latex and it's perfect! Radium Foam is the manufacturer and the ILD for seat is firm and backrest is med firm. Perfect seat cushion!

Whether it's dunlop or talalay process, choose the ILD to fit your comfort preference. The ILD is what matters most, not the process.

From my experience, Radium Foam (Netherlands) makes the best natural latex being delivered.

becky-hsaio, sorry, but I may have to look up the foam manufacturer. I have not reupholstered my sofas yet as have been spending money in other areas this year and haven't had time to look for fabrics yet. Please give me through to the first of next week to locate the name of that company for you.

I'm aware of negative reviews of Foam by Mail, but have been exceedingly pleased with the latex mattress and topper I purchased from them more than six years ago. I would not hesitate to recommend them for cushions.

Just read this thread and wanted to provide my own personal insight from my experience working with latex.
1. It is highly durable - much more durable than poly foams (memory foam, polyurethane) which lose up to 40% of their resiliency in a 2 year period. Latex wears, of course, just much slower. It loses about 3-10% of its resiliency over a 10 year period. Latex foam also respond to body weight and shape - not heat, like memory foam. So, like memory foam, latex is wonderful at pressure reduction, but also not slow at responding, like memory foam, which can present issues for people when trying to change sleeping (or sitting!) position.
2. Latex is a natural & sustainable material, made from the milk sap of the rubber tree. It is tapped just like maple syrup. Make sure to look for ALL natural latex. Stay away from "blended" latex which contains synthetic additives.
3. All natural atex is a very breathable material - Talalay latex offers the highest breathability and also has more elasticity than Dunlop (aka Standard) process, though if all-natural, both are quality, depending on what feels more comfortable to you. The cell structure is different; Talalay processed latex has an interconnecting cell structure and provides for more breathability. Both are highly durable as long as all natural. More breathability means a more hygienic product (cushion) and tendency for the person in contact to not overheat (of course this depends on other factors as well).
4. Latex is naturally anti mold, mildew and dust mite resistant, so is great for reducing allergens (the rubber tree sap is the trees natural barrier against insects).
5. Polyurethane foam (most widely used in conventional mattresses, cushioning) is made from petroleum. The off-gassing of VOC's can be problematic for many people. The durability of this foam is also a main issue (reference #1 above). Most conventional mattress stores write that 1.5" body impression in a mattress is considered normal and not covered under warranty, they state body impressions will start to form immediately and is normal. For most of us, this means we are losing body contour and therefore not being supported properly or comfortably. Another huge issue with using polyurethane foam is breathability. Being synthetic, it traps heat and humidity which breaks down materials faster and can cause the person in contact to feel hotter than necessary; when sleeping, an increase in body temperature can raise the heart rate and pull you out of your deep sleep, which is not optimal as sleeping is our way to heal and restore.

6. You might come across the label "organic" latex -- while the folks behind this label may have good intentions, organic latex indicates the latex is being made from plantations where organic farming practices are followed. The latex itself is not organic, as the milk sap is a liquid and additives are required to make it foam up into a cushioning material. So... it's no longer organic once the gelling agents are added. Look for "all natural" instead and ask the folks selling for more information. Make sure it's not blended (synthetic latex). The Netherlands produces great quality latex. There are different densities- the denser the latex, the longer lasting, but not necessarily by years... maybe months? Depends on factors such as environment, weight coming into contact with cushion and how often.
   7. If fire retardant is necessary, look at using organic merino wool (Germany is a wonderful cultivator of wool, take very good care of their animals - to my knowledge - and plein-air wool is wool from sheep that roam freely outdoors. I could go into more detail here but won't). Wool is a natural fire barrier, and allows passing of the fire code laws - in fact wool has a slower burn rate than the chemical FR's being used in conventional mattresses. Wool is also anti-microbial, does not harbor odors, and is a WONDERFUL temperature regulator. It wicks moisture away from the body and can evaporate it quickly, keeping you (and your couch/mattress) more dry (wool can hold up to 30% of its weight in moisture.) We all lose moisture constantly, thru perspiration and respiration, even when sleeping. Wool keeps you cool in warmer months, and warm in cooler months.

8. Latex does not like light! If it is enclosed in cushioning material it's fine, of course. It will oxidize and break down quicker if exposed.
I know this was a long post, but I hope it was helpful. Because of the durability of all natural latex in general, I hope its value is recognized.
Well wishes!
Kelly

Just came across this post and wanted to weigh in. A year ago I splurged for 100% natural, GOLS organic latex foam for my sofa cushions. It cost an arm and a leg: $1,355. And I don't regret for a moment spending the money. I have a bad back and the foam is firm and incredibly supportive. It is a fantastic napping sofa. The frame is vintage Baker and with these foam cushions, I feel like I now have the Cadillac of couches.

I did tons of thorough research into different kinds of foam, different kinds of latex too. There is so much green washing, nature lingo that doesn't really mean anything. There are so many carcinogens in regular foam, and soy foam can just be regular foam with some amount of soy added. It was really hard to find a supplier of the foam. But again, it was well worth it. Everything I reupholster now, I will do with organic, natural latex foam.

I ordered the foam from https://www.diynaturalbedding.com/  The owner could not have been nicer or more helpful. She really knows her stuff when it comes to latex materials. Her primary work though is creating mattresses.

For my next project I am considering ordering from this place instead because she specializes in upholstery sizing. Also incredibly smart and helpful vendor. http://www.livinghomefurniture.com/diy-shop/

I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd add my 2 cents' worth anyway! I've done a lot of upholstery, both for myself and professionally. I've redone a lot of furniture from the 50s and 60s when foam became a popular replacement in the furniture industry for innerspring cushions. Since then, urethane foam has taken over because it's much less expensive to produce.

HOWEVER...the two are not even comparable as far as comfort OR durability, as others have stated here. Urethane feels great at first but even the best quality urethane foam will develop permanent hollows over time. And even when new, it compresses in totally different way than does latex. If you push your finger into it, the compression has a wide diameter. It's like a wide angle cone. But when you push your finger into latex foam, the cone of depression is quite narrow.

This matters to the human body because latex allows your wide points to sink in while still giving your narrower points the same support. Urethane foam gives preferential treatment to your wide points with not much left over for the rest of you. Also, the longer you sit on a urethane cushion, the longer it takes for it to rebound, and the more it gets compressed. Latex foam is much more resilient and it will retain the same resiliency for years and years. It has a bouncier feel, but not like an air mattress--it's hard to describe!

Most upholsterers will claim that urethane foam is equally comfortable, and it IS comfortable at first, but that won't last. Upholsterers use it because it's inexpensive and doesn't eat into their profit margins. In an industry where it's becoming the norm to just buy a new sofa rather than get the old one reupholstered, this is a very real and very important factor for upholsterers who want to stay in business!

But still...I think most people would go for latex in a blind sit test. I am just now ordering foam replacement cushions for a sofa, totaling 82" in length, and my total comes to around $450 with shipping across the country. (I wish there was a supplier on the east coast but so far I haven't found one.) This is from Foamorder dot com. And yes, it's still WAY more money than urethane foam would be, but I'm sick and tired of the discomfort of the old cushions and I know that new urethane cushions would only be a temporary fix.

I've gotton other latex foam from this place, including my mattress, and have been pretty happy overall. Last time I checked, the few other places that sell latex foam cushions online were way higher in prices than this place for pretty much the same thing. Always shop around!

I've had no luck finding a recliner chair with natural latex. Anyone know of a source?

I replaced the urethane cushion with natural latex on my couch on my own. I removed the urethane from the zippered down wrap and used 2 pieces of 2” latex stacked to achieve the necessary 4” thickness. I purchased a queen sized 2” thick latex topper for about $159 and found a used $7 electric knife to cut the latex to size. My couch is unbelievably comfortable now, no comparison to the toxic urethane I had. There are other cushion designs besides a down wrap but I’m sure instructions are online somewhere on how to replace cushions of any type.

I did find a co. that made me a custom organic latex sofa but it was very pricey. Settled for a Fjords recliner which is not latex, but a least doesn't have toxic flame retardants. My eyes & sinuses feel much better without toxins in the house (I got latex bed, wool rugs, natural cleaners etc. etc.) And my thyroid blood tests are normal for the 1st time. (still on synthroid tho). As for latex comfort, i find the type i got (Dunlop) too firm, but my back does feel better on it.

Just be cautious with latex foam. I bought a latex pillow and woke up in the morning saturated in sweat. I would think anything latex is going to be generally hot to sleep on, and warm to sit on

I would question if the latex you purchased is synthetic or natural or a blend. 100% natural latex is the most breathable foam I'm aware of; the majority of foam is synthetic (doesn't breathe well) and even if you've got a little natural latex mixed in, the product will only be as strong as the weakest link. I'd also ask what type of material the pillow is cased in, as well as your own pillowcase. Was only your head saturated with sweat or your whole body? If you sleep under bedding, what is that material? There's also been instances where people have started taking a new medication that has warming side effects and they thought it was bedding causing their heat, but once they stopped taking the medication that issue went away. Just sharing some of my experience and maybe it will help!

I have slept with latex pillows my whole life and love them. Never had any overheating problem, they were cool and comfortable. Sears used to have marvelous ones at a reasonable price. But then I bought one from another department store and had the same experience as HU.

I highly recommend the Oxygen Pillow, which comes in different sizes (heights) and densities. I am not affiliated with the company, just want to share in case anyone wants to try them out. Typically you would go into a store and try a few to get "fitted" for the right size based on your shape, sleeping position(s) and comfort preference. https://o2pillow.com

Medley in california makes latex sofas with organic cotton fabric.