A garden means excavation work, caring for plants, seasonal harvesting, planting, landscaping, etc. “Have you forgotten about rest?” you ask, and your remark will be absolutely fair. Relaxing in the garden, peacefully contemplating the numerous fruits of your labors is the most pleasant activity for any owner. The scents of flowers, garden ponds, gazebos and beautiful design are those useful things that help owners relax in their summer cottage. But what no lover of outdoor recreation will definitely refuse is a comfortable garden swing of our own production. So, in order to rest tomorrow, we will have to work a little today. We will tell you how to make an excellent garden swing with your own hands in just a couple of days!
What kinds of swings are there in the garden: from simple to the most original options
Swing sphere
Such a swing is suspended from a tree or a solid base. They are usually made from wood, rattan, durable plastic or metal soaked in a special composition. The metal structure is heavy, so it is rarely used in the garden, because only a powerful metal support can support it. These swings look stylish and original.
Swing chair
There are a lot of options for making a chair-shaped swing. The basis can be a ready-made soft seat, or a wooden base with a soft cover, as in the photo. You can make such a rocking chair from an old chair without legs. To do this, attach reliable fastenings to the back and armrests to hang the seat from a support or a thick wooden branch.
Hanging beds and sofas
A novelty for modern summer residents are entire suspended recreational complexes. The rigid base of a bed or sofa is suspended from the ceiling of a gazebo, veranda or to a permanent base on the street. Such a structure is attached to chains or reliable ropes. This option is convenient for any vacation, meeting guests and even sleeping outside at night.
Simple children's swing made of wood
The most popular swing that can please not only children, but also adults is a wooden swing with ropes. A simple design, a minimum of materials and no more than an hour of time - these are the main reasons why this swing is found in almost every garden. All you need is a wide board, a few meters of strong rope and a strong branch on a tree. The rope needs to be cut in half (or thrown over a branch), the ends attached to the board with a secure knot, and the swing is ready!
Swing “Hand made” from scrap materials
Creative owners have come up with many options for homemade swings from a variety of materials. See photo. The items used are car and bicycle tires, metal and plastic basins, troughs, wicker baskets, garden barrels and other things that have already served their main purpose.
Forged swing
To make a forged swing yourself, you need to have special equipment for welding, bending, leveling and cutting metal. Artistic forging always looks rich in the garden. This option, although costly in terms of effort and finances, looks very decorative and lasts for many years.
Universal wooden swing bench
A favorite option for domestic gardeners has become a wooden swing with a hanging bench. The bench is attached with bars, chains or ropes to a stable A-shaped base. We will dwell on this convenient option in more detail.
To get started, we suggest you watch a short video:
And also look at the illustrations that we have carefully prepared for you:
Buying Tips
This chapter is especially for those who have already decided to make an expensive purchase, but do not know how to avoid being led by scammers and want to buy a truly high-quality product. We read and remember.
The swing test should begin by checking its rigidity. Try to loosen the structure. Determine how stable it is, how tightly the parts fit. Believe me, if the structure already seems sloppy, then over time it will completely turn into junk.
Take a closer look at the construction material. Reputable companies use pipes, while “handicraftsmen” use profiles. Along the way, take a closer look at the bends. They should not be reinforced in any way. Various additional plates there say that “garage” technologies were used in production, since the factory bend easily withstands a load of 300 kg, which is enough for a swing.
Next, look at what the chains are attached to. Special lugs must be provided for them. A rope thrown over a beam or a chain threaded directly through a pipe is again a sure sign of “handicraft”.
Now about painting. Factory products are coated with a powder material, while scammers use acrylic varnish or synthetic enamel. Moisten a piece of cloth with cellulose solvent and lightly rub the frame with it. If there is paint left on the rag, there is no smell of powder coatings, which means it’s not worth buying this swing.
Raise the pillows and look at what they are lying on. Ideally, this should be a shell mesh. Well, in the worst case, welded, but certainly not canvas. The latter is used only in the cheapest models.
Speaking of the pillows themselves. Avoid products with polyurethane chips. They are very short-lived and wear out quickly. Brands use only solid solid sheets, which will last for decades.
It's more difficult with covers. So, dralon fades under ultraviolet light, but it lasts for years. Cotton is not very durable, but it is more pleasant to the touch and is not afraid of sunlight. Here everyone is their own adviser.
A canopy is much easier to deal with. If it's polyester, that's good. Mesh polyethylene - we pass by. It won't survive even three seasons.
Be sure to check that the swing comes with a mosquito net. If you miss this point, you will buy mosquito protection separately, and even think about how to attach it later.
Last but not least, check the comfort of the product. There are different supports in the armrests, backrest mobility. You may be surprised, but if your swing has successfully passed all the previous “nitpicking”, then the manufacturer has probably taken care of the pleasant little things.
Do-it-yourself hanging wooden bench in the country: photos, drawings, dimensions
Why should you choose this option? To answer this question, we list the main advantages of wooden swings on supports:
- Safety of your trees.
Branches under the weight can become deformed, crack and break, which will negatively affect the condition of the whole tree. - Capacity.
Standard bench sizes are 1200-1500 mm. This length will allow you to accommodate 2-3 people at the same time. You can choose your option and extend the bench by another half meter. - Safety.
The low height of the seat from the ground, stable support and reliable fastenings guarantee safe operation of the hanging swing. - Environmental friendliness.
Wood is an environmentally friendly material. It does not emit harmful fumes or carcinogenic substances and is absolutely harmless to the bioflora of your garden. - Practicality.
Wooden swings are easy to care for - just periodically wipe them from dust and open them with varnish if desired. - Mobility.
Wooden swings are light in weight. The supporting structure can be easily moved to any place convenient for you. This allows you to bring the swing under a canopy or indoors for the winter. - Comfort.
Swinging on the bench is very comfortable. You can equip it with a soft cover, pillows, and a canopy. If desired, the seat can be fixed in a stationary position, or a folding bench can be provided for lying down. - Easy to manufacture and assemble the structure.
You can easily build such a hanging bench from purchased wood or materials that are already on your site. Now we will describe in detail all the nuances of the process of creating this wonderful hanging bench.
Garden swing design, drawings
To indicate the scope of work and calculate the approximate consumption of materials, a drawing is drawn up, which you can do yourself or use a ready-made one from the Internet. For example, this simple option
The design is more complex with composite racks and jibs
Diagram of a swing with a canopy
Double swing for those who like challenging but interesting tasks
The design of a simple garden swing made of wood includes:
- supports made of timber, boards or cleaned round timber of small diameter, which can be A-, X- or U-shaped, with triangular or trapezoidal side elements;
- seats made of wooden planks with or without backrests, armrests;
- suspensions - chains, polypropylene ropes, ropes;
- fastening elements.
If a canopy is to be built, a light, durable frame will be built for mounting the roofing material.
All wooden elements are screwed together with bolts, self-tapping screws, or with additional gluing of the joints. In some connections, nails, staples, and overlays are used. Fasteners must be resistant to corrosion.
For garden swings, inexpensive lumber is usually used - pine, spruce. Larch has the greatest moisture resistance. It is used to make critical parts that are in direct contact with the ground.
Important. If the supports are not stable enough, it is recommended to concrete them to a depth of at least 0.5 m. The wood must first be treated against rotting and wrapped in waterproofing material - roofing felt, film.
For comfort, you can put pillows on the seat or sew soft, removable covers. A mosquito net will help protect you from flies and mosquitoes.
DIY garden swing made of wood: detailed instructions
Before you get started, prepare the following tools and materials: 5 large beams and spacers for support; sets of various galvanized screws, bolts, nuts and nails; a saw with a wood disc, a jigsaw, a drill and drill bits (4.5, 8, 10 mm), a hacksaw; tape measure, pencil, squares, surface planer, sawhorses, clamps; hammer, plane, screwdrivers, sanding block and other auxiliary tools.
In order for the work to proceed “smoothly” and efficiently, it needs to be divided into several stages.
Swing gazebo with table
The holiday option for a large group is quite difficult to manufacture. The swing consists of a durable frame with a canopy, 2 benches, a table and a movable platform. Thanks to the hinged mounts, even a child can swing the structure.
To make the frame, planed smooth logs or strong beams with a section of 100x100 mm, 150x150 mm are used. The tabletop and seats with backrest are made of 25 mm thick boards. Hinges are located in places where furniture is attached to the platform, as well as at the points of intersection of horizontal planes with vertical structures. This method ensures the stability of all objects on the table - water in glasses does not spill even with strong rocking.
Photo of a hybrid of a swing and a gazebo.
Material
As a rule, most people buy a sofa swing for their summer house, much less often for their home. Depending on where they will be located in the future, what they should be made of and what design they should have depends on.
Actually, there are few materials from which you can make a sofa swing. Only a few of them are strong enough. Below are the most common models and the materials used to make them.
- Tree.
The most common option. Great for the garden in summer. But unfortunately, such swings are highly susceptible to moisture, weather conditions and even air temperature in the absence of proper wood treatment. In addition, they are easy to break and are also flammable. The advantages are environmental friendliness and a pleasant appearance.
- Metal.
Such models are durable and strong. They can easily be given any design, any pattern applied to them, or made to order with various types of forging. But such swings are not entirely suitable for families with small children, as children can be seriously injured by them. In addition, such structures are difficult to install. But they are relatively easy to care for.
What factors should be considered when choosing a specific solution?
It should be understood that the use of furniture in the country has a lot of features, and any product must meet the following requirements:
| Functionality | Various pretentious sofas do not fit well into a country house interior. Classic products with a folding system look much better, because then they can be used as a bed |
| Practicality | The conditions for using furniture in a suburban area have their own differences. Upholstery should be cleaned well, or even completely removed for washing. |
| Reliability | Most often, in winter, rooms are not heated, so chipboard furniture can deteriorate and delaminate. Natural wood is best |
| Economical | Buying a new sofa for the dacha is not the wisest decision. You can make the furniture yourself, or you can transport the sofa to the dacha from home and buy a new model for home |
Kinds
Sofa swings are divided into several types according to their structure and purpose.
- Multi-seat and double.
The former are long and must have a durable structure with a large load capacity, while the latter are more compact and can hang on one chain. - Folding and one-piece models.
Folding sofas can be unfolded, after which they take the form of a bed or couch. Solid models of this type of furniture come with a fixed back. - Outdoor and indoor.
Outdoor sofa swings have a characteristic feature - a canopy, and those for the home have a brighter and more laconic design. - With different types of stands.
The most common racks are A-shaped and U-shaped.
As a rule, absolutely all types of sofa swings come with a backrest, the only exceptions being shocking or extravagant designer models.
How to equip?
Obviously, a sofa swing will require a lot of space. Therefore, it is best to place them on an area free from other structures. The main thing that needs to be taken into account is that the path to them should also be free, without any obstacles.
It is not recommended to place furniture of this kind near walls or other vertical surfaces. The same goes for large massive trees. You should not place furniture under their shadow, no matter how much you would like to. It may be dangerous. An exception could be a simple swing bed suspended on strong and thick tree branches.
A good summer cottage option for a small area would be not a multi-seat sofa swing, but several single-seat ones. Although they will take up more space, they will give the garden some originality and freshness. Before installing the structure, it is necessary to level the surface on which it will stand, and after completion, firmly compact it for stability.
A thing like a fan installed above the sofa will also add convenience, to which everyone will be grateful on stuffy summer nights.
