Sunday, July 30, 2006

bean bag : Blob Bean Bag Chairs

Selecting a bean bag chair for a friend, family or yourself is a fun experience with a huge selection of fabrics, colors and styles to suit any home or lifestyle. Beanbag chairs are great as a gift for someone that is pregnant or has back pain. The soft and gentle shape of beanbags allows comfort as it moulds to the person’s shape when they sit down.

There are many safety issues to consider when buying a beanbag and whether it is water and/or sun resistant. When you have purchased a good quality beanbag chair by checking out the quality. If you take care of you bean bag it will take care of you for many years to come.

When you are selecting a style you need to consider the recipient of this gift. Are they children, elderly, pregnant, middle aged? Where will this beanbag spend most of its time? Will it sit by the pool, in a bedroom or in a lounge? Children are more suited to stronger fabrics and darker colors, as they are likely to spill something and be rough with it. If the recipient is a fan of a local football team then a bright green to suit the team’s colors is a great idea. There are many sizes available for a small to larger person and a style that can seat up to 2 people. An elderly person may prefer a softer bean bag with warmer colors to suit their home and lifestyle.

With such an array of colors available you can choose a bean bag to match any personality. Bright and bold colors are great for a modern apartment whereas soft, warmer colors are ideal for a small, distinguished home. Bean bags are a great way to spruce up any home. They are great for clubs, bars and really give the room a touch of sophistication without spending over the budget. Originally popular in the 70’s, the beanbag is back in style and funkier than ever. They are incredibly comfortable and once you have obtained the correct ‘groove’ you will be set. A great price of furniture as the beads mould to your back and support you where you need it most. If is always ideal to overfill your bean bag with beans so there is plenty of support and over time the beans may become crushed together.

Cleaning a bean bag chair is a breeze due to it’s durable outside layer that lets you gently remove stains. When bean chairs are used frequently they will need to be wiped occasionally with a soft cloth dipped in warm water. You can remove the covers for easy clean in the washing machine. There is a liner available that will keep the beans in when you remove the outside layer. This liner may be harder to wash and require the beans transferred. The most durable fabrics are the PVC or Vinyl and can be simply wiped clean.

When you have purchased you new beanbag chair cover, now you will need to fill it. This can be done with polystyrene beans. Close all windows and doors when you are pouring the beans into the bag as they are light and may escape. It is best to fill 15cm above the widest point on the bag to ensure you have enough beans to support you when you are seated. The beans are small expanded, polystyrene pieces. Fire retardant beans are great if you can find them and you should always keep then bean bag away from heaters and fireplaces for your own safety.

http://www.beanbagchairs.co.uk

Claire has been working around, with and on bean bag chairs for several years and runs several websites on this furniture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Calkin

bean bag : Selecting Bean Bag Chairs to Suit Your Home Decor

Noted Italian designers developed the first bean bag chairs in the 1960’s. Their creation was called the ‘Sacco’, and was at the time described as an ‘anatomical armchair’. It became the first mass produced bean bag furniture. Just like its counterpart these days, the Sacco was filled with polystyrene beads that make them lightweight and easy to mold to the shape of the body. While enhancements to its size and shape have occurred over time, in general the bean bag chair form remains true to the design of the Sacco from the 1960’s.

The original concept behind the bean bag chair was to create stylish mobile furniture, which is unlike conventional bulky furniture. Thus the bean bag chair is easily moved from room to room as well as from indoors to outdoors. The design of it is highly praised, as it adapts to many different body shapes. The original Sacco featured a headrest that got its shape from beans being pushed up into this area. In the more modern bean bags, the head area is not a separate component, rather now a part of the bean bag chair which is accentuated.

These days, bean bag chairs are available in a vast range of colors and styles. However not all fabrics are created equal – some are more hardwearing, some suitable for outdoors use, whereas others may be warmer to the touch. In general though, the sturdier the fabric, the longer the bean bag chair will last. More sturdy fabrics are easier to maintain and clean, and require less care. Also, darker colors show fewer marks and stains than lighter color fabrics do. If your climate is cooler, a chair with a fur rather than denim fabric for instance will keep you warmer.

Fur bean bag chairs are an extra cosy option and come in a variety of colors and designs. Many feature designs that resemble animal hides, while others feature bright cheery colors. Denim bean bag chairs are one of the more hardwearing designs. These have a classic coloring and are one of the easiest styles to co-ordinate with the rest of your home décor. Like a pair of favorite jeans, denim bean bags will go with most other colors. Nylon and Vinyl bean bags help repel liquid, so are suitable options if children will be around or using the chair. Vinyl features a more leathery look and a textured feel.

You need to take extra care when filling a bean bag chair. It is best done with someone else helping you out – otherwise you can end up with thousands of polystyrene beads rolling around the floor of your living room. The best approach is to put the bag that contains the beads inside the bean bag chair and gently open it. Then the beads need to be gently poured in. Filling bean bags needs to be done indoors – as even the vaguest hint of breeze can cause the beads to scatter everywhere. One key consideration is how full the bean bag should be stuffed with polystyrene beads. Many people have their own preference – however you should bear in mind that if a bean bag chair is understuffed it won’t provide adequate support for you and may be a little uncomfortable. A fully stuffed bean bag provides very firm support. It is recommended that people with bad backs overfill their bean bag chair - as a fuller bag will provide particularly good support for your back. In general though, a good rule of thumb is to fill the bean bag to 6 inches above the widest point of the bag.

When sitting in a bean bag chair for the first time, you should sit in roughly the middle part of the bag. If you sit too high up in the bag, your back won't be entirely supported, and sitting too low may put strain on your legs. However it is best to find your own favored position on the bean bag chair - the position that you are comfortable in is best.

As a piece of interior design, bean bag chairs can be used as a main feature in a room, providing a contemporary, relaxing look. They can also be added to complement other furniture or colors. Their minimalist look provides a relief from other ‘busy’ furniture. One could argue that just looking at one is soothing and induces relaxation. In particular, they are suited to décor that will lend itself to a retro look. However bean bag chairs aren’t confined to any particular style, as the variety of fabrics and colors available will allow them to tastefully blend in with any decor.

Claire Calkin operates several websites offering advice to people on decorating and enhancing their homes.

http://www.custombeanbags.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Calkin

bean bag : Ambient Lounge Designer Bean Bags

Funky Bean Bags has been selling bean bags online since 2003. They were acquired in January 2006 by Ambient Lounge Designer Bean Bags an online designer furniture retail store that was created by award winning European and Australian designers with a passion for funky, functional and affordable furniture. Ambient Lounge bean bags have found their way into designer clubs, cafes, penthouses and luxury apartments - as well as student dorms, guesthouses and everyday living rooms

WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?

Sometimes it's hard to experience a product over the internet, so what feelings and emotions would overcome you if you sat in an Ambient Lounge bean bag? Words such as comfy, lush, snug, cozy, relaxing, blissful, cathartic, soft and therapeutic are all apt adjectives for immersing yourself in one. As for the look of our beanbags - elegant, cool, stylish, funky, chic, sexy, modern, vogue, innovative, fashionable, exclusive, beautiful and sleek have all been used by customers and critics.

DESIGNER FURNITURE

Bean bags have been around in their traditional ‘teardrop’ form since the late 60’s, with little innovation and imagination. Even though they have been widely recognized as the most comfortable & cost effective form of furniture – many people did not wish to purchase beanbags because of the ugly aesthetics or poor quality of the products offered at retail. Ambient Lounge bean bags are now the sophisticated alternative for youth and adults alike - and no longer an embarrassing luxury shoved into the cupboard when guests come around.

SPOTLIGHT

The boutique bean bag chair is a piece of designer furniture for your home, studio, study, office or apartment. You just have to sit in the boutique beanbag chair to realise why it's the best of its kind. Contoured to allow your body to submerge completely with a curved back that keeps your head upright like an oversize pillow, you can watch tv, read or just completely relax in one of the body's most comfortable positions. Click the image on the right to read more about it

© 2006 Ambient Lounge

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Bean Bag Chair Filling -- Is It Really Beans?

Have you ever wondered what exactly is inside a bean bag chair? Is it really full of “beans?” The truth is, not all bean bags have the same filling.

LoveSac Bean Bags

Of course, let me first state that LoveSac does not make what we generally think of as “bean bags.” Theirs are the bean bags of the future – over-sized and overly comfortable. No one could mistake the ultra-comfortable shredded polyurethane foam as “beans.” When you lie on a LoveSac oversized sac, it completely forms to your body. But it will also bounce back to its original shape with ease – the high quality foam will not go flat.And for shipping purposes, the sacs can be smashed down to a shrunken size – and then refluffed when unpacked. Again, these oversized sacs are not your typical bean bags. Many other companies – realizing the brilliance behind LoveSac -- have started making their own foam bags, too.

Traditional Bean Bags

More traditional bean bags are filled with polystyrene pellets. In fact, the very first bean bags ever mass-produced (back in the 1960’s) were filled with polystyrene beads – these beads are super light, making the bags very mobile. Polystyrene originally come in sugar form – steam is blown into the sugar to expand it. Unlike the oversized, foam-filled bags of LoveSac, these bags tend to flatten out over time. The polystyrene pellets break down relatively quickly – especially when under pressure. Also, these squishy little pellets tend to be noisy. If you are sitting in a bean bag, watching a movie with friends, you will be aware of your every move… and so will your friends.

Another difference with this bean bag filling is that it does not mold to a body like polyurethane foam does. And if you have ever owned a traditional bean bag, you probably remember how at first just a few of the little white pellets would somehow escape from the depths of the bag, but eventually, they were everywhere! It is very common to have to refill this type of bean bag.

Make Your Own Bean Bag Chair Filler

So, the abovementioned bean bag chair fillers, polyurethane foam and polystyrene beads, are what you will find in most store-bought bean bags, there are multiple options as to what you can fill a homemade bean bag chair with – you use some of these fillings as extra fill for your current bean bag chair.

If you want, you can go ahead and fill your bean bag with beans! It is appropriate, isn’t it? You can find some dried beans or rice and fill your bag up with them – of course, these food items might attract some pests. Also, you need to watch out for moisture. Something else that you might consider is wood shavings. Perhaps you have seen the pet beds that come filled with wood shavings. Cedar shavings have a very pleasant smell, as well. For some added fluff, why not use feathers from old feather pillows? Or you could try nut shells, Styrofoam or plastic pellets, or polyester stuffing. Be creative with your bean bag chair filling! By Anne Clarke

How to Choose a Bean Bag Chair

Bean Bag Chairs are a great way to dress up any room. They are great in a child’s room as the perfect support for the video player or as a nest for the reader in your family. Bean Bag Chairs work great as extra seating in your family room, they can be easily stored in a closet and pulled out when the kids have friends over or when you host a party. Sitting in a bean bag chair is a cozy nest for your guests and is much better than sitting in a hard chair.

Bean Bag Chairs come in such a wide range of fabrics these days that they do not have to be hidden away; they can be a part of your décor. With the high quality fabric and the unique designs available choosing a Bean Bag Chair that suits your room is as simple following a few simple steps.

1. Fabric

With the wide variety of bean bags available on the market, there is a wide variety of fabrics available. Vinyl is very common in bean bag chairs, although some people feel that vinyl is too sticky and not as comfortable as cloth bean bag chairs. Vinyl is easy to wipe up and keep clean which is a definite advantage. When selecting vinyl ensure the fabric uses lead-free vinyl inks. Other bean bags come in leather, fun fur, microfibre, denim and cotton. If possible when choosing a fabric, look for a bean bag chair that has a liner so that the cover can be removed and washed periodically.

Regardless of the fabric you prefer, look for a high quality fabric. The fabric should use lead-free vinyl inks and stand up to wear and tear as they are pushed and pulled in all directions. Since they sit on the floor the fabric must be durable to ensure the bean bag lasts for many years. The seams should be double stitched with clear nylon for added strength as you do not want the bean bag chair to spring a leak. The zippers should be locking to ensure the safety of children. The zippers must be locked to keep children from being able to open the bag and ingest the fill. As well the bean bag should be double zippered to ensure the safety of the bag and to keep the fill inside the bag.

2. Size

When looking for a bean bag chair, look at the shape that best suits your needs. Bean bag chairs with a pear shaped design offer better back support because they are taller and cover more of your body. The flatter pancake shaped bean bag chair works great for two people or as a coffee table substitute. The pancake works better as a lounger than as a chair. Some bean bag chairs are designed specifically for children; they are smaller and adjust better to small bodies. Look at shape and dimensions of the chair when making your choice to ensure they meet your needs.

3. Fill

When choosing the fill for your bean bag chair look for high quality recycled polystyrene fill. You want a bean bag chair that has enough fill to offer support but enough give to be comfortable. Polystyrene fill is the best as it is soft enough to provide great comfort but is also strong enough to withstand lots of compression without losing its sponginess. For the benefit of the environment, choose 100% recycled polystyrene. When choosing fill be sure to look for polystyrene that is fire retardant or complies with flammability standards.

4. Design

The greatest thing about Bean Bag Chairs is the range of designs available for an affordable price. You can select just about any design and fabric you want and some of companies will even do custom designs for you. When designing a room in your home you can use the bean bag pattern as a guide to build the rest of the room or use the bean bag chair as a highlight. If you need to raise money for a project, have a bean bag chair customized to advertise your favorite sports team or cause. The greatest thing about customization is the sky is the limit with what you can do with a bean bag chair and the design. By Tricia Treherne