How to Get the Hang of a Hammock
5 Tips For Setting Up Your Ultimate Summer Nap Zone
There are few things in life more calming and satisfying than lying in a softly swaying hammock in the summertime. It's the grown up version of a swing set, and no summer home is truly complete without one. However, for a product made out of rope and cotton fabric, there's a surprising amount of possible catastrophes involved in its set up. Hammocks falling down after one use, bolts tearing apart weak tree trunks, hooks pulling down wooden posts, and heavy chains yanking out drywall are just a few of the mistakes that novice hammock lovers can make. But if you take your time, choose a sturdy and safe spot, and use the right tools, setting up a hammock can be easy and well worth the effort!
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1. Find a type of hammock that works best for you.
There are two main styles of hammocks. Each style has a different aesthetic and different levels of comfort and sturdiness.
Spreader-bar style hammocks (like in the photo above) are usually woven with rope or netting, and have wood or metal bars at the head of the hammock. This keeps the hammock open, and makes it easy to jump in. However, they are generally considered less comfortable to sleep in than other styles.
There are two main styles of hammocks. Each style has a different aesthetic and different levels of comfort and sturdiness.
Spreader-bar style hammocks (like in the photo above) are usually woven with rope or netting, and have wood or metal bars at the head of the hammock. This keeps the hammock open, and makes it easy to jump in. However, they are generally considered less comfortable to sleep in than other styles.
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by Rina Magen
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| Mayan hammocks, Brazilian hammocks, and Nicaraguan hammocks are all similar in form, but differ regionally in material and construction. These hammocks tend to be woven cotton (Mayan hammocks are usually of a looser weave than Nicaraguan and Brazilian hammocks). Usually this style of hammock lies closer to the ground and is much more durable than a spreader-bar hammock. |
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2. Find the best place to hang it.
Traditionally, a hammock hangs between two trees. Of course, not everyone has a great setup like the shot above. Luckily, there are a lot of great alternatives.
Traditionally, a hammock hangs between two trees. Of course, not everyone has a great setup like the shot above. Luckily, there are a lot of great alternatives.
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If you want your hammock to live underneath your shaded porch or balcony, you can often attach it to two of the walls or pillars. Most professionals recommend that you hang the sides of your hammock at least 12 feet apart —or its anchor points should be two feet longer than the overall length of your hammock. If you don't have enough space at first, try going at a diagonal!
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| It might not be realistic for you to install industrial-strength hooks or bolts into your home's balcony. If that's the case, a hammock on a stand is -an easy option. The best part about it: It's transportable! Move it around your yard, chasing either shade or sun. |
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| 3. Have a strong support system.
It's definitely important to attach your hammock to something secure. You don't want to have your hammock collapse as soon as you sit down in it. Using two trees (at least 12 inches in diameter) is a good and stable option. These hammock owners used a tree for one anchor point, and for the other, a hook (many recommend an S-hook rated for lifting) on their home's exterior. |
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Yup, you can even hang hammocks inside. For a tropical-themed room or a vacation home, this is a fun way to bring the outside indoors. Make sure you're hanging it from a stud to ensure a good hold, since hanging a hammock on drywall is a recipe for a disaster. Using a combination of an S-hook with a chain that can hold several hundred pounds would work well with this set-up.
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| Wooden posts are a good substitute if you don't have two trees close enough to each other — or any trees at all! Make sure that your posts are at least 4"x4", or larger. Your posts will need to be placed at least two feet in the ground, and surrounded by at least eight inches of concrete in order to ensure a stable support system. If you live in a climate that frosts in the winter, make sure the bottom of the hole for your posts is wider than the top. This will prevent frost heaving. |
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| 4. Hang your hammock at the correct height.
This is a lot trickier than it sounds. Most home professionals recommend you hang a hammock with a spreader bar 4-5 feet off the ground, and 6-8 feet off the ground for a hammock without a spreader bar. The posts in this gazebo weren't quite wide enough apart for the hammock's length, so it was hung extremely high up on the gazebo in order to compensate. Unfortunately, all hammocks are different, so there's no magic formula—odds are you'll have to play with it a little. |
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You don't want to hang it so high that you'll have to get a running start to jump in, but you do want to take into account that the hammock is going to drop quite a bit closer to the ground as soon as you get in. Keep in mind that Mayan and Brazilian style hammocks are meant to hang closer to the ground than spreader-bar hammocks. Also remember that your hammock will sag over time.
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by MCM Design
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| 5. Fasten it securely to your anchor points.
If you're attaching your hammock to a post, porch, or deck, use 1/2-inch diameter eye bolts to connect the hammock to the post. Be careful not to accidentally pick up eye screws from the hardware store! Eye screws can strip and pull out of a wooden post or pole very suddenly (ouch!). Eye bolts are drilled completely into the post, making accidents like that much less likely. |
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| Eye bolts can also use for tree-attached hammocks, but a great alternate is wrapping a thick rope or strap around a tree instead. Be careful to use a thick rope, though — not one that will dig into the bark of the tree and scar it. A large and deep ring in tree bark can kill the tree. If you're worried, you can always wrap the portion of the rope that goes around the tree in thick rubber, such as sections of an old garden hose. |
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| Of course, you can simply purchase a hammock stand to avoid all of this hassle. Make sure your hammock stand can withstand a force that is several hundred pounds more than your weight, as odds are you won't be the only one lying in it!
More ideas: Summer Nights Need Summer Beds Just Some Favorite Front Porches Fun Furniture: Chairs in the Air |
Comments
Nan Loving photo #1 - shades of my honeymoon! And after we get the wrap-around porch done, I'll be in photo #4!
2 years ago · Like
tkhanley Hammock nestled within a secret patio garden 
2 years ago · Like
Roberta Philbrick I love my hammock and can't imagine my patio without it. 
2 years ago · Like
flubkemann My husband is a Brazilian and has slept in a Brazilian hammock all of his life. He is not fond of hammocks with stretchers. Although we usually have only two hammocks hanging, our home has hooks for 13 hammocks, mostly on the wide varanda. Our master bedroom has a beautiful hammock conveniently close to the bed where I sleep, and our three grown children have hooks in their homes to accommodate his 'bed' when we visit. Oh the grumbles when we travel and stay in USA hotels! Here are some secrets about hammocks: 1) hang them with the ends at the proper distance and height as mentioned in the Houzz post; 2) the first time you get into a new one, be careful not to sit on the side of it, but rather sit directly into the center in order to avoid stretching the side out of shape ; 3) when sleeping, always lie diagonally in order to keep your spine straight; 4) in order to clean it, tie each end in three places with cotton twine, machine wash in cold water, untie the twine, and hang the hammock on its hooks to air-dry, straightening the fringe while it's still damp.
2 years ago · Like
kathyforcum At our summer farmhouse the Hubs spends lots of time in our hammock 
2 years ago · Like
Becky Harris Oh how I love a hammock! You are reminding me of the time I got in one with my two BFFs in third grade. We were swinging as high as we could and laughing, and all of the sudden we heard a big CRACK and the hook came right out of the tree, leaving the three of us stunned, silent, and with sore tailbones! I'm laughing just thinking about it!
2 years ago · Like
fondue "Hammock time" was what my husband and I called the period of time each afternoon of our honeymoon when we'd each crawl into a hammock with a book and eventually doze off. Hammock time in the Riviera Maya is one of our favorite memories. :)
2 years ago · Like
Vanessa Brunner I had no idea hammocks were so nostalgic! I love hearing about all these special and relaxing memories.
2 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on May 14, 2011.
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