School finishes, the pool gets its first proper workout of the season, and within a week every good seat in the backyard belongs to someone under eighteen. Wet swimmers on the outdoor lounge, towels over the dining chairs, a teenager horizontal across the sun lounge. The fix most Australian families land on is an outdoor bean bag or two — light enough for a ten-year-old to drag into the shade, and built from fabric that copes with chlorine and sunscreen.
This guide is for parents buying casual seating kids and teenagers will actually use. We cover what separates an outdoor bag from the indoor one, how to size for a seven-year-old versus a fifteen-year-old, the safety basics worth sorting first, and how to keep the covers clean. Everything mentioned is from our outdoor bean bag range.
What makes an outdoor bean bag different from the indoor one
An indoor bean bag moved outside has roughly one summer in it. The fabric fades, rain soaks through to the filling, and by autumn it smells like a wet tent. Outdoor-rated bags are built the other way around.
The bags in our range use waterproof fabric with a thick PVC backing behind it, and that backing is the layer keeping water away from the beans. It is the difference between a bag that dries off after a splash fight and one that stays damp for a week.
Two practical things before you order. These bags are supplied flat packed with the beans bought separately, so budget for filling. And none of them is a flotation device — every product page says so, and they are made for beside the pool, not in it.
Which size suits kids, and which suits teens
Most families get size wrong by buying small. A bag that fits a six-year-old is a footstool to a Year 10 student two summers later, and children always want whichever bag is biggest.
The Chill Out Black + White Stripe Outdoor Beanbag ($130) is the sensible entry point. It is a single designed to suit all body shapes and sizes, at home on a deck, beside the pool or in a kids bedroom. For the same shape in a softer colour, the Laid Back Grey + White Outdoor Beanbag ($149) adds a side pocket for a phone or remote — a detail teenagers notice immediately.
The Chill Out Yellow + White Stripe Outdoor Beanbag ($163) is the one younger kids gravitate to, and the bright colour makes it easy to spot down the backyard. For teenagers, or two kids who refuse to sit separately, the Hang Out Blue + White Stripe Outdoor Beanbag ($212) is a double measuring 120cm wide, supplied with an easy fill funnel system. Bags this size earn their keep beyond the pool too — see our guide to setting up a backyard movie night for how families use them as front-row cinema seating.
| Option | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Chill Out Black + White Stripe ($130) | A first outdoor bag; darker colour for busy areas | Warm water and mild detergent |
| Laid Back Grey + White ($149) | Teens who want somewhere to park a phone | Side pocket; shade suits it better |
| Chill Out Yellow + White Stripe ($163) | Younger kids and bright outdoor areas | Baby wipes clear small stains |
| Hang Out Blue + White Stripe ($212) | Teenagers, or two kids sharing | 120cm wide double; funnel included |
| Kids Hammock ($224) | Kids who would rather swing than sit | 70kg capacity; one suspension point |
If the seat fought over in your house is one that moves, consider a nest swing alongside the bags. The Kids Hammock ($224) hangs from a single suspension point, has a round centre window children love, and carries up to 70kg. Check the beam, branch or frame you hang it from can take the load, and browse the hanging egg chairs and swing chairs collection if an adult version appeals.
Safety and supervision before the kids pile in
None of this is complicated, but it is worth doing once. Read the product page and the manufacturer instructions in the box before you fill anything, because filling method, zip design and any age guidance vary between models.
The filling deserves the most care. Loose polystyrene beads are a hazard around babies and toddlers, so fill the bag away from small children, ideally indoors with the door shut and no breeze. Vacuum any escapees straight away, keep packaging out of reach, and check the closure is fully done up before the bag goes into service.
Around water the rule is simple. Every bag in this range is explicitly not a flotation device and is not designed for use in the pool, so it stays on the deck. Normal pool supervision still applies, and Australian pool fencing rules vary by state and council — check with your local council before changing anything around the pool area.
Wind is the last one. Bean bags are light by design, so a gusty afternoon sends one across the backyard or off a balcony. Bring them in when the weather turns.
Washing off sunscreen, chlorine and cut grass
The cleaning routine is quick, which is why bean bags suit families. Follow what each product page says rather than reaching for the strongest thing under the sink.
The Chill Out Black + White Stripe calls for warm water and a mild detergent. The Chill Out Yellow responds to baby wipes for small stains. The Hang Out wipes clean with a damp cloth. Rinsing off sunscreen, chlorine and salt now and then beats one big scrub in March.
Let the bag dry completely before it goes into a shed or deck box. Damp fabric stored in the dark is how mould starts, and mould is far harder to fix than a stain.
The Australian summer angle: sun, storage and the school holidays
December to late January is the stress test. In Brisbane, Perth and inland New South Wales, UV does more damage to outdoor fabric in six weeks than the rest of the year combined. Every one of these bags carries the same manufacturer note: direct sun will fade the colour.
That is not a reason to keep them in the shed, just a reason to think about where they live between uses. Under the pergola, on the shaded side of the house, or inside overnight all work.
Colour choice helps too. Bright colours are the ones children choose, but they show fading first, which is partly why grey and taupe sell steadily to parents. If you are still weighing up fabrics, seams and shapes in general terms, our outdoor bean bag buying guide works through the full checklist.
Outdoor bean bags for kids — frequently asked questions
Do outdoor bean bags come with the beans included?
No — the bags in this range are supplied flat packed with the beans bought separately. That keeps freight sensible and lets you fill to the firmness your kids prefer. The Hang Out double includes an easy fill funnel system to make the job less messy.
Can kids use an outdoor bean bag in the pool?
No. Every bag in this range is stated on its product page to be not a flotation device and not designed for use in the pool. The waterproof fabric and PVC backing handle splashes, wet swimmers and rain — not swimming.
What size outdoor bean bag suits a teenager?
A double is the safer buy for teenagers, and the Hang Out Blue + White Stripe at 120cm wide is the one to look at. Singles like the Chill Out suit all body shapes and sizes, but teenagers sprawl, and two of them end up sharing whichever bag is largest.
How do I clean sunscreen off an outdoor bean bag?
Check the product page first, because the method differs by model — warm water with mild detergent, a damp cloth, or baby wipes for small marks. Rinse regularly rather than waiting for a build-up.
Shop the range
Casual seating is the cheapest way to make an outdoor area work for a family, and it is the part kids actually use. Have a look through the kids furniture collection if you are setting up a whole play zone. We deliver Australia-wide with free delivery over $100, and returns are 30 days with no restocking fee.
