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Selecting bean bag chairs to suit your home decor

by: Claire Calkin

Noted Italian designers developed the first bean bag chairs in the 1960�s. Their creation was called the �Sacco�, and was at the time described as an �anatomical armchair�. It became the first mass produced bean bag furniture. Just like its counterpart these days, the Sacco was filled with polystyrene beads that make them lightweight and easy to mold to the shape of the body. While enhancements to its size and shape have occurred over time, in general the bean bag chair form remains true to the design of the Sacco from the 1960�s.

The original concept behind the bean bag chair was to create stylish mobile furniture, which is unlike conventional bulky furniture. Thus the bean bag chair is easily moved from room to room as well as from indoors to outdoors. The design of it is highly praised, as it adapts to many different body shapes. The original Sacco featured a headrest that got its shape from beans being pushed up into this area. In the more modern bean bags, the head area is not a separate component, rather now a part of the bean bag chair which is accentuated.

These days, bean bag chairs are available in a vast range of colors and styles. However not all fabrics are created equal � some are more hardwearing, some suitable for outdoors use, whereas others may be warmer to the touch. In general though, the sturdier the fabric, the longer the bean bag chair will last. More sturdy fabrics are easier to maintain and clean, and require less care. Also, darker colors show fewer marks and stains than lighter color fabrics do. If your climate is cooler, a chair with a fur rather than denim fabric for instance will keep you warmer.

Fur bean bag chairs are an extra cosy option and come in a variety of colors and designs. Many feature designs that resemble animal hides, while others feature bright cheery colors.
Denim bean bag chairs are one of the more hardwearing designs. These have a classic coloring and are one of the easiest styles to co-ordinate with the rest of your home d�cor. Like a pair of favorite jeans, denim bean bags will go with most other colors.
Nylon and Vinyl bean bags help repel liquid, so are suitable options if children will be around or using the chair. Vinyl features a more leathery look and a textured feel.

You need to take extra care when filling a bean bag chair. It is best done with someone else helping you out � otherwise you can end up with thousands of polystyrene beads rolling around the floor of your living room. The best approach is to put the bag that contains the beads inside the bean bag chair and gently open it. Then the beads need to be gently poured in. Filling bean bags needs to be done indoors � as even the vaguest hint of breeze can cause the beads to scatter everywhere. One key consideration is how full the bean bag should be stuffed with polystyrene beads. Many people have their own preference � however you should bear in mind that if a bean bag chair is understuffed it won�t provide adequate support for you and may be a little uncomfortable. A fully stuffed bean bag provides very firm support. It is recommended that people with bad backs overfill their bean bag chair - as a fuller bag will provide particularly good support for your back. In general though, a good rule of thumb is to fill the bean bag to 6 inches above the widest point of the bag.

When sitting in a bean bag chair for the first time, you should sit in roughly the middle part of the bag. If you sit too high up in the bag, your back won't be entirely supported, and sitting too low may put strain on your legs. However it is best to find your own favored position on the bean bag chair - the position that you are comfortable in is best.

As a piece of interior design, bean bag chairs can be used as a main feature in a room, providing a contemporary, relaxing look. They can also be added to complement other furniture or colors. Their minimalist look provides a relief from other �busy� furniture. One could argue that just looking at one is soothing and induces relaxation. In particular, they are suited to d�cor that will lend itself to a retro look. However bean bag chairs aren�t confined to any particular style, as the variety of fabrics and colors available will allow them to tastefully blend in with any decor.

About the author:
Claire Calkin operates several websites offering advice to people on decorating and enhancing their homes.

http://www.blob.co.nz

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Principles of Interior Design
by: Kathy Iven

Whether you are working with existing furnishings and fabrics or �starting from scratch� with an empty room, you should always use the elements and principles of design as a guide in choosing everything. The elements are your tools or raw materials, much like paints are the basics to a painter. The elements of design include space, line, form, color, and texture. The principles of design relate to how you use these elements. The principles of design are balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion and scale, and harmony and unity.

Principle #1: Balance

Visual equilibrium in a room is called balance. It gives a sense of repose and a feeling of completion. A well-balanced room gives careful consideration to the placement of objects according to their visual weight. The elements of line, form, color and texture all help determine an object�s visual weight, which is the amount of space it appears to occupy. Balance also refers to how and where you place the elements (line, form, color and texture) within a room. To maintain balance, try to distribute the elements throughout the room.

� Formal balance, often referred to as symmetrical balance, creates a mirror image effect.

� Informal balance uses different objects of the same visual weight to create equilibrium in a room. It is more subtle and spontaneous and gives a warmer, more casual feeling.

Principle #2: Emphasis

Emphasis is the focal point of the room. The focal point should be obvious as you enter the room; it is the area to which your eye is attracted. Whatever is featured, as the center of interest �a fireplace, artwork or a window treatment framing a beautiful view � must be sufficiently emphasized so that everything else leads the eye toward the featured area. You can add emphasis to a natural focal point or create one in a room through effective use of line, form, color and texture.

Principle #3: Rhythm

Rhythm supplies the discipline that controls the eye as is moves around a room. Rhythm helps the eye to move easily from one object to another and creates a harmony that tells the eye everything in the room belongs to a unified whole. Rhythm is created through repetition of line, form, color or texture. It can also be created through progression. Progressive rhythm is a gradual increasing or decreasing in size, direction or color.

Principle #4: Proportion and Scale

Size relationships in a room are defined by proportion and scale. Proportion refers to how the elements within an object relate to the object as a whole. Scale relates to the size of an object when compared with the size of the space in which it is located.

Principle #5: Harmony and Unity

A well-designed room is a unified whole that encompasses all the other elements and principles of design. Unity assures a sense of order. There is a consistency of sizes and shapes, a harmony of color and pattern. The ultimate goal of decorating is to create a room with unity and harmony and a sense of rhythm. Repeating the elements, balancing them throughout the room, and then adding a little variety so that the room has its own sense of personality accomplishes this. Too much unity can be boring; too much variety can cause a restless feeling. Juggling the elements and principles to get just the right mix is a key to good design.

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