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Bean Bag Chairs - Everything You Need to Know

Dec 23, 2022

If you are thinking about whether or not to buy a bean bag chair, here is great information that will help you. Click on each section to learn more.

What are bean bag chairs?
Many uses for bean bag chairs
Brief History of the bean bag chair
Materials used for making a bean bag chair
Why do you need to refill your bean bag?

If you are looking for a high-quality, Canadian-made bean bag chair that will last, contact us.

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Bean Bag Chairs

1. What are bean bag chairs?

Bean bag chairs perfectly conform to your body

A bean bag chair is a large fabric bag that is filled with dried "beans" that are actually special PVC pellets. It is known as an anatomic chair, because when you sit in it, the chair adjusts and conforms to your body shape. It is hard to define its actual shape. Bean bags are lightweight and very easy to stack and store away. They are often used not only in homes but also in schools, universities, dorms, and hospitals.

2. Many uses for bean bag chairs

Bean bag chairs have a wide variety of uses including:

Reading:

Bean bags are the perfect reading chair as they perfectly support your neck, back, and arms. They mould to your unique body shape and give you support and armrests to help you hold a book as you read.

Studying:

Bean bag chairs are great for reading and studying

They are also great for studying. They give you the comfort and support you need for extended study periods. They are easy to fit into smaller spaces such as dorm rooms.

Sleeping:

Some bean bag chairs are positioned to slope down, so they make a great sleeping chair. As the bag curves around you, it becomes a cosy, warm bed that will support your body as your rest.

Gaming:

Gamers often find that bean bag chairs are perfect for them. They can be positioned to support your limbs comfortably as you play games for long stretches of time.

Pets:

Bean bag chairs can also be used as a great bed for your furry friend to snuggle up in. They are warm and easy to clean. Make sure to purchase a high quality one that is silicone coated to prevent pets from puncturing the chair with their claws.

Children:

Children love bean bag chairs

Children love bean bag chairs and many teachers use them in reading centres. Bean bags can help children with autism as they work on the "sensory pressure" principle. They are also recommended for children who suffer from hip dysplasia or are in a body cast.

Backache Relief:

Modern, ergonomically designed beanbag chairs that give you full body support, especially for your upper back and neck and that are filled up to firmly support your spine can help prevent backache. Smaller and inferior quality bean bag chairs that don't support your upper back can actually do more harm than good and cause you back problems.

3. Brief History of the bean bag chair

The first bean bag chairs were invented by 3 Italian designers in 1968: Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, and Franco Teodoro. Bean bag chairs first became popular in the 1960's and 70's.

They were actually designed in the shape of a flower with a centre circle and 6 petals attached to it. This was to represent the days of Flower Power. Bean bag chairs enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the 1990's as people rediscovered how comfortable and versatile they are.

4. Materials used for making a bean bag chair

Look for higher quality bean bags to last longer

Bean bags are made up of two parts: the outside bag and the filling.

Filling:

Bean bags are filled with pellets made from EPS (expandable polystyrene). The EPS starts out in a sugar-like form. They are blown with steam to expand them. This gives them their cushioning property. There are different qualities of pellets. Cheaper bean bags are less expensive partly because they use an inferior polystyrene.

A higher quality bean bag chair that uses Grade "A" Virgin Pre-puff, high-density beans will hold its shape longer and won't need to be refilled as often. Most pellets range in size from 3mm to 9mm, but some are as small as 1mm to 3mm. The smaller the bead the better. Cheaper bean bags will often use larger pellets that will break and compress much faster than higher-quality, smaller ones.

Bag:

Bean bags are available in a number of different materials and colours. One of the best types of bags to to purchase is one made from a high-quality, German leatherette. This type of material will give you the best durability to last a long time. It is also very easy to clean and sanitize. You can simply use a paper towel and water to wipe them off. If you have a sticky stain, you can also use a cleaner like Windex to clean off the mess.

You can also get covers for your bean bag chair in different materials like suede, cotton-spandex, microfibre, cotton twill, and polyester. Make sure that you check to see if the cover is washable before you buy it.

Higher quality bean bags will be sewn together with double stitching using a French seam. This process will ensure that the bag is extremely durable.

5. Why do you need to refill your bean bag?

Over time you may need to refill your bean bag chair

Over time, the polystyrene pellets inside your bean bag will get tired of being bounce on, sat on, and squished. They will eventually compress together and lose their original volume.

If you find that you are not getting the support that you once enjoyed from your bean bag, then you can refill it. Make sure that you check the quality of the filling you are going to be using to refill your bag. As stated above, get smaller sized pellets, about 5mm in size, that are made from a Grade "A" Virgin Pre-puff material.

Why Choose The Futon Shop for Your Bean Bag Chairs

Not only does The Futon Shop have the largest and best selection of Canadian-made futons, but they also sell the best bean bag chairs, mattress protectors and so much more.

At the Futon Shop, we know how amazing our futons are because we are both the manufacturer and the retailer! Since 1984 we have been manufacturing our own line of high-quality futons in a wide variety of styles and sizes. If you prefer, we can also make a custom size to meet your exact requirements.

All of our futons are crafted right here in Canada at our Burlington location, so you can be sure that you are getting a quality product that will last. We are the largest futon manufacture in Canada, and we have been building our own line of high quality futon mattresses as well. You can come see our incredible lineup at our Burlington location or you can shop for all of our products online. We even ship all across Canada.

Shop Now

"I ordered a futon I needed for guests and then picked it up at the store in Burlington.
I had great service through email communications and at the store. And it's a great futon! Highly recommend."

- David Barker

The Futon Shop Burlington Showroom Business Hours

Tuesday - Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm | Saturday: 10:00am - 3:00pm Sunday - Monday: Closed

5205 Harvester Rd, Burlington, L7L, ON, Canada

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Fussy sofas and cumbersome beds have met their match in the versatile and stylish futon. With a unique blend of functionality and comfort, futons have cemented their place in modern spaces, becoming a favored furniture item. Simultaneously, it captures the essence of convenience and style for many households. Here are eight compelling reasons why the futon captures hearts and reveals why it's not just a college dorm staple anymore.

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