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Choosing an outdoor bean bag is more involved than it looks. The environment matters, the fabric matters, and the use matters - whether you're furnishing a family backyard, a resort pool deck or a superyacht. Here's how to get it right.
Outdoor bean bags look simple from the outside. You pick a colour, check the size, and buy. But anyone who's bought cheap outdoor furniture before knows that the gap between "looks good on day one" and "still looks good two years later" is where most outdoor furniture fails - and bean bags are no exception.
The good news is that choosing well isn't complicated once you know what to look for. Here's everything that actually matters - whether you're furnishing a family backyard, a resort pool deck, a superyacht, or a commercial venue.
This is the first question worth answering before anything else, because the environment dictates almost every other decision.
Residential backyard or pool deck - the most common use case. You need UV resistance, water resistance and something that looks good in lifestyle photos. Our full outdoor range suits this environment well across different budgets and styles.
Balcony or rooftop terrace - space constraints matter more here. Lightweight pieces that can be moved inside easily and don't dominate a smaller space are the right call. Consider single seaters or compact chairs over large double loungers.
Beach, boat or marine environment - salt water, sea air and constant UV exposure are a different level of challenge to a suburban backyard. Olefin fabric handles all three well, but rinsing regularly after salt water exposure becomes more important. More on marine use below.
Commercial - resort, hotel or hospitality venue - high daily use by multiple people, cleaning between guests and the need to look as good on day 300 as on day one. The durability demands are higher and the ordering process is different. More on commercial use below.
Fabric is the single most important decision in any outdoor furniture purchase and the one most people underestimate. The wrong fabric in an outdoor environment will fade, deteriorate and disappoint - often within the first season.
All of our outdoor pieces are made from Olefin - a solution-dyed synthetic fabric where the colour is locked into the fibre during manufacturing rather than applied to the surface. This gives it significantly better fade resistance than standard outdoor fabrics, along with genuine water resistance and the ability to handle chlorine and salt water without degrading. Like all outdoor textiles it will show some colour change over time with prolonged direct sun exposure, but it holds up far better than cheaper alternatives and maintains its integrity for years with basic care.
If you want to go deeper on why fabric choice matters so much outdoors, our Olefin explainer covers the full picture - including how it compares to other outdoor fabrics. We also have a dedicated post on why Olefin suits the Australian climate specifically.
Not all outdoor fabrics handle sustained sun equally, and it's worth thinking about how exposed your space actually is. A partially shaded patio is a different environment to a fully exposed pool deck in full afternoon sun - and the pieces you choose should reflect that. If your outdoor space gets direct sun for most of the day, the Chill UV Lounger and Cojelo Suave are our most sun-hardy pieces - both are built specifically for high-exposure environments and are the ones we'd recommend for pool decks, rooftop terraces and beach clubs with no overhead shade.
This comes down to how the piece will actually be used rather than how many people you have.
A single seater works well for a private reading or relaxation spot, a balcony with limited space, or as part of a group of individual chairs around a table or fire pit. The Bora Bora Chair is our most popular single outdoor chair - roomy enough for a generous adult, and excellent in pairs or groups for entertaining.
A double seater is the better investment for a pool deck or outdoor entertaining area where you want maximum comfort for two, or one adult who wants serious space. The Chill UV Lounger is our outdoor double seater - generously proportioned, Grade 8 UV protection, and available in colourways that photograph beautifully.
For those who want the ultimate combination, the Lana Lounger functions as both a poolside double seater and an in-pool float - the most versatile outdoor piece in our range and consistently our biggest selling outdoor product.
The choice between a lounger and a chair is about how you actually use your outdoor space rather than which looks better.
A chair sits you more upright - better for conversation, entertaining and outdoor dining situations where you want to be engaged with the people around you. The Bora Bora is the right choice here.
A lounger reclines you - better for pure relaxation, reading, poolside lounging and those afternoons where the only plan is to stay as horizontal as possible for as long as possible. The Lachlan Sunlounger and Cojelo Suave both fit this category, with slightly different profiles - the Lachlan is more architectural and elongated, while the Cojelo has a more upright back angle that suits reading and conversation as comfortably as full relaxation.
Furnishing a resort, hotel, hospitality venue or commercial outdoor space is a different proposition to furnishing a backyard. The requirements are higher across the board - pieces need to handle daily use by multiple guests, withstand professional cleaning, hold their shape and colour under sustained UV exposure, and look as considered on day 300 as they did on opening day.
Our outdoor range is built to commercial standards - the same pieces we supply to residential customers go into resorts, beach clubs, rooftop bars and hotel pool decks worldwide. The Cojelo Suave and Santorini Floats are our most specified commercial pieces, with the Chill UV and Bora Bora popular for venues that need multiple chairs across a larger space.
Key considerations for commercial purchases:
Order multiples with consistent colourways. A cohesive outdoor space reads as designed. Mixed colourways across a commercial venue can look assembled rather than considered. We can advise on colourway combinations that work well together across different pieces.
Factor in replacement covers. For high-traffic commercial use, having spare covers means a piece can be back in service within hours of a cover being washed rather than waiting for it to dry. We supply covers separately for all our outdoor pieces.
Use our Trade Program. Our Trade Program is designed for commercial and hospitality clients - it includes trade pricing, priority support and guidance on which pieces suit your specific venue and guest profile. If you're ordering for a commercial property, it's worth a conversation before you buy.
Our outdoor range is used on boats, catamarans and superyachts - and the Olefin fabric handles the marine environment well. Salt air, sea spray and sustained UV exposure are all within what the fabric is designed for, with a few additional care habits that make a significant difference to longevity in a marine context.
Rinse with fresh water after every salt water exposure. This is the single most important habit for maintaining marine bean bags. Salt residue left to sit accelerates fabric degradation over time - a quick fresh water rinse removes it before it has a chance to do damage.
Dry fully before storing below deck. Any moisture trapped in the filling in an enclosed space is a problem. Make sure pieces are fully aired and dried before storing in a cabin or below deck compartment.
Secure them in rough conditions. Bean bags are lightweight and will move in wind or chop. On deck, have a plan for securing or stowing them in rough weather rather than leaving them unsecured.
The Nevaeh Sunbed and Bora Bora Chair are the most popular choices for marine use — both because of their profile and because they stow more easily than a double seater lounger in tighter spaces. For superyacht and larger vessel use, our Trade Program team can advise on quantities, colourways and custom requirements.
The right care routine keeps outdoor pieces looking great for years and adds significantly to their lifespan.
Rinse after pool use. Chlorine and salt water are fine for Olefin fabric in normal use — accumulated without rinsing over weeks, they slowly degrade even durable materials. A quick hose-down after pool use is all it takes.
Wash covers regularly. All our outdoor covers zip off and machine wash. At the start and end of summer at minimum - more frequently for pieces in heavy use or exposed to sunscreen regularly.
Let pieces dry fully before storing. Don't pack away a damp bean bag. The filling needs to dry through properly before going into storage — our drainage systems make this faster than you'd expect, but give it time.
Store undercover in winter. Olefin handles year-round outdoor exposure, but shelter during the off-season extends the life of any outdoor piece considerably.
For more detail, our outdoor care guide and mould removal guide cover specific situations in detail.
Browse our full outdoor range or explore our poolside collection. For commercial or marine enquiries, our Trade Program is the right starting point. And if you're still deciding between outdoor and pool float options, our pool bean bag buying guide covers the in-pool options in detail.
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