When you think of bean bag chairs, you probably imagine a large, cuddly one that looks like a giant swivel chair. But there’s a whole world of smaller, more compact options to consider. Some are designed to be more like couches, and others are even meant to seat multiple people. In fact, there’s a whole genre of bean bag chairs designed to help people relax and unwind, with options that include air-filled bags, high-density foam, and even high-stress relief beads.
The quality of a bean bag depends on its filling, and the type you choose can make all the difference in how comfortable it is. For example, a bean bag filled with polystyrene beads shifts around and can easily cause dents in the fabric. But a bed stuffed with shredded memory foam conforms to your body and feels more like a traditional couch.
In addition to the type of filling, you also want to pay attention to the cover material. Crowder recommends a durable cotton, linen, velvet (for homes with pets that like to scratch) or a suede. She warns against using materials that tend to hold odors or that are itchy, and she avoids stretch jersey fabrics altogether.
If you have kids in the house, keep in mind that beans are often stuffed with styrofoam or other polystyrene-based material that can pose a choking hazard. For that reason, you’ll want to be sure your child can’t reach the stuffing inside a bean bag chair before buying one.