Are Beanbag Chairs Outdated Or Are They Still A Stylish Choice For Modern Homes?

Many of us have fond childhood memories of sinking into a comfy bean bag chair, or maybe you had one in your college dorm. These soft, squishy seats first hit store shelves worldwide in the 1970s. Various styles have been introduced since then, and although sales sank (pun intended) in popularity in the '80s, beanbag chairs never completely disappeared. Today, you can find them at furniture and retail stores like Wayfair, Walmart, and Amazon, but is there still a place for bean bag chairs in a modern home? The short answer is, yes!

With the number of options available now, a bean bag chair can be a complementary addition to not just a bedroom, but a living room and library as well. The very first bean bag chair featured only one style, was shaped like a pair, made out of leather, and filled with styrofoam beans. And unlike some later designs, it included a back support section. Modern styles include various sizes, shapes, and fabrics. If you're considering adding a bean bag chair to your home that blends with your decor, without looking tacky, there are a few factors to keep in mind. There are also some aspects you'll want to avoid.

A quick Google search reveals dozens of bean bag chair styles, but how do you find the right one for your room? Before deciding, first consider your choices. There's the standard round bean bag chair, lounger, sofa bed, and slab bean bags, among others — all in various sizes. Fabric options range from corduroy and real or faux leather to cotton and chenille. If most of your room decor includes solid colors, you can add a bean bag chair with a print-patterned fabric to match, and vice versa.

If the chair will be used for a child's room, look for something small, durable, lightweight, and easy to clean, like the Big Joe Classic Bean Bag. You can purchase one at Walmart for about $40 online. Does your child like animals, shapes, or patterns? Lukeight sells bean bag machine-washable chair covers in various designs on Amazon.

For an adult's bedroom or a small library, a standard-sized round or square bean bag would work well, if you're limited on space. Otherwise, you can go with the larger sofa or sofa bed style. Comfy Sacks offers 6, 7, and 8-foot wide designs. Just be prepared to spend a few hundred bucks for one. Plan to use your bean bag in the living room instead? Consider a more upscale style that's designed to look like real furniture, complete with armrests and backrests, like the Sadlier Velvet Bean Bag Sofa from Wayfair.

Although a bean bag chair can still be a fun, stylish choice for a home, that doesn't necessarily mean that any bean bag chair can fit the bill. There are certain features you'll want to avoid if your goal is aesthetics and comfort. Not all bean bags offer the same high level of quality, and not every fabric is compatible with every home environment.

If you're shopping online for your bean bag chair, read the reviews from other shoppers, if any are posted. Steer clear of chairs with low-density filling, as these chairs won't be as supportive as the higher-density options. You probably don't want to sit on a chair and immediately sink to the floor.

Another factor to consider is the fabric. If you have pets or young children in the home, you might want to avoid cloth fabrics — which are prone to staining and odor absorption — unless the cover is removable and machine-washable. You may also want to avoid fabrics that you wouldn't find on solid furniture, like tie dye and animal prints (unless the chair is for a child's room), as these may look tacky or outdated in a common area.