Bean Bags

Choosing a bean bag

A bean bag is the easiest extra seat in the house. It weighs very little, it moves from the sitting room to a bedroom in seconds, and it needs no assembly. Most of the bean bags here are filled with shredded foam rather than polystyrene beads. Foam holds its shape for longer and gives more support, so the seat behaves more like a soft armchair than a sack.

Size and shape

Adult bean bags here are mostly 90cm to 160cm across. Round and pumpkin shapes give you a deep, wrap-around seat. Oval, shell and lounger styles let you stretch out to read or watch a film. Kids' bean bags are much smaller, roughly 55cm to 75cm wide, so a young child can climb in without help. Every listing gives the measurements in the size options, so check them against the space you have in mind.

Bean bag beds

Some designs unfold into a flat foam mattress, in sizes such as 135 x 190cm, 150 x 200cm and 180 x 180cm. They make a handy spare bed for a sleepover and fold back into a chair the next morning. If you need a guest bed most weekends, our floor mattresses and futons are thinner and pack away flatter.

Covers and cleaning

Faux fur, corduroy, velvet and faux leather are the main fabrics. Faux fur feels the softest, while corduroy is hard wearing. Many covers unzip and can go in the washing machine, and some listings give 30°C as the wash temperature. Check the care notes on the bean bag you like, because not every cover comes off.

When it arrives

Foam bean bags are vacuum packed to keep the box small. Open it in the room where it will live, give it a shake and allow 24 to 72 hours for the filling to expand fully. It will look flat at first. That is normal, and patting or shaking it now and then speeds things up.

Want somewhere to put your feet up as well? Have a look at our footstools and ottomans. Delivery is free to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and orders arrive in 3.0 working days on average. You can return an item within 30 days.