The beanbag chair has been around for a long time, since 1969. The aim of its creation was to be a stylish yet casual chair, a seating arrangement that could be placed anywhere. It was once stuffed with styrofoam beads but the advancement of technology has led to more durable and more comfortable beanbags. Some of them are big enough to replace an entire couch.
Beanbag chair covers are also available in a wide range of materials such as leather, suede, cotton, plastic, or corduroy, as well as an unlimited variety of colours. This makes it much easier for you to coordinate your beanbag with the rest of your living room furniture.
However, when shopping for a beanbag chair for your home or office, it’s important that you pay attention to safety, as not all beanbags are safe. Here are nine considerations to keep in mind when buying a beanbag chair.
- Place Reputable Manufacturers at the Top of your List
Depending on whether you’re shopping online or in a physical store, it’s important to ask questions about the beanbag you’re buying. Inquire on what it’s made out of and what the stuffing is. Can you change the cover of the beanbag or are you stuck with the one it comes in? If it’s filled with styrofoam, how often do you have to change the stuffing? Is the exterior closed with a zipper or Velcro?
Asking these questions beforehand will tell you the quality of the product you’re buying. Lean towards manufacturers who use upholstery-grade materials in the construction of their bean bags so that they won’t tear so easily. You also want to go with a manufacturer who follows regulations and guidelines in the construction of their products to minimize the risk to anyone who sits in them.
Pay attention to those manufacturers who respond to your questions in a timely manner, and actually answer your questions. Be sure to ask about warranties and satisfaction guarantees as well in the event that you need to return your product.
- Getting the Right Size
Bean bag chairs are not one size fits all. You should find the right sizes and shapes for the people that are going to be sitting in them. Don’t get an adult-sized bean bag for a child, as they’re not going to be comfortable and may not even be able to get out of it. Alternatively, don’t get a bean bag chair sized for a child and give it to an adult. It will be way too small and not be very supportive of their weight. It will get flat too quickly, forcing you to buy more stuffing in the future.
If you’re interested in getting a bean bag chair for a baby, look for safety features such as straps to keep them upright. These straps hold the infant in place so that they have fewer instances of reflux. Bean bag chairs for babies are also beneficial in helping those that suffer from colic or who have flat head syndrome. If you’re interested in investing in such a bean bag chair, then you can find more at ComfySacks.com.
- Fire Safety
Different countries have different regulations about materials that are flammable and what kind of warnings have to be placed on them. Bean bag chairs, unfortunately, can be quite flammable so it’s never safe to have them near an open flame of any kind.
You can reduce the risk of your bean bag igniting by choosing outer materials that are less flammable. These include nylon and polyester, which tend to shrink away from flames instead of igniting. Lower density and cheaper fabrics tend to be more flammable so they’re not the best choice.
Another thing to consider is the filling of the bean bag. The majority of bean bag chairs are filled with beans made from expanded polystyrene. This is a good choice, as this requires very high heat (of more than 200 degrees Celsius) before it starts to burn. If treated with a fire-resistant coating, it requires even higher temperatures (300-500 degrees Celsius) for it to catch on fire. Polyfilling or batting, on the other hand, is extremely flammable and should never be kept near open flames. Avoid bean bag chairs that have this kind of filling.
- Choking Hazards
The biggest choking hazard on a bean bag chair lies with the foam pellets that are inside. If a child manages to get the cover open and get their hands inside, then they can seriously impair their health if the pellets are swallowed or inhaled.
To prevent this from occurring, you should only buy bean bag chairs that have separate interior liners that hold the pellets so that children can’t get at them too easily. The exterior should also have a security lock on the zipper so that it’s difficult for children to open. If there is no safety lock then remove the zipper pull altogether and sew it shut. There have been new standards, however, that make zippers more difficult to open so that children can’t crawl inside.
- Inner and Outer Covers
Look for bean bags that have both. That way, if the exterior gets dirty, all of your stuffing will remain in one place instead of spilling all over the floor when you take the cover off. Also, a bean bag with a removable cover means that you can wash it when it gets dirty and put it back on, increasing the value of your purchase. Don’t bother getting a bean bag chair that doesn’t have one; it will get dirty very quickly and appear unsightly to the point that you’ll want to throw it away. And who wants to keep buying bean bag chairs over and over again?
- Filling Material
Bean bag chairs are mostly filled with PVC pellets or dried beans, which aren’t safe for children if they’re inhaled. That’s why it’s important to ask what the filling is. Despite this drawback, however, it’s still a popular choice of filling because it’s quite lightweight so you can move your bean bag around very easily. The pellets down compress and break down over time, which means that you’ll have to buy more in the future.
The other choice of stuffing is polyurethane foam, which maintains its shape quite well. It won’t break down over time but it will make your bean bag weigh a lot more so that it’s harder to move around. The stuffing will conform to the shape of your body, making it perfect for those who have certain joint issues and require extra support. Ensure that the foam you’re getting is eco-friendly and non-carcinogenic.
- Where to Place your Bean Bag Chair
Once you’ve brought your bean bag home, you should always figure out where it’s going to be beforehand. You want to keep it away from sharp corners and other hazardous objects that could tear or puncture your chair. This means don’t place them near low coffee tables or near anything with an edge. The best placement for your bean bag is on a carpet or other soft surface. This prevents the chair from sliding around when someone sits in it.
It’s recommended that a bean bag chair is never used as a bed, no matter what size it is. This is because anyone sleeping in one is at risk of falling out and injuring themselves.
- Warranties
Invest your money into a bean bag chair that comes with a warranty because it means that a manufacturer stands behind the quality of his product. It’s also important that you’re aware of what details the warranty covers, such as replacement covers if your product arrives torn, insufficient stuffing, or if a zipper is broken. You can choose to get a bean bag chair without a warranty, but if there are any faults when they arrive, then you have no recourse against the manufacturer.
- Ensure it’s Childproof
It’s better to buy a bean bag chair that has a childproof zipper on the outside cover. This is to protect children from harming themselves when they open the bean bag and crawl inside or ingest the filling material. If you find that the zipper is much too easy to open, then it’s not one you should bring home since it’s not adhering to safety regulations.
Bean bag chairs are some of the most comfortable pieces of furniture that people have in their homes. It’s almost impossible not to buy one, but with the dangers that they pose, it’s important to keep these safety protocols in mind to ensure that all members of your household are safe.
Spend some time doing your research so that you can find a bean bag chair that’s safe for each member of your family. You’ll have the peace of mind that you need and your family members will each have a comfortable bean bag to relax in when they’re watching a movie or just lounging around.
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