Ask more people what their definition of outdoor relaxation is and, among the list, you’ll likely hear ‘swinging on a hammock’. Few things in the world can beat the experience of soaking the sun out in the garden, or reading your favourite book indoors nestled on top of a hammock stand.
Sometimes a chair doesn’t quite cut it. It doesn’t offer you the option to lay completely flat and cocoon snuggly into a comfortable fabric. The moment you start desiring this particular lounging experience in your life, most of the people start exploring how we to bootleg a hammock solution (attaching a rug between two trees with some rope jumps to mind) instead of just buying a hammock stand together.
But making a hammock stand is far simpler than you probably think. The most difficult bit is making sure you have a hammock that can comfortably support you. In this comprehensive guide, we look at eight different ways in which you can make a hammock stand from home.
There are different ways of hanging a hammock and the two conventional ways are using two trees and buying a hammock stand. But there are other creative ways to doing so and we shall get to those later after we have discussed conventional ways of making your hammock stand. With minimum effort you will be able to build a permanent hammock or other that could be folded at will. Without wasting any more of your precious time, let us take you through 8 ways of making a hammock stand at home:
1. Make a Hammock Stand Using Two Trees
If you are blessed to have a garden with trees, then hanging a hammock won’t be a trouble at all. It’s also likely that you’ve had one set-up before but hey, we couldn’t not include it right?
All that you need to do is wrap a rope, or any other kind of suspension, securely around the trunk of two adjacent trees. Ensure that you are wrapping the rope around the same height on both the trees, a foot or also above your tallest adult, as this will create the perfect balance and offer you that flawless swing. Tie a knot and attach it to the suspension of the end-loops in the hammock and you are all but ready to swing.
Once you’ve got this in place, why not add an outdoor bird table or cascading water feature in the near vicinity, and create your own little ecosystem of wildlife.
2. Make a Hammock Using a Conventional Stand
Typically, most of us don’t have two trees conveniently close to one another to permit this to be a realistic option though. The most conventional method in the UK is to buy a free standing hammock stand. These are stands that you can usually put together within 10 minutes and enjoy both indoors and outdoors.
Most stands typically have a metal frame with adjustable hooks, meaning that you can adjust the height and the stretch of the fabric for ultimate comfort. Alternatively, a robust wooden stand usually lasts better against the elements over the longer term.
Some of the stands come with the hammock fabric included, as well as a carry case allowing you to pack the stand down and move at your pleasure. The carabiners and chains give you additional flexibility in the height to which you set up the hammock bed.
The metal stands are usually best suited for the UK due to the unpredictable nature of the weather and the ability to set-up the hammock inside on the cloudy days. The prices of these can vary from anywhere between £50 to around £200 for a full free standing hammock. If you are buying the stand and fabric separately, ensure that the measurements match up appropriately.
3. Make a Hammock Stand with Two Poles
The idea sounds conventional, as using two poles is similar to using two trees, but the execution is slightly less so. If you have a terrace available you can install two poles about 12-15 feet apart and use these poles to create the perfect hammock stand.
In fact, there is a good chance that your terrace already has two poles which are a part of your terrace décor. The same concept can work for those fortunate enough to have a balcony, tying the ends either on opposite or adjacent bars.
If you don’t have a terrace, then install two poles in your garden and hang the hammock in the same way that is explained in between two trees. The big advantage with installing poles is that you can usually amend them to suit your height as well as dressing them up with lights which can offer a reading solution when the sun sets.
4. Make a Stand with a Gate or a Wall
This is slightly similar to the balcony concept and one of the more popular methods. A large iron gate of some form that can hold your capacity is half the battle, as you’ll also need an equivalent gate or a wall that is around 15-16 feet opposite.
Though you can technically hang a hammock between a gate and a wall that is 30 feet away, the hammock wouldn’t feel too stable. Tie one end of the rope to the gate and suspend another rope from a hook in the wall. Make sure you install a hook that is able to bear your load.
5. Make an Indoor Stand with Ceiling Beams
Don’t underestimate the need for an indoor option with the versatile whether we’re accustom to in the UK. We’ve mentioned at length the need for creativity and improvisation when creating a stand as far as the unconventional methods are concerned and this is perhaps the perfect example of stretching your imagination.
The beams work in a similar way to the trees but horizontally, and load bearing is less of an issue for more traditional, robust beams that you may find in victorian houses. Take two pieces of rope and fasten them around a beam that is at least 8 feet above the ground.
This will give you the swing you are likely looking for in a hammock. It would be worth testing the load capacity of the beam (in case you are fastening the ropes on a wooden beam) by suspending yourself using the rope. If everything works according to plan, just tie the rope securely around the end-loops of the hammock with multiple knots and you are all set to go.
6. Make a Hammock Stand with One Tree
We mentioned earlier about hanging a hammock from two trees, but if you are fortunate enough to have a large enough tree in your garden with thick, strong branches you can give this one tree hammock stand a try. Before attempting this ensure that the branch(es) you are using are strong enough to support your weight and measure roughly 9 feet above the ground.
Simply secure ropes across the two branches, much in the similar way to the ceiling beams. Fasten them securely by creating a taut-line hitch knot (as can be seen below).
7. Make an Indoor Stand with Wall Hooks
As more of us move into smaller, urban apartments it means that we don’t always have the luxury of much (or if any) outdoor space.
Heavy load hooks are quite common, so ensure you get a handful that can support a weight of at least 150 kg. Finding the space is the hard bit. You’ll need 2 adjacent walls that are around 12 – 15 ft apart from one another. You’ll then need to ensure you measure up the length of your hammock bed to fit accordingly.
Find that space in your home where you can drill in those two hooks on the opposite walls and you have your indoor hammock. The great thing about it is that it is easy enough to latch and de-latch the hammock as and when you require it. This could mean that you may be able to swing in a hammock in your front room somedays, but store it away when you have guests over in others.
We have seen both the conventional as well as unconventional ways of making a hammock stand at home or in your garden. It is important for you to invest in a quality hammock that is rated for the quality of the fabric, the adjustability and the load capacity it can handle. Check out our guide to the 6 best hammocks & hammock stands in the UK here.