I'm a serious lover of porch swings so I heartily encourage you to get one.

I've seen them different places online...Home Decorators used to carry them. (Haven't shopped for one in a few years.)

Remember any wooden swing can be painted your choice of colors. (I have one in purple and one in the secret garden that is green.)

The one on the porch--I know my husband screwed the hooks into the support beam along one end of the porch. We've filled that swing up with as many as three adults without problems.

I like a swing with the front edge sloped (curved?) down a bit. It's more comfy on the thighs when you sit.

There is nothing better than a little porch swing therapy...

We love ours and use it daily in the spring/summer/fall. I bought it online. It's 5 feet wide which is much nicer than 4'. We installed it into the joist with the hardware from the wesite so it should be pretty secure. The chains were too short, so we had to go to the hardware store to get new ones. Honestly it came with comfort springs but I don't think that was worth it.

We had our own cushion made, but the website has some you can order.

Here is a link that might be useful: porch swing

I don't know if Unpainted Furniture Stores are everywhere, but that's where we bought ours. They have great handmade real wood furniture much cheaper than you can find anywhere else, as long as you're willing to finish it yourself. Ours is red and I love it; however, if I could do it all over I would have a hanging daybed. Instead my husband is going to build us a daybed for the screened in porch. It won't swing, but it will still be nice.

Pops - your swing looks lovely. Did you just use the hardware the swing came with for mounting? Or did you buy something different?

Unfortunately, our local u painted place does not have swings.

We used the hardware that came with the swing. I think you have to pay extra for it- it's an option "comfort springs and hanging hooks".

This probably sounds crazy, but years ago a friend had a beautiful porch swing and she told me it was made by prisoners in the state facility, and sold by them.

I don't know if this is something done in other state prisons.

I love my porch swing. The way mine is mounted is probably way over-engineered, but that's because I'm married to an engineer. Our house is old and there have been repairs to the porch ceiling, so he didn't want to take any chances. I have the comfort springs and I love love them. They make the swinging experience so fun and bouncy!

here's a closer picture of how mine is mounted:

Mine was a Mother's Day gift about 7 years ago. We used the hardware it came with and the chains were thankfully long enough. It's mounted into one of the wood vigas (beams) at one end of our front portal. DH stained it for me and I made the pillows for it. We use it Spring, Summer& Autumn. From my swing we can see 50 miles of valleys, mesas and the Rio Grande. It' such a peaceful place to have a drink and watch the sunsets with DH. Love it!
Lynn

Your pics look so nice.

To properly enjoy the swing, how much room is needed behind the swing? My overhang eaves in the courtyard is about 4.5ft deep. I could position the swing a bit more to the front leaving a 2ft space behind the swing. Will that work or is it too tight?

arlosmom: Are those 2x4s on the ceiling? How are the beams attached to ceiling? I am trying to install a hanging daybed and my joists dont line up for correct installation, so I'm trying to figure out options. Thanks.

There is a lot of great information at the following site. This is where we bought ours, and we were very happy with the quality and service (no affiliation).

Here is a link that might be useful: porch swing info

janniemac, the white supports that you see are 4x4s, but they probably don't need to be that big. The ceiling joists run perpendicular to the 4x4 supports and the beadboard. The joists weren't in the right place for how far we wanted to hang the swing from the back of the porch, so the 4x4s are each lag bolted into two joists and the eye bolts for hanging the swing are in the center of the 4x4s. I think you could accomplish the same thing with 2x4s. Hope that helps!

Thanks arlosmom...I was thinking of doing the same...originally thought 2x4s would be good but now I'm thinking 4x4s are a better choice. Glad to see my idea wasn't too crazy!

Oh how I would love to have a place for my porch swing in my latest home...I don't. :(

This is the best, most comfortable porch swing ever. It is longer than normal...I think 5'. The curved back, deep seat and curved front make lounging just perfect! It was purchased at an unfinished wood store and painted green by me. It currently sits in my basement awaiting it's next home.