As a longtime Nugget owner, I've seen firsthand how the play couch earned its devoted following. I strongly believe in the power of imaginative, independent playtime. My 4-year-old has spent years building forts, obstacle courses, and imaginative worlds with ours, and we've even unfolded it into an extra sleeping space for when guests come to visit. But despite its versatility, I can't deny that the Nugget takes up a fair amount of space. When we lived in a smaller townhouse, the play couch took up a considerable amount of space in our living room, even when folded up.
That's why I was so excited by the prospect of an imaginative design like the Nugget, just with a smaller footprint. Enter the Nugget Smore, a play chair from the brand that encompasses everything that the original play couch does (comfort, versatility, and brain-exercising design) but at a considerably smaller (and lighter!) size, more comparable to the Chunk ottoman.
Like the original Nugget, it's made from sturdy foam pieces that can be rearranged into different configurations. But unlike most kids' chairs, it's designed to come apart and become part of playtime.
After testing the Nugget Smore at home with my preschooler and baby, I found it succeeded in a way that surprised me. It isn't just a chair, but it isn't trying to replace the original Nugget either. Instead, it occupies a middle ground that may make even more sense for some families.
The Nugget Smore is a modular foam play chair made up of three lightweight pieces that can be assembled into a comfortable kids chair or rearranged for imaginative play.
What we like
What we don't like
What is the Nugget Smore?
The Smore is Nugget's newest addition to its modular furniture lineup. Unlike the original Nugget play couch or the Chunk ottoman, the Smore is designed primarily as a chair while still supporting open-ended play.
The Smore chair consists of three separate foam components: a chair base (block), a backrest (elbow piece), and a large U-shaped outer piece (frame). Together they can create a sturdy children's armchair, but each component can also be used independently for building, pretending, and lounging. They can be reconfigured as your child grows, to suit kids from two up to 11. The company describes the Smore as a "playwithable" chair built for independent imaginative play, a throughline with all the Nugget products.
Parents can choose from nine colors and three fabric options: microsuede, double-brushed microsuede, and the brand's new denim upholstery. Personalized embroidery is also available for an additional $19. Like all Nugget products, the fabric is removable and machine washable, so you can wash off any spills or dirt that are bound to come with kids.
First impressions
The Smore arrived in a surprisingly lightweight box, so much so that I was a little worried I was missing something. All three pieces ship compressed in a large oval shape, meaning you’ll need to take them out of the packaging and give it some time to fully take shape. It took surprisingly little time for this to happen, though we left the pieces out overnight to let them fully expand. I noticed no off-gassing odors.
Putting it together is completely straightforward - the largest part serves as the chair's back and arms, with the second-largest part providing additional back support and a seat. The third, smallest piece serves as the final seating, providing more height for small bodies. The sizing was perfect for my four-year-old daughter, who quickly made herself at home on her new throne. Everything feels sturdy, and it does look very much like a nice kid’s chair. Compared to the more traditional kids’ chairs we’ve had in the past, this one doesn’t seem like it will lose its shape or sink in over time.
Perhaps most importantly, my daughter could move it all herself. While she still occasionally needs help carrying pieces of our full-size Nugget, she had no trouble rearranging the Smore independently, quickly disassembling her chair to make it into a tunnel for her stuffies.
What I liked about the Smore
The lightweight design makes independent play possible
To me, one of the biggest advantages over the original Nugget is its weight. While the Nugget play couch isn’t a bag of bricks by any means, it is fairly cumbersome to move from room to room or put into different configurations.
In contrast with the Smore, my daughter was able to move every piece herself, carry them between rooms, and experiment with different setups without needing an adult. That independence made her more likely to actually use it throughout the day.
It works as both furniture and a toy
The "playwithable" claim turned out to be legitimate. While she regularly used the Smore as a reading chair, she spent just as much time incorporating it into imaginative play. Her favorite use was turning the large U-shaped outer piece into a tunnel. She also frequently draped blankets over it to create caves for stuffed animals.
Unlike traditional kids' chairs, which serve one purpose, the Smore regularly became part of whatever game she was inventing.
The covers are practical for real family life
Like the original Nugget, every cover can be removed and machine-washed.
That's a major advantage in a house with young children where spills are inevitable. After years of owning a Nugget, washable covers remain one of my favorite features, and I'm glad Nugget carried that design over to the Smore.
How my kids actually used it
My daughter used the Smore in ways I didn't fully anticipate. She certainly sat in it while reading books and watching shows. But much of its appeal came from what happened when it wasn't functioning as a chair. The large exterior piece became tunnels, caves, and hideouts. The interior cushion became a slide for her stuffies. That versatility is what separates it from a standard children's chair.
My son is still only crawling, but when we let him loose around the chair he was intrigued by it as well. At less than a year, he likes exploring it in its deconstructed form, crawling over the cushions, or underneath the large, exterior part. While his age isn’t the intended one for the design, it’s already clear that it’ll be something he can join in on playing with in the future.
Smore vs. the Nugget vs. Chunk vs. a regular kids’ chair
The original Nugget remains the better option for families interested primarily in fort building, obstacle courses, or large-scale imaginative play.
The Chunk works well as an ottoman, stepping stone, or flexible play piece.
The Smore sits comfortably between those products. It provides actual seating while still encouraging creativity. For smaller homes or families with younger children, it serves as a great entry point into play furniture.
A traditional kids' chair will almost certainly cost less. However, it can't evolve beyond its intended purpose. If you’re looking for it to be something other than a seat, one of the Nugget products may be a better option.
| Best for | Smore | Nugget | Chunk | Traditional kids’ chair |
| Small spaces | Strong | Weaker | Strong | Yes |
| Fort building | Moderate | Strong | Moderate | No |
| Everyday seating | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Yes |
| Independent toddler play | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Weak |
| Price | $199-$229 | $249-$299 | $199-$224 | Varies |
What parents should know before buying
Probably the biggest drawback is price. Starting around $199, the Smore costs significantly more than most children's chairs, which you can find for far less, in the two figures versus three.
Parents who already own a Nugget may also wonder whether the Smore adds enough functionality to justify another purchase. Truthfully, I can’t say whether it’s necessary to have them both, but I do know that when we were in a smaller living space, we probably would’ve preferred the Smore to the original Nugget if it had been available.
What it really comes down to is what your kid enjoys doing, and whether they’re at the right age to use this as more than just a chair. Even two years ago, I’m not sure my daughter would’ve had enough experience with imaginative play to really get the most out of the modular chair (certainly, my younger son isn't there yet). But now, she’s fully in a phase of life where everything is pretending, meaning she can very easily go between using the Smore as a chair or making it into something that adapts to whatever she’s playing.
If your kid is going to use this primarily as a chair, there are far more affordable options out there. But if you think they’ll be able to use it for play as well, I believe it starts to earn back more of its value for the price.
Nugget also offers a 30 day return window on unopened merchandise and a limited one-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects. The Smore must be unboxed within two weeks of delivery, or the warranty is voided (eight weeks for the Nugget), which is a short window of time if you're purchasing as a gift.
The bottom line
The Nugget Smore successfully fills a gap I didn't realize existed.
It's more engaging than a traditional kids chair but less cumbersome than a full Nugget. The lightweight pieces promote imaginative play and independence for kids, making it so the modular design continues serving a purpose long after kids are done sitting in it.
If you have a kid who is very into imaginative play and might prefer something lighter and smaller than the Nugget, the Smore is well worth considering. However, for those who know their kid will just use it as a chair and nothing more, stick to the more traditional options – they’re cheaper and will fulfill everything they need.
Who should buy it
- Families with toddlers and preschoolers
- Parents who already value open-ended play
- Homes with limited space for a full Nugget setup
- Kids who enjoy building forts and imaginative play
Who should skip it
- Families looking for the cheapest seating option
- Older children who have outgrown foam furniture
- Kids who are unlikely to use the modular features
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