Top 6 Nugget Couch Alternatives in Canada
Everyone loves the Nugget Play couch–but they’re next to impossible to get in Canada! These alternatives are equally awesome!
Here are the Top 6 Canadian-based options that are just as good as the original Nugget, and are in-stock ready to ship!
By Martina Harvey
Associate e-commerce editor
A quick look at the 6 best Nugget alternatives in Canada:
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Best Overall & Most Durable:
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- Best Overall & Most Durable: KidsCouch.ca – $299.00 review ›
- Best Assortment of Cushions: Happy Berry – $439.00 review ›
- Best Colour Selection: Cushy Couch – $469.00 review ›
- Best Playset for Infants & Pre-schoolers: Kotek Climb & Crawl – $259.99 review ›
- Most Compact: Milliard Kids Sofa for Toddlers – $374.60 review ›
- Most Number of Cushions: Eden Life 12 Piece Set – $499.99 review ›
If you aren’t already familiar with the Nugget couch, the “infinitely configurable play couch” was the pandemic purchase that turned living rooms into play gyms, saving the sanity of stir-crazed parents everywhere. Made up of four foam pieces—a foldable base, foldable cushion and two triangle pillows, all covered in a super-soft, spill-proof microsuede fabric—it has sustained popularity for two years straight.
Maybe you’ve been Nugget-curious, wondering if it’s worth the hassle of somehow managing to order one from their US website. Maybe you’re comparison shopping and simply looking for a Nugget alternative that’s readily available in Canada. Or, maybe you’re looking for a more sustainable or more budget-friendly version of the popular play piece and couch combo. Whatever your reason, we’ve got options.
Read on for the absolute best Nugget couch alternatives and dupes available—all with free shipping!
Best Overall & Most Durable
Our #1 Pick: KidsCouch.ca – $299
Kids Couch comes in two colours (Grey and Blue), and has replacement cover sets as well (Forest Green, Blush Pink and Tan). Like the Nugget, Kids Couch consists of four separate pieces (two folding bases and two wedge cushions). In its standard configuration it’s 68″ wide and 32″ deep, which makes it 2″ longer and 1″ narrower than the Nugget.
The foam has that “just right” feel. It’s noticeably denser and rebounds back to its original shape quicker than any other couch we tried. The foam is also CertiPUR-US certified, making it safe for your family to play on for hours on end.
The machine washable covers are made from a double-stiched, heavy-knit micro-suede which is comfortable, water resistant and plush.
We particularly appreciated the covered zippers to protect your kids’ skin, walls and floors, and the pad thickness was perfect for building, jumping and stacking.
* Additional $60 off coupon available at time of publishing.
Ranking by category
Best Assortment of Cushions
Happy Berry – $439
Happy Berry offers the best variety in cushions. The addition of the round and rectangle pairs really extend the building opportunities for your children. Happy Berry also has some snazzy colours that can compliment and child’s play room. There was some noticeable off gassing when the foam expanded out of the tightly wrapped bags, so give it about 24hrs before allowing your children to play on it.
Ranking by category
Best Colour Selection
Cushy Couch – $469.00
Cushy Couch is by far the Louis Vuitton of the bunch – the aesthetic colours look absolutely breath taking in any environment. They truly have the best in-season colours. For those parents who take home decor seriously, this is the brand for you. A wonderful couch for the children that blends seamlessly into any living/dining room. We particularly love the sandy tan colour pictured above. Very trendy!
Ranking by category
Best Playset for Infants & Pre-schoolers
Kotek Climb & Crawl – $259.99
Have younger children who are really active, messy and in need of a unique piece of furniture to occupy hours in the day? Look no further! Extremely easy to wipe and clean and provide hours of enjoyment for your little ones. It may not be the typical Nugget style couch you’re looking for, but a good option that you otherwise may not have known exists!
Ranking by category
Most Compact
Milliard Modular Couch- $390.63
Let your little ones go from a day of video game tournaments to slumber parties with friends atop this sleeper sofa and ottoman. Padded with foam for comfort, each piece is wrapped in polyurethane upholstery and features a water-resistant liner to keep it fresh. A neutral solid hue allows it to blend with your existing ensemble, while a clean-lined silhouette keeps it modern. With a variety of ways to spread out or fold up this duo, it’s perfect for your kiddo’s bedroom or play area.
Ranking by category
Most Number of Cushions
Eden Life 12 Piece Set – $499.99
This is the ultimate configurable couch for your child who may be a budding architect in the making! Composed of 12 pieces! Two supporting triangular pillows, two rectangular pillows, two semicircular pillows, a hollow rectangular cushion (composed of two modules), two small cushions and two large cushions. This is everything a child needs to make a mobile mat, a fortress or a big sofa. This can be converted into a sectional that accommodates up to 5 kids!
Ranking by category
What is the Nugget and why are people obsessed with it?
The Nugget couch has built up a following over the years, with parents getting extremely psyched to have one of these foam-filled, couch-slash-indoor play gyms in their homes.
Last year, stock in the United States was limited on the oh-so-hyped Nugget couch, leaving moms and dads scrambling (and even entering a lottery) to try to get their hands on one. And if you were Canadian, forget about – you still can’t get one without paying exorbitant amounts of duties!
The good news if you’re in Canada: There are plenty of great alternatives to consider if you want to pay a little less, are looking for something more eco-friendly, want a couch with more play options or just like to have other options to choose from.
The Nugget, also referred to as “the original play couch,” was first introduced as a Kickstarter in 2015. It’s a four-piece set of foam building blocks, which you can arrange into a couch, fort or any other creation. Over five or so years — and especially in the past two — demand has gone through the roof. Parents in the What to Expect community often rave about it, discuss how to get their hands on one or ask why they’re so life-changing. The simple answer? Growing kiddos just love exploring, crawling and climbing over these comfy cushions. It’s designed to promote kids’ imaginative play and gross motor skills, so there’s a developmental component to it, too. Some parents even find themselves resting on them!
But there’s the cost to contend with. At $229USD (and crazy duty fees), the Nugget is more expensive than other play couches or indoor activity gyms. The Nugget is also an extremely large item, so there’s also the issue of available square footage. Luckily, there are plenty of Nugget alternatives to give your little ones a similar experience if the original doesn’t suit you.
What to look for in a play couch
An alternative to the Nugget should be some sort of foam structure. There are nearly identical dupes, and others that are made of similar materials. These are the key components to look out for:
- Cleaning. Undoubtedly, you’re going to need an easy-to-wash fabric cover on your play couch. The Nugget is made of a machine-washable microsuede, which you can wash cold by itself (but spot-cleaning is recommended for smaller spills). If you’re seeking out a Nugget alternative, look for one that has a cover you can easily throw in the wash.
- Shipping. Shipping can currently take up to 10 weeks for the Nugget in the united states— that’s just about as long as a custom couch you might order for yourself! Consider when you’d like this item in your home, and then assess which option can get to your door in the timeframe you need. The good news is that the options above are in-stock and ship next day!
- Price. Whether the Nugget is a splurge item or totally out of your budget, determine the price you’re comfortable paying for a play couch. While some Nugget alternatives are a bit more expensive, other competitors cost considerably less.
- Size. For many parents, your living room or playroom might not be able to accommodate such a large structure. Measure your space and find out the best size for your play couch.
- Safety. The main perk of the Nugget’s soft structure is how safe it is for little ones. Your Nugget alternative should be gentle on kids’ skin and help them have fun all day long.
- Environmental impact. Be on the lookout for materials that are Greenguard Gold- and/or CertiPUR-US-certified. These are better for the environment and your home.
How we made our picks for the best Nugget Couch alternatives
To select the best Nugget Couch alternatives for your kiddos, we considered the above factors, plus turned to members of the What to Expect community, as well as our editors, to see what play couches they’ve tried and loved.
Above, we’ve rounded up Nugget couch alternatives to fit every parent’s need. These options are more cost-effective, ready to ship in days or offer space-saving solutions.