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What is the Best Play Couch? Are Play Couches Worth it? Which Play Couch is Right for Me?

SO often we get questions like these about play couches. It can be so daunting to try and decide!! 

I truly believe they’re worth the investment, but not all play couches are created equal! Let me break down some of my favorite options and what to consider when deciding what’s right for your family.

One quick note: it’s not advised for children or adults to sleep on play couches… 

…but realistically, I’ve 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). 

Looking for a specific brand? Tap below to jump to it!

Joey | Nugget | Kiddie Couch | Kozy Couch | Barumba Couch

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The Joey Play Couch By Roo & You

The Joey Basics

The Joey by Roo & You is my overall favorite, mostly because of how versatile it is and how much you can build on it over time. The Joey is a double seated play couch (currently $299) and comes with 5 pieces: one thicker folding rectangular base cushion, a thinner folding rectangular base cushion, two triangle shaped wedges for back support, and a half-moon armrest.

In addition to the traditional Joey, they offer MANY other Joey models varying from the thicker Joey’s to a theater set. I personally don’t own the Theater set, but it looks awesome.

From a safety and materials standpoint, they’re the most tested play couch on the market, with toy testing, as well as Certi-Pur-US®, GREENGAURD, and extended chemical and toxin testing through Intertek All of the materials they use are also OEKO-Tex certified.

BONUS: Their prints are all designed in-house and strike a nice balance between fun for kids and still working with the rest of your decor. They also have a lot of licensed collaborations (like Miffy, Batman, Baby Shark), with new ones coming out regularly.

The Joey Dimensions

The Joey Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty

Each Roo & You couch is finished with a high quality, machine washable cover that’s soft, durable, and holds up really well to everyday life (including spills, pets, and all the things kids throw at it). It also comes with a waterproof liner, which, in my opinion, is a non-negotiable.

Their core fabric is velveteen, but they also offer microsuede, an outdoor/water-resistant option (Adventurer), and velvet depending on what you’re looking for.

From personal experience, these have been easy to clean and have held up really well over time. The foam inside is Certi-Pur-US® foam and is free of many harmful chemicals, which is always something I look for.

Warranty-wise, it’s 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 was the first brand to introduce add-on pieces and continues to lead in play couch expansion options. All of their pieces, including stairs, chairs, ball pits, stepping stones, arches, boulders & more, are designed to work together as a system, while still functioning well on their own. 

My Joey Opinion

If it’s not obvious by now, The Joey by Roo & You 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!

(Use code MILESTONES for $25 off your purchase!)

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The Nugget

The Nugget Basics

The Nugget is pretty straightforward and cheerfully simple, offering only their Original Play Couch ™ priced at $249. 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

• Depth: 33″
• Length: 66″
• Seat Height: 8.75″
• Total Height: 22.25″

Nugget Materials, Cleaning, & Warranty

When it comes to fabric, you can choose between 3 different fabrics: microsuede, double brushed microsuede, and corduroy. Amongst the 3 different fabrics are 26 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 doesn’t 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 don’t personally 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’s 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. 

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.

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Kiddie Couch

The Kiddie Couch Basics 

The Kiddie Couch (Code KC saves $20 CAD) is a newer play couch (to me) and I have to say….I’m impressed! The Kiddie Couch definitely tops the charts with their huge assortment of additional build materials available for purchase, including add-ons, rockers, climbing slides, archways, stairs, and banners – all of which are multi-purpose and make the Kiddie couch extremely versatile. Priced at $299, the Kiddie Couch consists of 4 pieces: one thicker rectangular base that folds in the center (and is actually the thickest on the market at 7” thick compared to 5” for most other brands), a thinner rectangular base cushion that folds in the center (also the thickest secondary base cushion at 5” thick, compared to 3” for most other brands – more on why this is important information to know in just a moment!), and two triangle shaped support wedges, which are longer (and honestly a bit more aesthetically pleasing than other brands!). The Kiddie Couch foam is CertiPUR-US Certified Foam, which is a program that has created standards for content, emissions and durability, which are analyzed by independent, accredited testing laboratories.

Back to the rectangular base thickness (2” thicker than all other play couches currently on the market!) & why this is such an important detail for me! One of my biggest ongoing issues with the Nugget is that the secondary thinner rectangular base is often SO flimsy and thin that it’s nearly impossible to use functionally during builds. For us, those bases are most often used as ‘crash pads’ or at times the top pieces to builds (so they do not have to sustain the weight of a child), which honestly has always made them feel a bit useless to me. However, the thickness and sturdiness of BOTH of the Kiddie Couch rectangular bases truly stands out, and has let my kids become even more creative with builds, climbing and overall getting their energy out!

The Kiddie Couch Dimensions

• Depth: 33″
• Length: 67″
• Height: 23″

The Kiddie Couch Materials, Cleaning & Warranty 

Each Kiddie Couch is finished with a high quality, machine washable microvelvet cover that’s super soft, water & stain repellant, AND designed to be pet friendly with a weave pattern that doesn’t attract pet hair (HUGE for us with two dogs and two cats!). The covers are available in 7 different colors, including Emerald Green which is what we got, and I have to say, it is honestly BEAUTIFUL! Though they don’t come with a waterproof liner (but they are available for purchase on their website!), the water & stain repellant properties of the cover have proven so far to really reduce the amount of washing needed, with simply wiping most spills doing the trick! Again, the foam inside Kiddie Couches is Certi-Pur-US® foam and free of many harmful chemicals. The play couch also comes with a limited warranty of 1 year.

The Kiddie Couch Add-Ons

Kiddie Couch offers add on options (which consists of 2 armrests/pillars and 2 footrests/stepping stones), a set of 2 rockers, a set of 2 climbing slide/wedges, a set of two archways + 2 doors (adorable for making castles, houses & more!), a set of 3 stairs, and a banner options which contains 5 seriously cute play panels that attach to the play couch, including a coffee shop, pizza shop, ice cream truck, camper and hospital! – all of which are multi-purpose and make the Kiddie couch extremely versatile.

My Kiddie Couch Opinion 

If it’s not obvious by now, the Kiddie Couch is rated very highly for me. The added 2 inches of thickness above most other play couch brands on their base rectangular pieces (7” and 5” as compared to 5” and 3”!!) truly stand out and make the Kiddie Couch ideal for not only sturdier builds, but also for longevity and use as kids grow! On top of that, the foam inside the Kiddie Couch is very dense, further contributing to its sturdiness and ability to withstand bigger kids and more creative builds.

Though we haven’t had it for quite as long as other brands YET, the fabric so far has proven to be extremely forgiving & easily cleanable with children, pets, during rough play & the messes that often come with all of those!   

Overall, The Kiddie Couch is a 10/10 for us!

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The 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 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 doesn’t seem to be 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 doesn’t feel as easy to clean and little stains seem to stand out more. As for size, the single Kozy Couch isn’t 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. 

*Kozy Couch is not in business anymore, but it is still one of our favorites in case you can find one on Facebook marketplace or at a resale shop!

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The Barumba Couch

Barumba Couch Basics

The Barumba Couch (Code: MILESTONES for 5% off) looks just like it sounds: BIG. This couch comes 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 $799, 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), an 11 piece play couch doesn’t sound quite as expensive. 

Barumba Couch Dimensions

• Depth: 33″
• Height: 19.5″
• Length: 66″

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 5 different colors. Their foam is also Certi-Pur-US® certified so you can be sure it’s 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 an additional base.

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 doesn’t hold on to too much pet hair. The foam of the couch is quite dense, which makes for stronger structures. Considering the money you could spend on add-ons from other companies (which can add up to big $$), the Barumba Couch doesn’t seem that expensive for 11 different play pieces.

Overall I rate the Barumba Couch an 8/10.

(Save 5% with code MILESTONES) 

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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 using it and whether you’ll want to expand your setup over time. Personally, I’ve found that a single couch is just not be enough to really let our imaginations run wild. 

I hope this helped you feel confident choosing what works best for your family.

And if you already have a play couch, I want to see what you’re building! Tag @milestones.and.motherhood or share your favorite setup, whether it’s an obstacle course or a cozy fort. I 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 (code MILESTONESANDMOTHERHOOD), 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!

If you need more guidance on purposeful play, environment set up, and supporting milestones with confidence, explore my Mastering Milestones Masterclasses here.