By Sara Darling
Remembering back to the last century (oh go on, surely, I’m not the only oldie around here!!) When I was a student in Bristol, my first ever bought piece of furniture was my precious, almost sacred, bean bag.
Along with my love of instant noodles and snakebite, my most cherished purchase wasn’t the seventies charity shop curtains, or student loan munching leather jacket, it was a blue and white chequered bean bag. So nineties! Big, bold, practical and perfect for lolling in front of the telly and cramming in revision, I could cart it around my student house like a pet!
Fast forward to now, and bean bags -like all of us, have had a bit of a glow-up.
Enter the Big Bertha Original Foot Stool, which is less “flop onto it and hope for the best” and more “curated lounging experience.” Yes, curated. Because bean bags have officially been rebranded. They’re no longer the chaotic sidekicks of student houses, they are statement pieces. Corners are built around them. Lighting is adjusted for them. People film TikToks on them. It’s a lot of pressure for something that used to double as a spare bed after a house party.
This isn’t just a footstool; it is a gateway to what interior designers are calling the “third space.” Not your bed, not your desk, but that sacred middle ground where you pretend to read, actually scroll, and occasionally stare into the middle distance contemplating your life choices. Plonk this down by a window, and suddenly you’re a person who journals. Put it near a console, and you’re a gamer with posture (well, better posture).
Comfort-wise? It delivers that classic sink-in joy, but without the tragic collapse of its 2003 ancestors. Now filled with things Greta T would approve of (maybe!) The SupremeX® expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads are high-density and long-lasting- reducing the need for frequent replacement. Plus, they can be topped up when needed. Which all going well, should be the next decade!
And the fabrics have upped their game and now, there are some genuinely luxurious textures on offer – cord, bouclé, velvet materials that whisper “come on in and make yourself comfortable” which manage to be tactile, cosy, comfortable and affordable all at once.
There’s also something delightfully rebellious about choosing softness in a world that insists on structure. We’ve spent years sitting upright, being productive, pretending we don’t want to curl up like content house cats. Bean bags encourage you to lounge, sprawl and in general, exist comfortably.
And let’s not ignore the quiet heroism of its practicality. Small space? No problem. This thing moves. It adapts. It becomes a footrest, a spare seat, a makeshift table if you’re desperate! It is the je ne sais quoi of furniture that understands modern life is a bit… flexible!