Strictly speaking, bean bags are just sealed bags filled with dried beans, pellets, or polystyrene. But for many of us, they're much more than that. Bean bags have a fun vibe and can instantly make you feel relaxed, even if you're working on your laptop. There are many good and bad things about bean bags. They can make you feel happy and comfortable, but they might not be right for formal dining rooms.
The first bean bags came out in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were part of a trend that encouraged people to be less formal and focus on having fun. Today, bean bags are a common seating choice in many places, from kids' playrooms to office lounges. In this article, we'll talk about the good and bad sides of bean bags, so you can decide if they're right for you.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Bean Bags
Advantages
Bean bags have many benefits, including:
Good for Your Posture
Regular chairs force you to sit in a certain way. They're stiff and don't give you much flexibility. Bean bags, however, let you sit however you want. You can sit up straight or lean back—it's up to you. You can even lie on them with your head hanging over one side. There are no rules. This is great for the 3.37 million people in Australia who have back pain. You can change your position whenever you need to. If your back starts to hurt, just shift, and the beads inside the bag will adjust to support you.
Affordable
While some designer bean bags can be expensive, most are quite affordable. This is because they're simple to make. All you need is a bag and some inexpensive filling. There's no need for fancy woodwork or upholstery. Making a bean bag is more like sewing a sweater and stuffing it with filling than crafting a chair from scratch.
Very Comfortable
Bean bags are very comfortable because they mold to your body. Regular chairs use springs and foam to support you, but bean bags do it better. The beans inside can move in any direction, so you can create a seat that fits your body perfectly. This eliminates pressure points and makes you feel more relaxed.
This ability to change the shape of the seat is great for many people. Pregnant women, for example, love that they can move into different positions and get good back support. Experience ultimate comfort and support with a bean bag for pregnancy, perfect for relieving pressure and promoting relaxation. Bean bags let you sit in a way that takes pressure off your lower back and stomach during the third trimester.
Good for Outdoor Use
The outdoor bean bag market is growing quickly. Brands are now making chairs that can handle the weather, so you can put your bean bag by the pool and relax in comfort. The popularity of outdoor bean bags is also creating a market for accessories, like bean bag-specific tables for drinks.
Easy to Clean
Regular chairs are hard to clean. You can't just throw them in the washing machine. Instead, you have to clean them by hand, which can be expensive. Data suggests that it can cost between $20 and $250 to clean a chair. With bean bags, you just unzip the cover and wash it in the machine. This usually costs less than a dollar.
Fun and Stylish
As mentioned earlier, bean bags have a fun, relaxed vibe that regular furniture can't match. Add the Big Boss Lounger to your living room, and you instantly make the space more comfortable and stylish. All of a sudden, the room feels different. This is because we associate bean bags with fun and relaxation.
Bean bags come in many styles, colors, and patterns. You can find upright chairs, relaxing recliners, and even bean bags that turn into beds. And remember, you don't have to stick with indoor bean bags. Waterproof versions mean you can put them outside by the pool.
Good for Home and Office
Google started a trend in 2012 when they added bean bags to their office. Some people thought it was crazy, but Google had a reason. They wanted to make work feel more like play. Bean bags were part of a plan to make the office more fun and energize employees. The idea worked, and now bean bags are common in both offices and homes. Workers and managers agree that a fun workplace is better than a boring one. Sitting on a bean bag with your laptop is much more comfortable than sitting in a stiff office chair.
Disadvantages
Now that we've talked about the good things, what are the downsides of bean bags?
Too Comfortable
Can something be too comfortable? Maybe. We all know that relaxing on a bean bag can make us sleepy. It's important to think about how bean bags make us feel. Researchers have studied how sitting positions affect our work. One study found that people who sit upright get more done and feel happier. When we sit up straight, we remember positive things more easily and feel more powerful. So, when choosing bean bags for the office, it's best to pick ones that keep your body and legs at right angles. This could even help you get a promotion.
Not as Durable as Other Furniture
You want your bean bags to last as long as other furniture. However, some bean bags can rip easily, causing the filling to spill out. The good news is that you don't always have to replace the whole thing. You can often just sew up the rip and refill the bag. If you need more filling, you can buy it separately.
Hard to Get Rid Of
There are a lot of plastic pieces floating in the world's oceans, which is bad for the environment. Many bean bags contain polystyrene balls, a type of plastic that takes a very long time to break down. If you throw your bean bag in the trash, the plastic could end up in the ocean. To prevent this, look for bean bags with biodegradable filling. Or, make sure the plastic in your bean bag is recyclable in your area. There are also many natural bean bag fillings available, like beans, rice, cedar shavings, buckwheat hulls, hay, and sawdust.
Potentially Dangerous for Babies
Bean bags might seem like a good place for babies to nap, but they can be dangerous. Because bean bags change shape under pressure, they can cause babies to suffocate. Babies can get trapped in the bag and be unable to breathe. Doctors recommend that babies always sleep on a firm surface. So, if you have a bean bag, keep it away from young babies.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Bean Bags: Wrapping Up
Bean bag chairs are a great addition to most homes. They're good for pregnant women, can be used in swimming pools, and can help with back pain. While they have some downsides, these can be managed. Just be careful about where and when you use your bean bag, and combine it with other seating options.
