The bean bag was once a permanent fixture in homes throughout the mid to late 1990s. An essential means of ushering in an immediately chilled atmosphere, you’d score bonus points if your beanbag was accompanied by a beaded curtain feature, a multitude of haphazardly collaged magazine cutouts and distinctly orange, ambient lighting.
Throughout the decades, the humble beanbag has undergone a series of aesthetic shifts. During the early 2000s, the inflatable beanbag symbolised the height of coolness – especially in a cherry red hue. While beanbags were designed to offer sink-worthy comfort, the mid-2000s witnessed a significant shrinking of the coveted accessory. Ottomans, miniature chaise lounges and Victorian fainting couches reigned supreme during the whimsically gothic era of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Tracking the aesthetics of bedrooms over time becomes particularly easy when we cast our minds back to our favourite childhood films and TV shows. Most of us can remember at least one moment when we fancied ourselves to be veritable interior designers after attempting to copy the bedroom setups of Zack Morris, Sabrina Spellman, Hannah Montana or Carly Shay.
For every room makeover we attempted over the years, one singular accessory was essential. Not only did the beanbag have to be brightly coloured, but as we entered the early 2010s, beanbags also had to be ginormous. That's because LoveSac, which was founded in 1995, had finally hit the mainstream after two decades of trying to be taken seriously as a furniture brand.
The first brand to produce a jaw-dropping, eight-foot-wide beanbag – US-based LoveSac offered a new and improved, cloud-like iteration of the humble beanbag which had room for multiple people at one time.
According to our calculations, jumbo beanbags are back in style as an alternative to contemporary daybeds. We’ve curated a selection of the best jumbo beanbags and beanbag beds on the market for you to browse.
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Homguava Large Human Dog Bed
Have you ever glanced over at your cosy, sleepy pup and envied their evidently superior comfort levels? Us too. Thanks to Homguava, we can finally experience just what it feels like to be a tiny pup in a huge, fluffy bed. Though not technically filled with polystyrene beans, this foam-based option mimics the same comfort by moulding to the contours of your body.
Buy now £274.54, Amazon
The 2 Seater Albert Sofa Bean Bag
Available in a variety of colourways and finishes, the Albert Sofa Beanbag can easily double up as a daybed, especially with the addition of the matching footstool. Perfect for the entire family, this refillable option is stain-resistant and features child safety zips to prevent the young ones from accessing the polystyrene beads.
Buy now £199.90, Big Bertha Original
icon Cecilia Bean Bag Sofa Teal Green Giant Velvet Bean Bag Chair
Velvety soft and oh-so-sophisticated, we’ve simply never come across a classier-looking beanbag. Double-zipped for added security, this luxuriously large option is also double-stitched for extra durability.
Buy now £250.00, B&Q
Jumbo Corduroy Slab Bean Bag
Though available in a series of sizes, we’re partial to the XXL option crafted by this UK-based small business. Described by the brand itself as “more like a mattress”, this is the perfect option for those truly looking to utilise their giant beanbag as a bed.
Buy now £79.99, Etsy
Blomus Stay Day Bed
A stylish, contemporary option for those in the market for the unbeatable comfort levels of a traditional beanbag without compromising on a highly curated home aesthetic – the Blomus Stay Day Bed is water-repellent, fast-drying, UV-resistant and anti-mould. Use it outdoors during the summer and move it into the living room during the colder months. Either way, you’ll experience cloud-like comfort all year round.
Buy now £899.00, A Place For Everything
Snowball White Beanbag Chair
Filled to the brim with polybeads, this faux fur beanbag chair is a winter essential. Though not large enough to serve as a bed, you could certainly enjoy a wonderful nap in front of the telly on a cold winter’s night with this sumptuously soft accessory.
Buy now £139.00, Dunelm
Extreme Lounging B Bed Garden Beanbag, Orange
Another indoor or outdoor daybed which is available in a variety of relaxing hues and statement shades, we can already picture ourselves curling up in this ultra-comfortable option with a cup of tea, a good book and a cosy blanket.
Buy now £249.99, John Lewis
UO Greta Faux Leather Bean Bag
Smarten up the humble bean bag's image by investing in a leather-look-clad design. This one echoes the look of a Chesterfield but boasts supreme comfort thanks to the recliner angle. It can be moved about easily with the pull handle.
Buy now £249.00, Urban Outfitters
Graham & Green Eggshell Curly Sheepskin Beanbag
Crafted from cosy New Zealand sheepskin, your household will be fighting over who gets to sit in this cushy beanbag chair from Graham & Green. The design sports a leather base to offer traction on hard floors and the cover can be removed for airing if needed.
Buy now £595.00, Graham & Green
