Somewhere between a beanbag and a platform sofa is pretty much our ideal seating option: the beanbag sofa. In many ways it is merely a big, curved pillow—an evolved pouf!—so you can sometimes find them in "teen" decor shops, meaning the prices are a little more manageable than those for standard sofas. Before you worry that we're recommending you regress to dorm room decor entirely, note that beanbag sofas are in fact a mainstay of contemporary, elegant homes. Ligne Roset's Togo sofa, designed by Michael Ducaroy, falls squarely into this category: Most likely the grandfather of the whole trend, it first cropped up 40 years ago and still graces many a living room in spite of its sky-high price (this striped vintage sectional from the line will run you a mere $8K—and that's before you pay for shipping from France). The good news is that thanks to the design's success, you can now get beanbag sofas at much more appealing prices.
" data-type="image" data-reactid="94"> SHOP NOW: Lennon Sofa by Urban Outfitters, $519, urbanoutfitters.com
" data-type="image" data-reactid="103"> SHOP NOW: Prescott Sectional Sofa by PB Teen, from $355 ~~$445~, pbteen.com
At once slouchy and structured, the beanbag sofa, unlike an actual beanbag, is a pleasure to sit in for extended periods of time. One side is completely flush with the floor, without so much as a leg supporting it (just stretch yours out straight!); the other stands straight up to support your TV-watching, book-reading, and sit-around-chatting habits.
" data-type="image" data-reactid="113"> SHOP NOW: Berlin Lounge Sherpa Sofa by RHTeen, $959, rhteen.com
" data-type="image" data-reactid="122"> SHOP NOW: Bean Bag Sofa by Greyleigh, $192, wayfair.com
Depending on your style, you can select a more pillow-like or more sofa-like version. The key is that it's 100% squishy, all upholstery, and no hard bits. Maybe there are little pleated arms for resting your head or elbows, or some decorative tufting, or even a corner piece so you can use it as a sectional—but ultimately the beanbag sofa is just fabric encasing zillions of lightweight pellets. Just beware: If you have actual teenagers, they might never leave the living room.