What is a Removable Cover and Do I Need One?
A removable cover is a cover that comes on top of the bean bag chair. The cover can be taken off of the bean bag chair. This is great because bean bag chairs sit on the floor and by their very nature get dirty. Having a removable cover means that you can remove the cover, throw it in the wash and your chair is as good as new. The other advantage to having a removable cover is that you can purchase additional covers and interchange them depending on your mood and your style.
Should you choose a bean bag chair with a removable cover? If you are purchasing the bean bag chair for a child or it will be used in a family room around food and drink a removable cover is a very good idea. If the bean bag chair will be in a bedroom, rarely used with food, or used primarily by adults, a removable cover is nice but not really necessary.
What is a Waterproof Liner and Do I Need One?
A waterproof liner is a special liner used in place of the typical cotton twill liner. The waterproof liner is made of a special fabric that either resists water penetration or completely blocks it. A waterproof liner is really useful in very specific situations: for therapeutic reasons, for people with disabilities or for long term care homes. In general though, a waterproof liner is not necessary.
The special fabric has a very tight weave and does not let air through easily. This means it takes a few minutes for the chair to be comfortable when you first sit down. For the average bean bag chair user, a waterproof liner will not be needed but for those with special circumstances, a good waterproof liner can be super effective and can make your chair last much longer.
How Do I Know Which Size Bean Bag Chair Is Right For Me?
Picking the right sized bean bag chair over the Internet can be a bit of a challenge because you do not get to try them out. Here are a few guidelines to follow to help you make the best choice.
Go by weight. A child sized chair (circumference of approximately 100 inches or 2 ft x 2 ft) will generally support a child 50 – 60 pounds or less. Older children and teenagers tend to prefer a mid-sized adult bean bag chair to a kid’s sized bean bag chair (approximate size 2.5ft x 2.5ft). Adult sized chairs support any weight but if you are a larger person a larger chair will suit you better (approximate size – greater than 3 ft).
Go by height. The best determinant of the perfect bean bag chair is height. If you are less than 5’5” a small to medium sized chair is going to work well, something 3 ft tall and around 3 ft to 4 ft wide. If you are over 5’5”, you’re best to look at a chair that is over 3 ft tall and at least 4 ft wide.
Go by shape. The round barrel shaped chairs are great for all ages and sizes. They provide great lounging comfort but do not provide much in the way of back and neck support when sitting up. The pear-shaped chairs are also great for all ages and sizes. They too provide great lounging comfort but due their shape are more chair-like and offer great back and neck support.
What Fabric Should I Choose?
Choosing the right fabric for your bean bag chair can be tough. The most obvious factor is to think of the color you want and then find the fabric that best matches. If you have more than one choice, think of how and where the bean bag chair will be used. If the chair will be in a high profile location in your home and you want it to blend in, choose a fabric that most closely matches the furniture in the room. Request fabric swatches for any fabrics you are interested in and then you know for sure what you are getting.
The other factor to consider is use and durability. If the bean bag chair will be used regularly choose a durable fabric that will stand up to wear and tear and can be washed easily. For instance, the new microfiber fabrics are lovely and soft and stand up well over time. In addition, they are washable and dryable. Cotton twill is a terrific fabric because it is soft and comfy to sit on and easy to maintain. Fabrics like the fuzzy fur are super popular with children but they do not last quite as long because the fur packs down and loses some of its furriness. Denim and corduroy are great because they soften over time and they are easy to spot clean.
