Choosing Bean Bag Fabrics

Lovesac bean bag chair fabric options

Shopping for a bean bag can be a big enough headache already. You have to consider its size, density, price, and how it will fit in your space. The fabric is often an afterthought.

However, if you're investing in a Lovesac Sac, the conversation around bean bag fabrics deserves a lot more attention. Because here's the thing: the Cover is the experience. It's what you feel when you sink in after a long day, what survives your dog's nails, and what you're still loving five years from now.

This guide breaks down every major Lovesac Sac material, what makes each one unique, and how to match the best bean bag material to your actual lifestyle and not just your aesthetic.

Why Bean Bag Fabric Matters More Than You Think

A bean bag Cover isn't just decorative. It determines:

Durability: how well it resists daily wear, abrasion, and pilling
Comfort: the tactile experience of the surface against your skin
Maintenance: whether you're spot-cleaning for life or throwing it in the wash
Pet and kid compatibility: whether it survives real-world use
Longevity: how the fabric holds up to UV exposure, repeated washing, and compression

Lovesac Sacs are designed with fully removable, machine-washable Covers (excluding a few exceptions noted below), which means you can switch fabrics as your lifestyle or design preferences change. That flexibility makes choosing the right material even more important and more rewarding.

1. Phur™ (Faux Fur Bean Bag)

Best for: Cozy living rooms, kids' rooms, sensory-friendly spaces, anyone who wants maximum softness

Phur is Lovesac's signature faux fur fabric and arguably the most iconic Sac look. If you've ever seen a giant, irresistibly fluffy bean bag and thought “I need that”, then you were probably looking at Phur.

Benefits:

• Ultra-soft texture that gets softer with washing
• Available in a range of colors from neutral cream to bold tones
• Machine washable on a gentle cycle with cold water
• Creates a warm, inviting aesthetic in any room
• A favorite for kids' rooms and reading nooks where comfort is the top priority

Things to consider:

• Shows pet hair more visibly than tighter weave fabrics
• Not the most durable option for high-traffic or heavily pet-occupied spaces
• Can mat slightly with heavy use; fluffing after washing restores texture

Verdict:

The gold standard for comfort-first bean bag fabric. If softness is your primary criterion, Phur is the answer. Consider an animal-friendly faux fur bean bag chair.

2. Chenille

Best for: Living rooms, adult spaces, anyone who wants a sophisticated look without sacrificing softness

Chenille is a classic upholstery fabric that has made its way into Lovesac's Sac lineup and for good reason. It offers a textured, tactile surface that looks elevated and feels genuinely comfortable.

Benefits:

• Soft, velvety texture with a subtle visual depth from the woven pile
• More structured appearance than Phur and works well in styled, adult-oriented rooms
• Machine washable; holds color well over multiple washes
• Available in rich, warm tones that complement neutral and earthy interiors
• More abrasion-resistant than faux fur, making it a longer-lasting everyday option

Things to consider:

• Can show wear lines or impressions with very heavy use over time
• Not the top choice for homes with multiple large pets

Verdict:

The best bean bag material for those who want comfort and a more polished, living-room-appropriate look.

3. Velvet / Velour

Best for: Home theaters, teen rooms, gaming setups, bold interior styles

Velvet-style Covers offer a sleek, lustrous surface that photographs beautifully and feels luxurious to the touch. Lovesac's velour options bring a contemporary, premium aesthetic to the Sac lineup.

Benefits:

• Smooth, rich surface with a subtle sheen and is visually striking in jewel tones and deep neutrals
• Soft against skin, making it ideal for lounging in minimal clothing (hello, home theater setups)
• Machine washable; brushing lightly while damp restores the pile direction
• Highly popular for gaming rooms and media spaces where aesthetic impact matters

Things to consider:

• Shows lint, dust, and pet hair more readily than woven fabrics which requires regular lint rolling
• Directional pile means it can look uneven if brushed against the grain

Verdict:

A high-impact, photogenic choice for intentionally styled spaces. Not the most practical for chaotic family rooms, but stunning when well-maintained.

4. Leather

Best for: Modern and contemporary interiors, adult living spaces, anyone seeking a premium, high-end aesthetic with easy surface maintenance

Leather brings a level of visual sophistication to a Lovesac Sac that no woven or plush fabric can replicate. It's a bold choice that makes a statement — and when cared for properly, it only gets better with age.

Benefits:

• Premium, elevated appearance that anchors a room and signals quality immediately
• Easy surface maintenance since most spills wipe clean with a damp cloth before they have a chance to set
• Develops a natural patina over time, giving the Sac character and depth that woven fabrics can't achieve
• Hypoallergenic as leather doesn't trap dust, dander, or allergens the way plush fabrics can
• Highly durable surface that resists everyday abrasion and compression marks

Things to consider:

• Not machine washable as leather Sac Covers require surface cleaning only with a damp cloth and a leather-appropriate conditioner; submerging or machine washing will damage the material
• Can feel warm against skin in hot environments and cool to the touch in colder rooms
• Requires periodic conditioning to prevent cracking or drying out over time
• Not the most forgiving choice for sharp pet claws – scratches are more visible on leather than on woven or plush alternatives
• Higher price point relative to fabric Covers

Verdict:

The prestige choice for design-forward spaces. Leather elevates a Lovesac Sac from casual lounger to intentional furniture investment, but it requires a higher level of care and is best suited to adults-only or low-chaos environments.

5. Heathered Weave

Best for: Casual living rooms, transitional and contemporary interiors, everyday family use, those who want a relaxed aesthetic with reliable durability

Heathered weave is a versatile, understated fabric that earns its place in the Lovesac lineup through sheer livability. The heathered effect (created by blending two or more yarn colors during weaving) gives the Cover a soft, dimensional appearance that works across a wide range of interior styles without demanding attention.

Benefits:

• Relaxed, textured aesthetic that complements both casual and contemporary interiors without clashing
• The multi-tone heathered finish is excellent at disguising minor surface dirt and everyday wear between washes — a practical advantage in active households
• Machine washable and holds its blended color well through repeated wash cycles
• Soft to the touch while offering more structure than plush options like Phur or velour
• Works well in transitional spaces that need a fabric that isn't too formal or too casual
• Available in muted, livable tones that age gracefully over time

Things to consider:

• Less visually dramatic than velvet or leather – if bold impact is the goal, heathered weave is intentionally understated
• wNot as stain resistant as a tightly woven performance Cover, though the heathered pattern does help mask minor marks between cleanings

Verdict:

The everyday workhorse of the Lovesac Sac fabric lineup. Heathered weave is the right call for households that want a durable, attractive, low-drama Cover that handles real life without requiring constant attention. It's the fabric equivalent of a reliable, well-dressed friend – not the loudest in the room, but always the right choice.

Quick Reference: Which Lovesac Sac Fabric Is Right for You?

Your Priority:

• Maximum softness and coziness: Phur™ (Faux Fur)
Sophisticated look + comfort: Chenille
• Bold aesthetic, home theater/gaming: Velvet / Velour
• Premium, design-forward statement piece: Leather
• Everyday durability, casual interiors: Heathered Weave
• Easy maintenance above all else: Heathered Weave
• Sensory-friendly or kids' spaces: Phur™
• Allergy-conscious households: Leather

Can You Switch Fabrics on a Lovesac Sac?

Yes, and this is one of the most underrated features of the entire product. Because Sac Covers are fully removable, you're not locked into your original fabric choice. You can:

Buy a second Cover in a different fabric to swap seasonally (Phur in winter, heathered weave in summer)
Replace a worn Cover with a completely different material without replacing the Sac itself
Upgrade to leather or a new texture when life circumstances or design preferences change

This adaptability makes the conversation around best bean bag material less of a permanent decision and more of a "right now" choice – which removes a lot of the pressure from the selection process.

Final Thoughts

Not all bean bag fabrics are created equal, and the material you choose for your Lovesac Sac will define how much you enjoy it day-to-day. Whether you're optimizing for plush comfort in a reading nook, a sleek leather statement in a modern living room, or a reliable heathered weave for a busy family space, there's a Lovesac Cover built for exactly that use case.