How to Refill a Bean Bag Chair: Tips and Tricks to Minimize Mess

There comes a point in every bean bag’s life where refilling becomes necessary. The filling has compressed, it doesn’t provide as much support as it used to, now every time you sit it seems like you keep sinking deeper and deeper. 

In this article, we’ll guide you on how to refill your bean bag to restore it to its comfortable glory (and minimize mess). 

Whether it’s a smaller-sized bean bag for your children or a larger one for your living room, these instructions will apply to bean bags of all sizes. 

How to Know When to Refill Your Bean Bag

First, let’s figure out how to know when you need to refill your bean bag. After all, it is quite an endeavor, so you don’t want to do it before you necessarily need to. 

First, pay attention to whether your bean bag has lost its support. Think about when you first got it, the shape, and how it felt. If you notice it is flattening out or doesn’t offer the same level of comfort as before, it’s likely time to refill.

If you’ve got beads as fillings, the next thing to look out for is how compressed they feels. When you press on the bean bag, you should feel some resistance from the beads inside. If the beads feel overly squished together, they’ve lost their original volume, and it’s time for a refill.

Listen for unusual sounds when sitting or moving your bean bag. EPP or EPS beads should make a soft rustling sound when you shift your weight or move the bean bag. If the sounds have become more muffled or are nearly silent, it could be because the beads have become compacted and need replacement. 

How to Refill Your Bean Bag: Step-By-Step

Refilling your bean bag chair can be simple and mess-free if you follow these steps carefully. 

Step 1: Inspect your bean bag chair

Before you begin, inspect your bean bag chair for any rips, holes, or damage. If you see any, you might need to replace the cover and get a new bean bag altogether. 

Step 2: Gather your materials

You’ll need a bean bag filling of your choice (Read our article here to decide which bean bag fillings are right for you). You’ll also need a funnel with a large opening, a helper to assist you, and a vacuum cleaner or broom for cleanup.

Step 3: Create a funnel

Using a large piece of paper, cardboard, or plastic, create a wide-mouthed funnel to help guide the filler into your bean bag chair. This will help prevent spillage and make the process more manageable.

Step 4: Open the bean bag zipper

Locate the zipper on your bean bag chair and carefully unzip it to access the interior. Make sure you have adequate space to pour in the filler.

Step 5: Fill the bean bag

Hold the funnel in place as you pour the filling into the funnel. This step can be tricky to do tidily, so if you have help, get one person to hold the funnel as the other person fills the bean bag. Do this gradually to avoid spillage and until you’ve filled your whole bag evenly. 

Step 6: Close the zipper

Once you’ve filled your bean bag to your desired volume, carefully re-zip it, ensuring the zipper is secure and won’t accidentally open later. Take care not to catch any fabric or filler in the zipper.

Step 7: Cleanup

Finally, use a vacuum cleaner or broom to gather any spilled fillings and dispose of them properly. 

How to Minimize Mess When Refilling Your Bean Bag

Refilling your bean bag chair can be messy, but by keeping the following things in mind, you can keep the mess to a minimum:

First, before you start, clear some space in the room where you can work comfortably. Ensure you have enough room to move around and there are no obstacles that could knock over your bean bag or filler material.

When refilling your bean bag, you can minimize the mess by doing it slowly. You’ll also have better control in terms of how much filling you pour in so that you don’t overflow your bean bag.

By following these simple steps, you can refill your bean bag chair (while minimizing mess), freeing you to enjoy your newly filled and comfy seat.