Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,500,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Have a Rockin' Summer With a Hammock
Nothing says summer like a hammock — and it's easier to have one in your yard, or even an indoor room, than you may think
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor based out of Hershey, PA. Come visit me at 'A Nest for All Seasons' where I write about design, photography and modern garden living!
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor... More »
On a recent trip to Mexico, I had two things on my must-buy list: an authentic mortar and pestle and a serious hammock. Classic hammocks are a staple in Mexico — you'll see them everywhere, in places from the simplest shack to the most luxurious mansion. After seeing the multitude of styles, shapes and hangings, I was determined to snag one of my very own.
After purchasing my hammock, I was thrilled, but suddenly had a multitude of questions. Where should I hang it? Does it fit with my decor? Is there even room on the porch for it? Of course, once I got the hammock home, we found the perfect spot and now it is a favorite hang-out space for the entire family. For less than $20, we now have an outdoor bed.
If you're considering a hammock for summer, maybe you're worried about fitting it into your space or your style. No need — here I address the objections you might have to a hammock swinging from the eaves. Won't you join me?
After purchasing my hammock, I was thrilled, but suddenly had a multitude of questions. Where should I hang it? Does it fit with my decor? Is there even room on the porch for it? Of course, once I got the hammock home, we found the perfect spot and now it is a favorite hang-out space for the entire family. For less than $20, we now have an outdoor bed.
If you're considering a hammock for summer, maybe you're worried about fitting it into your space or your style. No need — here I address the objections you might have to a hammock swinging from the eaves. Won't you join me?
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Objection: I don't know how to hang a hammock. Reality: Hammocks are simple in design and require only two things to work properly: strong supports 10 to 20 feet apart. To approximate the space you will need, measure the hammock and add 1 or 2 feet for the total length between posts. The traditional hammock is hung between two trees or from posts in a courtyard, but you can use any support you might have. In this example, a strong tree and a hook attached to the home are used. Notice that the length of this hammock creates the appropriate sag in the middle. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Blessed with a seaside view and palm trees? You have the ideal location for a traditional hammock.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
In the cities of Mexico, we saw hammocks strung from post to post in inner courtyards like this one. The curve of the hammock mirrors the arched openings perfectly, and the courtyard breezes blow through these passageways all day long. Design and function meet to create the perfect spot for a hammock.
|
by Rina Magen
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| When a traditional hammock is not in use, it can be hung on one post tucked out of the way or simply allowed to hang freely. The cotton weave collapses and stretches easily to save space. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Objection: A hammock doesn't work with my pretty decor. Reality: Want a place to relax, but don't want to give up your intricate laces and frilly decor? No worries — this beautifully designed hammock has the best of both worlds for you. Give a nod to the floral designs on the pillow prints by attaching the hammock to a vine-covered post. Clematis is a great choice, with a wide range of pinks, purples and whites to choose from and a graceful twining habit. Other vines might take over your hammock, but clematis will grow peacefully and stay in its place. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Can't make it to the beach this summer? No worries. Section out a piece of your lawn for your own private beach and hang a swinging hammock from a faux palm tree. This setup is perfect for parents who need a little relaxation while the kids play in the extended sandbox.
|
by MCM Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Objection: I hate lying down while reading or chatting. Reality: Dual-seat hammocks and cradle hammocks are available. Face the hammocks in opposite directions to talk freely with the person sitting next to you without craning your neck. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Objection: I don't have any trees. Reality: Freestanding hammocks work just as well. Make sure to plan for shade with an awning or a roof edge to keep from baking in the summer sun. |
![kids by Inga Romberga (Jud [Džūd])](http://st.houzz.com/fimgs/7d41be780d03db23_1000-w422-h600-b0-p0---kids.jpg)
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Objection: I don't have outdoor space.
Reality: A seat hammock is the perfect addition to a kid's room in place of a traditional rocker. Make sure you attach the hammock to a secure joist.
Reality: A seat hammock is the perfect addition to a kid's room in place of a traditional rocker. Make sure you attach the hammock to a secure joist.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Seat hammocks come in all shapes and sizes; this smaller version fits nicely in a corner. Inserting a hammock into a space can bring a beach theme to life organically, without your resorting to stick-on surfboard decals.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Perhaps you have a large space where your kids love to hang out. Maybe you have just refinished your attic and have been searching for the perfect couch. Consider a large-scale bed hammock instead for cuddling and snoozing.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Objection: Hammocks cost too much.
Reality: It's true, hammocks can be expensive. But not all of them. I snagged mine at a Mexican market for a song, but you can also find inexpensive versions online. Try a two-person hammock for $25 or a cradle hammock for around $30. Stick with a cotton weave and you won't be disappointed.
Reality: It's true, hammocks can be expensive. But not all of them. I snagged mine at a Mexican market for a song, but you can also find inexpensive versions online. Try a two-person hammock for $25 or a cradle hammock for around $30. Stick with a cotton weave and you won't be disappointed.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Whether you want to relax with a book poolside, cuddle with your newborn in the nursery or make your attic into the kids' playhouse, hammocks are the answer. Get one today and spend the summer swinging in the breeze.
Comments
angela_flute52689 If you want an authentic Mexican hammock, avoid the American ones with the wooden slats that hold it open. Those make it easier at first for people who don't know how to use hammocks, but they really limit how much you can move around. My husband lived in Mexico (Cancun area) as a missionary from 2006-2008. They don't have beds; they have hammocks (much better for sleeping in the hot and humid climate), attached to metal hooks in the wall via metal "s" hooks. We still have his hammock and hooks and hope our next apartment will have a place we can put it up. The picture doesn't show the attachment, but shows how he often fell asleep after a long, hot day of hard work. 
12 months ago · Like
· 
2
2
Deb Welch We bought a couple of the hammocks while in Cancun several years ago. We have them hanging side by side in the backyard near our koi pond. I heard a comedian named Jim Gaffigan do a funny bit on the radio about hammocks and had a sign made with a quote from him that hangs on the same tree. 
12 months ago · Like
· 2
2
Joanne Fairmont Yinger I'd like to ask Deb Welch, (or others) how exactly did you "attach" your hammock? I have one ready to hang, between two trees, perfectly spaced, but all I can think of is a giant eye-hook. That doesn't seem right to bore into the tree trunks. There must be a way to loop and secure....
12 months ago · Like
Deb Welch We use a very heavy rope tied several times around the tree. The weather is hard on it so we have to replace it every two years but it seems to work for awhile. We did use an eye bolt on the deck side.
12 months ago · Like
· 1
1
Ideabook published on May 20, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
