How to replace or add filler to a bean bag chair: instructions

Accessory manufacturing technology

So, you decided to make a bean bag chair with your own hands. The filler is essentially the most important. It is he who determines how convenient and comfortable your vacation will be. However, in addition to this, you will need the following:

Make a cover for the filler. It is better to sew the first products using simple patterns, choosing the shape of a cylinder, sausage, or ball. After mastering them, you can create complex products in the form of a pear, other fruits or animals.
Sew the outer cover. It is important to choose the right material here. It should be strong, durable and easy to clean. This is especially true if there are small children. Do not forget that during operation the seams, as well as the base, will experience heavy loads, so you need to use the appropriate threads. It is better to make several external covers so that you can change the appearance of frameless furniture and wash the product at the same time.
Don't forget to sew zippers into the outer and inner covers.

So, here is a finished bean bag chair. How much filler do you need to ensure a comfortable rest? Usually the inner case is filled to 2/3 of the volume. This option is the most optimal.

How does a frameless chair work?

Pear chairs, which can be purchased on our website, consist of:

external (removable) cover;
inner cover;
filler;
decorative elements (handles, zippers, drainage holes).

As a filler in frameless furniture presented in our online store, polystyrene foam granules combined with foam rubber are used. This is a harmless and non-flammable material that fully complies with all existing sanitary and hygienic standards. In addition, polystyrene foam balls make the chairs very comfortable. The only disadvantage of the material is subsidence. Therefore, it is periodically necessary to replace the filling in frameless furniture: bean bag chairs, poufs, pet beds.

Advantages and disadvantages of natural fillers

These materials are absolutely harmless, but such filling for bean bags will cost a lot. In addition, for such a thing, the humidity conditions in the room must be met.

In too damp rooms, the natural composition may deteriorate: it will become moldy, fungus will appear, and insects will appear. This is especially true for country premises and country houses. Such a chair may also attract the attention of rodents.

Wood shavings must be carefully sorted so that there are no small splinters inside that could cause splinters. The best option is cedar filler. It gives a pleasant aroma and repels pests. Feather filling is not recommended for use if you have health problems such as allergies. So it is necessary to compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Features of choosing a filler

So, you have started making frameless furniture and, suppose, you already have a pattern on hand. You have completely sewn the base of the future chair, and now you need to fill it with something. And then you thought - why? There are quite a lot of options - from the cheapest to obscenely expensive. Of course, it’s much easier to find everything on this site https://divan-max.ua/myahkaya-mebel/beskarkasnaya-mebel in finished form, but since we started talking about making it ourselves, we’ll look for an alternative.

Important information! When choosing a filler, first of all, you need to pay attention to what material the case is made of.

If we are talking about ordinary fabric, then the material must be light so that the fabric can withstand its weight (and the bag does not tear), and also so that the product can be easily transported. In addition, the quality and strength of the seams should be assessed with extreme subjectivity, because in industrial production, heavy-duty materials are used, and the seams are made using a special technique.

And if the seams are not very strong, then this also needs to be taken into account when choosing a filler (we are talking about the size of the granules), in particular, if you plan to use polystyrene foam or silicone. Filling that is too fine will fall out of the case, lie around the apartment, etc. Cost is also important, i.e. the money you can spend on the filler, and the dimensions of the future chair (this also affects the cost). For example, if you don’t have free funds to buy filler, then you can fill the chair with improvised materials - foam rubber, pieces of fabric, etc. Of course, in this case the product will not be too comfortable - you will end up with an ordinary seat cushion that will not accept the required shape and “adapt” to the position of your body.

Synthetic filling for bean bag chairs

The most commonly used and popular composition is polystyrene foam in granules, in other words, polystyrene foam. It is sold in the form of balls packed in a bag. It is usually packaged in 100 liters. It will take about four bags to fill a frameless chair for an adult.

The price per package from different manufacturers and sellers can start from 400 to 700 rubles. The diameter of the balls also differs from 1-2 to 4-5 mm.

This filling for bean bags, although of artificial origin, is quite safe for health. It does not harbor insects and does not require special storage conditions. It is very hygienic as it does not absorb sweat, dirt and moisture.

The only drawback is the difficulty of pouring the balls from the bag into the case. A funnel made from the top of a plastic bottle will help greatly simplify the process. It needs to be inserted into a hole of the appropriate diameter made in the package, and the contents should be poured into a bean bag chair. This should not be done in the presence of children.

During operation, granular foam can cake and decrease in volume, but there is always the opportunity to add or replace the contents of your frameless friend.

So, you have found out what kind of filling you can choose for a bean bag chair. Use any option that suits you to update an old product or create your own original and comfortable leisure accessory.

Step-by-step instruction

The bean bag chair is not a modern invention; it was invented back in 1968, but it has become popular in our time.

At first glance, it may seem that filling the bag is a matter of minutes. This is not entirely true. Firstly, when choosing polystyrene foam, it is important to pay attention to the shape of the balls; they should be perfectly round. Secondly, the size of the granules matters; you should choose larger ones, since small balls can crumble and are quite difficult to collect.

What you need to fill:

Take a bottle and make a funnel out of it, or use an existing one. The neck should be secured in the hole in the chair; this can be done with tape. It is important that the hole is not very large.
The filler should be poured out slowly, sometimes shaking the chair so that the balls are distributed evenly.
You cannot fill the chair completely, otherwise it will tear the first time you sit on it.

Types of fillers and their properties

It may be recalled that there are two types of fillers. Their properties will differ due to the different origins of the materials. If you purchase a beanbag chair with artificial filling, you don’t have to worry about the following factors:

Usually all materials do not cause allergies and are safe for health;
The products are not afraid of fire. Most modern fillers are made from innovative materials that do not burn;
Most materials used for filling absorb liquids negligibly, so the use of such furniture is possible near water;
The filler is not suitable for microorganisms and insects to live in it;
Does not conduct heat, has good thermal insulation properties.

Today, such chairs confidently win the hearts of Russians with their originality, practicality and convenience.
Natural fillers have the following properties:

complete absence of chemicals;
nice smell;
possible allergies;
exposure to dust and humidity.

An excellent alternative to an armchair or sofa not only has high mobility, but also brings a touch of originality to any interior.

Artificial fillers

Let's look at the main artificial fillings for chairs.

Polypropylene. Durable, has excellent shock absorption, perfectly adapts to the body shape. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to fire and does not go out for a long time. All other properties are excellent.
Expanded polystyrene. Used in almost all industries. Non-toxic, soft but elastic. The cost is low, it is not afraid of humidity, it is available for sale.
Holofiber. Very airy, often used in combination with denser ones. Recommended for allergy sufferers, does not absorb odors and moisture. Gives a cozy finish when using furniture.

For different degrees of softness, different fillers are placed in the bean bag chair.
These are the currently most popular materials used as fillers.

Natural materials

For people who do not accept chemical compounds in life and prefer naturalness in everything, the following fillers are provided:

Feather and down fillings. Creating such a filler is a labor-intensive process, but the result is amazing. The chair will be very soft, light and cozy. But such a chair will not suit some people, because... Down contains dust mites, which cause allergies.
Horsehair. It sounds exotic, but it is also used to fill furniture. The only negative is that you need to collect such an amount of material, but this is problematic, which will affect the cost.
Furniture with wool filling. Excellent winter furniture. If you use natural fabrics for covers, you are guaranteed a warm winter. Such furniture is soft and perfectly warms.
Wood sawdust. When using such material, you need to carefully review it to find any sharp parts of the wood. At the same time, the aroma emanating from such a filler has a calming and even healing effect on many people.
Dried grass, hay. For those who do not have irritation from plants, this would be a great option. The fragrant dry herb acts like real aromatherapy.

Available means

Tools at hand include those used in every home. These are cereals, remnants of fabric, yarn or foam rubber. Rice and buckwheat fillings are used most often. The furniture turns out to be heavy, but at the same time surprisingly comfortable.

How to sew a soft bean bag chair

In order to sew a bean bag chair, you need to make a pattern based on the desired size and shape. We get four parts for covers, internal and external.

Afterwards, we cut out the fabric and assemble the parts of the future chair using a machine or by hand. It is important to leave room for the zipper; its size depends on the wishes of the artist. For convenient movement, a handle is sewn into the case.

Chairs can be of different shapes - from spherical to sofa-type. It all depends on what type is appropriate in the interior.

The necessary step is to steam the seams with an iron for a better look of the product. We fill the inner case (it is located inside the outer one) with the pre-selected filler that you liked the most. The inner case must be completely filled.

If you decide to mix two fillings, make sure that it happens evenly, otherwise the chair may end up with clumps. This will not add comfort. Many craftswomen complement the interior of their home with items sewn in the same style as the bean bag chair, thereby creating harmony inside the room.

Designer products can be bought in the store, and they are also quite easy to make with your own hands.