Buying guide for Best bean bag loungers
Bean bags aren’t just for kids and college students. You can find some truly luxurious bean bag loungers that are great for all ages and styles of home decor. There’s something about bean bag loungers that’s just cozier than any couch or easy chair. They’re great for living rooms, bedrooms, dens, rec rooms, or anywhere you want a comfy spot to lounge, plus they’re light and portable so you can move them around your home as needed.
It’s important that you choose a lounger that’s large enough to fit your needs. You’ll probably want to be able to lie down flat on it and have the option to fit more than one person. A range of fillings are available for bean bag loungers, so you’ll need to pick the one you find most comfortable or that appeals to you in other ways.
Key considerations
Bean bag chairs vs. bean bag loungers
You might be wondering what the difference is between a bean bag chair and a bean bag lounger. To some degree, it’s just semantics and individual manufacturer’s definitions, but there are some key differences to note.
As the name suggests, bean bag loungers are for lounging on, so they must be large enough for a person to sprawl out in a reclined position. Bean bag chairs are often smaller and can be more structured to give you extra support when sitting upright. Bean bag loungers are often longer than they are wide, though they can also be circular. Bean bag loungers are often large enough to fit multiple people, while bean bag chairs are usually made for just one.
Size
Check the size of a bean bag lounger to make sure it will fit your needs. Most people want a bean bag lounger that will completely support them when lying down, so individuals between five and six feet tall will need a six-foot lounger, while most individuals over six feet tall will need a seven-foot lounger. Kids can get away with four-foot or five-foot loungers.
If your chosen lounger is circular, the diameter is the same in both directions. But if your chosen lounger is longer than it is wide, you’ll need to check the width measurement, too. When you want to seat two or three people on the lounger, you’ll need to orient yourselves width-wise rather than length-wise, so the width will make a difference in how much you can recline.
You might also want to check how tall your chosen bean bag lounger is. The taller the lounger, the less you’ll need to lower yourself down to get onto it.
Filling
Bean bags got their name because they were originally filled with dried beans. As you can imagine, a bag full of dried beans isn’t exceptionally comfortable to sit on, so filling options have progressed.
Inexpensive bean bag loungers are usually filled with polystyrene beads, also known as EPS beads. They have enough give in them to feel comfortable to sit on and mold to your shape without digging in. They aren’t biodegradable, however, and these loungers break down and compress over time, so you’ll eventually need to replace them.
Expanded polypropylene (EPP) beads are slightly more costly than EPS beads, but they bounce back to their original shape better and don’t become compressed over time. A bean bag lounger with EPP beads will stay as comfortable as it was on the day you bought it.
Compressed foam, or shredded memory foam, is an alternative filling for bean bag loungers. You get a slightly different feeling than you do from conventional bean bag fillings, but foam is objectively more comfortable. Shredded memory foam is extremely lightweight, reducing the weight of large bean bag loungers, plus it molds to your shape easily for hours of comfort.
Some bean bag loungers have a wipe-clean exterior, which is useful for cleaning up spills and removing marks from sticky little fingers.
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Features
Colors and prints
Yes, a bean bag lounger is a comfortable place for you and your family members to sit, but it’s also a piece of furniture. You probably want it to look nice in your home and blend in with your existing furnishings.
In the living room, we recommend matching your bean bag lounger to your couch if possible. A lounger will look obtrusive in a bright color or busy print in the living room, and you’ll have to look at it often if it’s in the most-used room of the house. In bedrooms or tucked-away spots, you might feel better about opting for a bold print or color because you’ll likely spend less time looking at the lounger.
Adjustable filling level
Some bean bag loungers have a zipper on both the cover and the inner bag that holds the filling. This allows you to add or remove the filling for optimal comfort. We prefer bean bag loungers that allow you to adjust the filling level, as this also means you can replace the filling if it gets compressed and uncomfortable over the years.
Removable cover
Unless your bean bag lounger is made from a wipe-clean material, it should ideally have a removable cover that is suitable for machine washing. Without this, you’ll find your bean bag lounger getting dirty over time.
Double-stitching
Quality bean bag loungers should have double-stitching to make them more durable. Since they take the weight of one or more humans, they must be durable enough to last through years of use.
DID YOU KNOW?
Choose a bean bag lounger made from a material that will feel comfortable against bare arms and legs, such as soft canvas or corduroy.
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Bean bag lounger prices
Inexpensive
You can find bean bag loungers starting at around $100 to $150. These tend to be on the smaller side – around five to six feet long – and are best for occasional use.
Mid-range
Between $150 and $250, you’ll find mid-range bean bag loungers. These loungers are usually between five and six feet long. Some extremely durable options can be found at this price point.
Expensive
The biggest, most durable bean bag loungers generally cost between $250 and $400, but you can occasionally find giant loungers that cost as much as $600 to $700.
The vast majority of bean bag loungers arrive pre-filled, but you can occasionally find options that you fill up yourself. You may need to top off your bean bag over time as the filling becomes compressed.
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Tips
- Check whether your chosen bean bag lounger is fire retardant or meets other relevant fire safety regulations.
- Quality bean bag loungers often come with a warranty that covers manufacturing faults (rather than accidental damage). These range anywhere from year-long to lifetime warranties.
- You can find some waterproof outdoor bean bag loungers, which are perfect for relaxing in your backyard or by the pool.
- Look for bean bag loungers with a double- or triple-layer design to help keep the filling inside even if there’s a tear to the outer layer.
FAQ
Q. Why choose a bean bag lounger over more conventional soft furnishings?
A. Most people have couches and easy chairs, so why opt for a bean bag lounger? Well, bean bag loungers tend to be relatively affordable compared to couches of a comparable size, so they’re a nice, comfortable option if you’re furnishing a first home or dorm room on a budget.
Bean bag loungers are also ideal for use in bedrooms, game rooms, dens, reading nooks, and other spots where you might want to relax but don’t necessarily want a couch. Since they’re light and portable, you can stash a bean bag lounger in the corner of a living room, then move it into the main seating area when you need more seating for guests or you simply want to lounge in front of the TV. It doesn’t need to be an either/or situation with couches and bean bag loungers – many buyers have both in their living rooms.
Q. Can pets lounge on a bean bag lounger, too?
A. While there are specific bean bag pet beds available, you might want to think carefully about letting your pets on any bean bag as they could tear the fabric and let loose an avalanche of “beans.” That said, dogs and cats are lighter than adult humans, so if you’re convinced that your chosen bean bag is durable enough and your pet’s claws are neatly trimmed, it should be fine to snuggle up with your furry friend on your lounger.
Q. How long do bean bag loungers tend to last?
A. That really depends on the overall quality of the bean bag lounger, how often you use it, and how roughly it’s treated. For instance, a bean bag lounger that kids routinely launch themselves onto and bounce around on will last significantly less time than one treated less playfully. It might seem sensible to look for the cheapest bean bag lounger available, but these loungers are often significantly less durable than more expensive models. A basic bean bag lounger might last three to five years, while a high-end option could last you upward of a decade.
