Lifetime Warranty
Bean Bags are now seen as another form of furniture. Especially with the designs available today.
This means there are plenty of fabrics just like those used on sofas and outdoor furniture which work for bean bags as well.
The best fabric for indoor bean bags is a linen or natural fibre, it feels the nicest against your skin and if you don’t need to worry about stains, it will work well. For outdoor use or when you need fabric to be a little more durable than marine grade vinyl works best. (The same fabric used on the interiors and exteriors of large yachts).
There are many other fabrics you can use for bean bags which I list below.
NOTE: It is important to mention that bean bags take a lot more pressure on their seams than traditional couches or lounges. This is because there isn’t a solid foam backing behind the fabric.
Due to this nature of bean bags, all fabric you opt for should really have a solid backing on them.
This ensures the fabric is very tough when pulled in multiple directions. (Which it will be)
Depending on what and where you want to use your bean bag these fabrics might work best for your circumstance:
Vinyl
At Bliss bean bags we have tested many different fabrics and we want to prove that bean bags can be passed down to your children if you would like 😊
In order to deliver a lifetime warranty and offer this guarantee comfortably we have decided to only use commercial grade vinyl.
It is unlike cheaper vinyl’s you might be used to.
It contains a backing, a thin foam layer for greater density and a nice feel.
And has all the properties we wish our sofa at home would have, such as being: Waterproof, stain resistant and colourfast (colour won’t fade when left in sun light.)
The technology and soft feel of vinyl fabrics has really progressed in recent years.
Cotton
Cotton is a popular fabric for sofa lounges and ottomans.
It breathes well and being a natural fibre means it can fit in nicely with existing furniture if need be.
Just be sure that the cotton weave is very tight and there is a backing on the fabric as mentioned above. This can prevent the edge of the fabric from fraying and the weave from becoming loose.
Cotton comes in a broad range of colours, however the colour will be dyed onto the fabric. Instead of embedded into the fabric, like vinyl.
This means it is best to keep it away from sunlight either outdoors or by a window exposed to UV. Since the colour will fade over time unfortunately.
It is also wise to prevent pool water with chlorine from being exposed to cotton bean bags.
Corduroy
This is a durable fabric and works well for bean bags.
It can be pulled in various directions and still remain intact.
Similar to a form of velvet, corduroy is derived from fustian fabric and has been used for hundreds of years.
This is one fabric where the backing is not as important. Due to the fact that corduroy is actually made by weaving extra fabric into a base material.
This process in-of-itself acts like a backing is placed on there.
Faux Suede
Fake “suede” has become popular in recent years. This is mainly due to the technology behind how the fabric is made.
It looks so real now, that many people find it difficult to tell real suede (made from animals) to the animal-friendly alternative.
Due to the plastic fibres built in the fake option, it is actually stronger than the ‘real’ alternative.
It works well for bean bags, not so great against stains or animal fur since hair can get caught up in these man-made fibres that make up the “suede”.
However as long as the fabric is thick enough it would work well for an indoor only bean bag.
Faux Fur
Faux fur is made of ‘cellulose’ and other synthetic materials that can be used to act like animal fur.
Once again, the technology these days has advanced so far that some fake furs feel completely real.
In most cases I wouldn’t not be able to tell the difference.
As this product continues to grow in popularity, we will probably see more and more versions of faux fur bean bags.
The fur itself it not as important as the base fabric the “fur” sits on.
This is what is used to bind the bean bag fabric pieces together and as long as the base fabric has a higher than 400 gsm (weight of 400 grams per square metre) you will be fine.
GSM is weight measurement which is a great indication of how thick a fabric can be, the higher the number, the thicker the fabric generally is.
And the stronger it will be for your bean bag.
Leather
A fabric which has been used to centuries is still extremely common today. Used on sofa lounges, car seats and hundred’s of other things in between.
To be used for a bean bag it works very well.
You don’t need to worry about the fabric having a backing on it. The strength of the leather itself is more than enough.
Is can be sewn fairly easily with an industrial sewing machine and tanned in a multitude of colours.
The only down side is that over time leather can look warn and crease easily.
Also, with sun exposure it can crack over time and it tends to show water stains after spilled liquid dries off it.
Leather is also the most expensive option when it comes to fabrics for bean bags.
Velvet
Velvet can work well for bean bags unlike velour it has a backing built into the fabric.
Being a woven backed fabric means it can carry the extra pressures bean bags demand compared to traditional furniture.
The upside is that is feels really nice against your skin and works well to match drapes and curtains in most homes.
The downside it that it requires a fair bit of upkeep and care to keep it looking this great.
If you have the time to dedicate to the fabric it makes a great alternative to other popular choices.
Patterned Fabrics
Who doesn’t love a patterned fabric? We have them on our cushions, doona covers and sheets.
And they look great on a bean bag as well.
Similar to cotton, if you opt for a fabric which has a print on there, it must have a backing on the fabric.
Otherwise it will simply be pulled apart with a little too much pressure placed on it.
This will cause the beans to escape.
Also, if possible check that the pattern is not ‘coated’ onto the fabric itself and the the ink is embedded into the fibres.
Warwick do a great job of these types of patterned fabrics with backing on there.
If fabrics are just coated with a pattern they could just peel off over time, and it will look pretty terrible.
Many or our interior design clients ask us to source fabric like the example above to craft bean bags for them.
They aren’t as great as vinyl for outdoor use. Since stains have the opportunity to be caught up in the fabric due to the weave.
(Vinyl is flat, so no nasties can be caught up in a weave)
This makes them a little harder to keep clean.
However if you don’t have the concerns of children or grand children using them for example, they work very well.
Safety and Fire Regulations
Bean bags can cause a problem if the beans are exposed in anyway.
The danger lies in breathing the small beans in and this choking hazard needs to be prevented.
All bean bags sold in Australia have very strict rules about this, so you will be safe. Taking extra care by choosing a durable fabric is the best solution.
Depending on the fabric you choose for your new bean bag, it means you might need to have alternative ways to take care of the fabric.
Rather than list every way in this blog post. I recommend you click here to find an infographic that spells out the best way to take care of different types of fabrics.
When it comes to fire proofing your new furniture, fire retardant fabrics are the safest.
They won’t catch on fire and do well to keep the filling secure.
Zippers
There are a few different zippers you can choose when it comes to bean bags.
The stronger the better, from a safety point of view and from a durability point of view.
Ask your bean bag retailer if they use commercial grade zippers, and if they have a locking mechanism.
For instance, all bean bags we manufacture have in-built locks which prevent prying hands from gaining access to the inner filling.
There is nothing you need to worry about when it comes to keeping the beans safely away this way.
Conclusion
As highlighted above there are a huge number of bean bag materials you can use.
The all have their pro’s and con’s, like anything in life.
So be sure to think about who will be using the bean bags and where they will be used before deciding on a fabric choice.
We construct all our bean bags from a soft marine grade vinyl and have been doing so for years.
I find it ticks the most boxes from comfort, to safety and durability concerns.
We have compared and tested many fabrics available today and we still find it hard to beat.
If you have any questions about a particular fabric and it’s use for a bean bag, please let me know.
Happy to share a little more in-depth information if you would like.