beanbag

Beanbag is a type of seating consisting of a flexible fabric or vinyl shell filled with small pellets. The bag conforms to the sitter's body, providing adjustable support and casual comfort. Beanbags are used as chairs, loungers, ottomans, and sofa-style bags for informal seating in homes, schools, offices, and entertainment spaces.

Construction: A typical beanbag has an outer cover and an interior liner to hold the fill. A zipper or closure allows filling or refilling. The most common fill is expanded polystyrene beads (EPS), which are lightweight and moldable. Some products use shredded memory foam, microbeads, or other fillers, and many allow density adjustment by adding or removing beads. Covers are usually removable and washable. Outer fabrics include cotton, polyester, denim, vinyl, and microfiber. Many shells are double-stitched to prevent bead leakage.

History and use: Beanbags gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s; the Sacco chair (designed in 1968 by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro for Zanotta) is a well-known example. Today beanbags remain common in homes, dormitories, lounges, and gaming or media rooms, valued for quick setup and flexible seating.

Maintenance and safety: Regularly redistribute the fill and spot-clean spills; machine-washable covers simplify cleaning. Beads can leak if a cover is torn, posing a choking or suffocation risk for small children; keep beanbags out of reach of infants. Avoid prolonged exposure to high heat, which can deform the fill or shell.

Environmental notes: EPS beads are recyclable where facilities exist; some products use recycled or alternative fills, and refill packs are commonly available from manufacturers.