The Milestones & Motherhood Play Couch Review
“What is the Best Play Couch? Are Play Couches Worth it? Which Play Couch is Right for Me?”
SKIP to the Play Couch Comparison Chart HERE!
SO often we get questions like these about play couches. It can be so daunting to try and decide!!
I 100% believe they are worth the investment, but because there are so many to choose from it can be hard to decide! Let me break down some of my favorite options when it comes to play couches.
I would like to note from the start that it is not advised for children or adults to sleep on play couches…
but…. realistically I have probably spent more total nighttime sleep hours in the last few years sleeping on one of these than I have in an actual bed (next to a crib or bed or even outside their door because I just couldn't do the long walk again).
BEFORE WE DIVE IN…
In the past I did a comparison of The Nugget, The Joey from Roo & You, and Kozy Couch. This year we have added in 2 NEW companies, The Acorn Couch and The Barumba Couch (both MOM owned companies 🙌).
To be fully transparent: I bought the Nugget myself a long time ago before Instagram was even a thing (so there could be changes to them since I have done the comparison). Kozy Couch sent me one of their couches to try, but since then the owners have sold their company to another manufacturer and I don't know anything about the new company. Roo & You, The Acorn Couch, & Barumba Couch also sent me their couches to try. I currently have affiliate links with Roo & You (The Joey), Kozy Couch, Acorn Couch and Barumba Couch.
OK- now for the good stuff… I’m going to break this down by brand and include a comparison chart at the end for easy reference. Hopefully this helps you in your decision!!
Let’s get to it!
Looking for a specific couch? Click which one to jump to it!
Nugget | Joey | Kozy Couch | Acorn Couch | Barumba Couch
The Nugget
The Nugget Basics
The Nugget is pretty straightforward and cheerfully simple, only offering their Original Play Couch ™ as an option currently priced at $269. The Nugget is a double seated play couch consisting of 4 pieces- one thicker rectangular base cushion (two squares connected), a thinner rectangular base cushion (two squares connected) and two triangle shaped wedges for back support.
The Nugget Dimensions
See the Couch Comparison Chart!
Nugget Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty
When it comes to fabric, The Nugget offers one thing the other couches do not, which is the ability to choose between 3 different fabrics (microsuede, double brushed microsuede, and corduroy) for your play couch. Amongst the 3 different fabrics are 19 different color choices (the most colors offered out of all the couches). Each fabric also includes a waterproof liner. Both the liner and the fabric of your choice are machine washable (but NOT dryer safe). The foam inside is Certi-Pur-US® certified and is free of many harmful chemicals.The nugget ranks a bit higher when it comes to warranty, offering a limited warranty of 2 years on both the fabric cover and the foam cushion.
Nugget Add-ons
The Nugget does not have too many options when it comes to add-ons, compared to the other brands. The only other item available to accompany The Nugget is their Chunk, which is a play couch ottoman. I do not own this add-on but it does look pretty versatile and cool, consisting of a hollow circular base and 3 round foam pieces that nest inside the ottoman.
My Nugget Opinion
When it comes to PLAY TIME (finally). The Nugget thicker base is sturdy but the thinner cushion seems to be less dense and can’t always withstand the weight of the build (which is a bummer). The cushions are definitely more easily folded and seem less dense overall (compared to The Joey), affecting the sturdiness of whatever structure my littles have dreamt up. I’ve always felt like we would have been better off with two of the thicker Nugget cushions when it comes to building.
Personally, I do not love their thin cushion, as I feel like it is honestly not super versatile and too thin to use for builds, so we just use it as a landing spot most of the time.
The Nugget fabric has been easy to clean and has held up great against my kids, animal nails & animal hair.
With all that being said I would rate the Nugget a 9/10.
The Joey Play Couch By Roo & You
The Joey Basics
The Joey by Roo & You ( my overall favorite) tops the charts with their versatility and huge assortment of additional build materials available for purchase. The Joey is a double seated play couch, currently priced at $249, and consists of 5 pieces- one thicker rectangular base cushion (that folds in the center), a thinner rectangular base cushion (also folds in the center) two triangle shaped wedges for back support and a half moon shaped armrest. In addition to the traditional Joey they offer MANY other Joey models varying from the thicker Joey’s to a theater set. I do not own the Theater set, but it looks awesome. The Joey foam is Certi-Pur-US®, Greenguard, and ETL Intertek Certified. They also were awarded the Parent Tested Parent Approved ™ Award.
BONUS* Roo & You often collaborate with many well known brands to bring some of kids favorite characters & themes into their play couch cover designs, such as BARBIE™, Harry Potter™, Justice League™, The Wiggles, Elf on a Shelf®, Blippi, & Cocomelon. The collaborations come and go so when a popular one hits the shelves, they tend to sell out quickly!
The Joey Dimensions
See the Couch Comparison Chart!
The Joey Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty
Each Roo & You couch is finished with a high quality machine washable cover for silky softness, stain resistance, shrink resistance, & pet friendliness, and is available in 7 different colors. The couch also has a waterproof liner (a necessity in my house). It has shown itself to be easily cleaned and has held up for years to my own children and pets! The foam inside is Certi-Pur-US® foam and is free of many harmful chemicals. The play couch also comes with a limited warranty of 1 year for the cover and 2 years for the foam.
The Joey Add-ons
Now let's talk about add-ons. If you are looking for endless builds and the ability to let you and your little ones imaginations run wild, look no further. Roo & You offers 11+ add-ons available for purchase, including stairs, chairs, ball pits, stepping stones, arches, boulders & more.
My Joey Opinion
If it’s not obvious by now, The Roo & You Joey is rated highly for me. The foam inside the play couch is much more dense and does not disappoint- making this the ideal candidate for sturdy builds. Even the thinner cushion has withstood the weight of some serious adventures.
The fabric has shown to be very forgiving with kids, pets, spills, and rough play. The only thing I’ve noticed is the pet hair seems to show more, but that may just be from the darker fabric!
Overall, The Joey is a 10/10 for us!
Kozy Couch
The Kozy Couch Basics
The Kozy Couch was sent to me back when the original owners & founders still had their company. Since then they have new ownership. The Kozy Couch is a double seated play couch currently sold for $378, consisting of 4 pieces- 2 thick rectangle bases (that fold in the center) and 2 wedges. They also offer a single seated play couch currently priced at $189, consisting of 2 thick square bases and 1 wedge for back support.
Kozy Couch Dimensions
See the Couch Comparison Chart!
Kozy Couch Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty
The Kozy Couch comes standard with a 100% poly fabric. There is not a waterproof liner (which with little kids & pets is an important feature), although additional covers and liners are available to layer for added protection of the foam. The cover is available in 7 different colors, which seems to be average amongst the other couches. The covers ARE machine washable (but NOT dryer safe)! The foam is Certi-Pur-US® certified and free of many harmful chemicals. The couch comes with a 1 year warranty.
Kozy Couch Add-Ons
The Kozy Couch Company has a few notable add-ons. Available for additional purchase is their Pillow Pack, consisting of an arch, door, and 2 triangles. They also have replacement fabric covers and waterproof covers available.
My Kozy Couch Opinion
The biggest thing that stands out to me when it comes to The Kozy Couch is the fabric & size. The fabric does not seem as forgiving as other brands. There are definitely pulls in the thread from the animals and I do feel like hair clings to it more than the others. The material does not feel as easy to clean and little stains seem to stand out more. As for size, the single Kozy Couch does not feel like it’s enough for my brood. If I was going to get a Kozy Couch again, I would probably get the double, because the regular one is limited to only having one cushion for builds and not having a landing spot if the kids are climbing.
Overall I would rate The Kozy Couch an 8/10.
(Save 15% with code MILE15)
The Acorn Couch
Acorn Couch Basics
The Acorn Couch is sold as a double seated play couch consisting of 4 pieces -2 thick rectangle bases (that fold in the center) and 2 trapezoid shaped pillows. The trapezoid pillows are unique as most brands come with a wedge. The double Acorn couch is currently being sold for $250. They also have a single couch available consisting of 3 pieces- 2 square bases and 1 trapezoid wedge. The single couch is currently priced at $135, making it one of the most affordable options. The Acorn Couch foam is Certi-Pur-US® certified. They were awarded the Parent Tested Parent Approved™ Award and the Pediatrics Toy Experts Seal of Approval in 2023.
The Acorn Couch Dimensions
See the Couch Comparison Chart!
Acorn Couch Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty
Acorn was founded by a mom who prioritized the importance of softness for our little ones, with The Acorn Couch using soft chenille cover available in 6 different colors. Each couch also includes a waterproof liner, with both the cover & waterproof liner being machine washable. Another cool option, only offered with the Acorn Couch from what I’ve seen, is the ability to mix & match colors when purchasing a double couch. The double couch comes in 19 different color combinations! There is no warranty noted on their website but they back all their products with a 30 day guarantee. Being a smaller company the customer service has been A+ in my experience, so even if you have an issue past 30 days- I would still reach out!
Acorn Couch Add-ons
The Acorn Couch company has recently begun taking preorders for some of their newest add-ons. Personally one of the coolest add-ons, if you ask me or my little ones, are their castle walls. This is the only company I have seen that offers walls made to look like that of a castle. They also offer wedges and arches with doors for additional purchase. These pieces do not add to the couch aspect- but definitely add a lot of fun to the building end.
My Acorn Couch Opinion
Overall the Acorn Couch is a great product. The foam is dense enough to make some sturdy builds, the castle walls are endless fun and lead to so much imaginary play. The chenille fabric is very comfortable. I would say the only issue I’ve had is the chenille has a tendency to stretch, not a huge deal but can definitely make the covers look a little less form fitting. However, I think overall I would take the stretch for the softness of this fabric and its resistance to damage from the pets & kids. The castle walls are very unique and a blast to build with.
I would rate the Acorn couch a 9/10
(Save 10% with code MILESTONES10)
The Barumba Couch
Barumba Couch Basics
The Barumba Couch looks just like it sounds, BIG. This couch comes standard with 11 pieces- 1 thick rectangle base (two squares connected in the middle), 2 smaller rectangle bases, 2 arch bases, 2 half circle bases, 2 armrests, and 2 wedges. The top rectangle base rests upon the smaller bases that fit together like a puzzle. The Barumba couch is currently priced at $529USD, making it one of the more expensive options but also one of the most extensive options available. When considering purchasing add-ons to the other couches (which can add up in price) the Barumba 11 piece play couch doesn’t sound quite as expensive.
Barumba Couch Dimensions
See the Couch Comparison Chart!
Barumba Couch Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty
The Barumba Couch comes standard with a microsuede cover and a waterproof liner. Both are machine washable but can not be put in the dryer. The cover is available in 4 different colors. Their foam is also Certi-Pur-US® certified so you can be sure it is free of many harmful chemicals. There is a hassle free 1 year warranty for the cover and foam.
Barumba Couch Add-Ons
The only item available to add on to the purchase of the Barumba Couch are additional covers and a universal play panel made by Couch Swag.
My Barumba Couch Opinion
The Barumba couch is VERY big. The smaller pieces of the bottom base are more easily handled by little hands. The variety of pieces makes for many different build options without having to purchase any add-ons. The microsuede material has shown to be easily wiped clean and does not hold on to too much pet hair. The foam of the couch is quite dense, which makes for stronger structures. Considering the money one might spend on add-ons from other companies (which can add up to big $$), the Barumba couch does not seem that expensive for 11 different play pieces.
Overall I rate the Barumba Couch an 8/10
(Save 5% with code MILESTONES)
And That’s A Wrap On The Play Couches
When it comes to buying a Play Couch, my biggest recommendation is to decide if you want a sturdier couch for building or a more soft and comfortable couch to lay on. Even though all of the play couches reviewed are fine to lay on and capable of a build, they definitely have their unique pros and cons. It’s also helpful to consider how many kids (or pets) will be playing or laying and how much space/building materials you might need. I found the single couches to just not be enough to really let our imaginations run wild.
I hope this breakdown helps you to identify the key play couch characteristics that work best for your family and help you in knowing that the play couch you choose is the one that is just right for you!
Happy Laying & Happy Playing!
Have you made some builds worth sharing?
We’d love to see your builds! Post a picture of your favorite build using a play couch OR anything you’ve got at home & tag @milestones.and.motherhood!
We can’t wait to see what you and your littles have dreamt up!
Looking for more play couch fun?!
Take your play couch to the next level with COUCH SWAG PLAY PANELS
As an affiliate of Couch Swag, we have been using these play panels for years and absolutely LOVE them. The panels come with an adjustable Velcro strap (can span up to 12 feet) to wrap around your build- then all you do is attach the panel to your build to further foster imaginary play. From ice cream shops, vet clinics, firehouses, and baseball fields, these panels are a must when the play couch adventures begin.
Milestones & Motherhood Play Couch Comparison Chart
Jump Back To Where You Where Here: Nugget | Joey | Kozy Couch | Acorn Couch | Barumba Couch
Want more?
Hang tight for my upcoming blog on how you can use a play couch (or furniture items found within your own home) to help encourage & support your little ones motor development skills. In the meantime, for tons of tips & tricks, purposeful play, and environment setup for Motor Development, check out our Mastering Milestones Masterclasses linked here.
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