Furniture startup Sabai’s sustainable-minded CEO on building a bedroom that feels like a retreat

Using materials that are non-toxic, renewable, and overall healthier both at home and in her work is top priority for Phataraprasit. “From the beginning we've always been focused on non-toxic materials,” she says about Sabai. “None of our fabrics have ever had any stain-resistant treatment on them that has forever chemicals. I think people now are starting to become much more aware of [that] and look for PFAS-free fabrics and textiles. But that's something that we've always avoided, and in the last few years, have gone more and more into natural materials.” 

Through Sabai, she’s come to be a big fan of organic hemp fabric. “Our hemp blend fabric, which is an organic hemp and cotton blend, is really breathable, comfortable, and antimicrobial,” she says. 

No wonder she also decided to look for hemp for natural, breathable bed linens. Phataraprasit admits this duvet cover by Casa Parini is “a bit of a splurge purchase” but says it’s more than worth the spend. 

“It's just incredibly luxurious,” she says. “It's 100% hemp, and it's dyed using chemical-free dyes—they’re really beautiful colors. They're handcrafted in Italy, and it's just very soft and breathable. It just adds just such a luxurious feeling to like getting in your bed. Like, I feel like I'm at a hotel in Tuscany or something when I get into my bed.”

These duvet covers are indeed made in Tuscany and are a hypoallergenic option for sleepers who want a chemical-free, allergen-free bedding option. 

“Beds are obviously something that we spend a lot of time on,” Phataraprasit says. “And if you don't want to replace a full mattress, putting a mattress topper on top of that is a great way to solve for that.” 

Her pick, Earthfoam’s Organic Mattress Topper, is made from organic latex foam and also has organic wool and organic cotton in its construction. She says the company follows a similar playbook to that of Sabai’s, in that it prioritizes eco-friendly, quality materials that hold up. 

“Earthfoam is a vertically integrated manufacturer here in the US; it's made domestically,” Phataraprasit says. “Latex is sourced abroad because it's from rubber trees, which aren't present in the US. It's organic certified, Fair Trade certified, Oeko-Tex certified—and so you know, it means certified to not have harmful chemicals.”

“I find latex to be really comfortable and breathable, but supportive at the same time,” she adds. “It feels like there's a good weight to it. Latex is very hefty, and so it feels high quality and substantial, but it still has a good amount of give and squish to it. So I think in the land of latex mattresses, there’s nothing I would change here.”  

When it comes to picking out cornerstone decor or furniture pieces, choosing natural materials is always the go-to for Phataraprasit. “Personally, I've been focusing more on natural materials and materials that are breathable or are flexible in terms of seasonality,” she says. “And so, natural materials are really good for that.” 

When it comes to accents for your bedroom like lamps, picking out natural materials is a good way to find a one-of-a-kind piece. For example, Phataraprasit loves these dried flower lamps by NaturelampenDresden on Etsy. 

“We actually got this lamp for our Sabai showroom in Williamsburg, which isn't there anymore, but I love it,” she says. “They're basically made of paper — dried like tissue paper and dried flowers. It's kind of I guess a papermâché lamp shade. It looks so beautiful when it's lit up, and is just something that brings me a lot of joy.”