How to make a comfortable hanging chair: diagrams, drawings, materials, instructions

Any hanging furniture, be it a wooden bench with chains or something more comfortable, has always been a great place to relax.Especially in the summer at the dacha or in the yard of your own house.

The only problem is how to make a hanging chair that is comfortable and safe at the same time. It is no secret that such garden furniture is always perceived by children as an attraction and a place to play.

What designs are there?

There are many options. The specific one must be chosen depending on the weight, size, length and type of suspension, load or maximum weight. The problem is that you need to choose the right design for the chair itself and choose the most suitable type of suspension. The design of the seat, back and sides should not deform during rocking and be strong enough even with double overload.

In addition, it is necessary to select the material for the hangers. It can be:

• jute rope;
• cable (best of all, automobile, towing);
• braided cord for mountaineering;
• steel chain with a 12 mm link, preferably braided.

Any other suspension options are excluded. They have excessive elasticity and stretch greatly under load. You can make a hanging chair with a suspension on steel tubular posts. Perhaps this option is more reliable, but in this case the chair turns into something like a swing.

All designs of hanging chairs are divided into 3 large groups:

1. Frameless or soft. These can be fabric structures with PVC inserts.
2. Shell-like, for example, in the form of fabric cocoons made on a hoop or on a wheel.
3. Frame. The frame of a hanging chair is made, like ordinary furniture, from wooden slats, plastic or even metal.

In addition, there are a lot of models that are difficult to classify into any group. Usually these are home-made, home-grown schemes, sometimes interesting in essence and implementation. For example, you don’t have to make a chair yourself, but use a ready-made frame from an old car. Very comfortable, with good back and neck support.

How to make it yourself

It is necessary to distinguish between the designs of hanging chairs for adults, teenagers and younger children. They have different designs. For the younger generation, frameless hanging chairs are usually used due to low trauma.

Hanging frameless chairs

The easiest way to make a soft rocking chair is to use durable cotton fabric. Denim or any cotton is best. The main thing is that the material used for the hanging chair does not stretch under the weight of the vacationer.

The cutting is done in the form of a T-shirt or a square with two sides. If you collect the ends of the workpiece into a knot, you will get a finished chair. But it’s uncomfortable to sit, so you need to make a pillow or ottoman with hard padding inside.

Hammock chair

A simple option that doesn’t even require seamstress skills. You can make a hanging hammock chair from an old air mattress stuffed with polystyrene foam balls. They are widely used to insulate plank floors in homes.

Instructions:

1. Make the base of a hanging chair from a piece of 150x120 cm tarpaulin. Along the edge of the part that will serve as the backrest, you can sew a piece of a car tow rope. We divide the ends into 2 bundles and sew them around a metal ring.
2. The lower edge, which will be used to support the legs, can be sheathed with soft polypropylene, for example, by making an overlay from a thermal insulation cover for pipes.
3. A frameless base can be made from fabric, but it is better to use an air mattress. It is enough to open it along the side edge, fill it with filler and make a valve. The number of balls inside the hanging chair padding will first need to be adjusted.
4. The most important part - the suspensions are made of chains. You can attach them to the chair using carabiners with screw locks.

To secure the opposite end of the suspension system, you need to make an adjustable lock. A screw tensioner used for cable and wire tensioners is best.

We attach the ring to the wall of the room, connect the tensioner and chain. Rough adjustments to the shape of the hanging chair can be made by removing the required number of chain links.

Marine hanging sail chair

According to this scheme, sailors made places to rest on sailing ships. We had to rest on the lower decks, the ceilings were low, so it was important that the pitching did not get too bad, and there was still space left to the floor.

The main value of the design is that the hanging chair can be made from scrap materials. Easy to hang up quickly and put away just as quickly.

The basis of the structure is a dry branch from oak or acacia, 70-100 cm long. Bark and debris must be removed from the workpiece. We hang the branch on a 2-3 m jute rope.

The chair itself is made from one or two panels of durable cotton fabric. Cut at least 2 dozen slings from polypropylene cord and sew them into the fabric, preferably evenly.

All that remains is to form a dome, which will serve as the back and seat of the hanging chair. The slings will have to be tightened and the tension adjusted, after which the ends are tied with two knots on a wooden crossbar.

This hanging chair design is considered one of the most successful. It's easy to make with your own hands; no woodworking skills are required. If you try, you can give garden furniture a civilized look.

Another sail chair

For relaxing on the veranda or covered terrace, it is best to make a folding model. According to the scheme, a hanging chair can be simultaneously classified as framed and frameless. It does not have a seat or rigid back support, but it does have a frame. This makes it possible to relax in comfort, straightening your shoulders and back.

The design uses 4 suspensions, not one, so the scheme is still frameless. A hanging chair is more like a chaise longue, but the seating position is more comfortable. The design has sidewalls, which means no one will fall, even if you accidentally fall asleep.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. We prepare the panel from dense and durable fabric. You can use denim or bleached canvas. The length of the workpiece is 120-150 cm. Sew loops for wooden crossbars on the narrow edges.
2. To stretch the panel, make 2 horizontal crossbars 70 cm long and 3.5-4 cm in diameter, as well as 2 longitudinal rods. They can be made from wood (oak or acacia). But it is better if it is an aluminum pipe.
3. Drill holes in the wooden crossbars along the diameter of the rods, tie the hanger knots. Slings are made from jute ropes.

The hanging chair can be made in a more elegant design; instead of woven fabric, use knitted macrame. But you need to knit from a thin polypropylene rope (turnip). Any other material will stretch.

Hanging frame chairs

IKEA summer cottage models are extremely popular. They are made using frame technology from wicker. The frame for the hanging chair is made of PVC, so the furniture is strong and durable.

Hanging chair with wicker frame

You can make a similar model with your own hands and even improve it a little. One of the options is shown in the photo below.

Manufacturing begins with bending a metal (preferably aluminum) pipe with a diameter of 30-35 mm. From a workpiece 2.5-3 m long, you will need to make an ellipse on a pipe bending machine with a major axis of 100-120 cm and a small axis of 60-80 cm.

Thin-walled workpieces are difficult to bend, especially aluminum. If there is no suitable equipment, then an ellipse can be made from a hoop for gymnastics.

The diameter of the aluminum tube from which the gymnastic apparatus is bent is less than the required 30 mm. Therefore, making a frame for a hanging chair out of it, even with your own hands, will not be difficult. You just need to additionally cover the metal with soft material.

In addition, the ellipse can be made from aluminum plumbing blank. Insert a special spring inside for bending pipe blanks and make an oval of the required size. The ends are joined using a wooden plug. This option turns out to be more durable and reliable.

The next step is to install the horizontal ribs of the chair frame. Blanks can be made from any aluminum tire or wire 6-8 mm thick. Also prepare vertical ribs from the same material.

Initially, vertical ribs are attached to the ellipse. Bend each part on the prepared template to the desired curvature. Then try it on, cut off the excess and tie it to an aluminum ellipse.

All frame parts are tied with strong nylon threads. Upon completion of assembly, the joints are glued with any polyurethane glue.

After the horizontal ribs, vertical blanks are attached to the frame. They are also tied with threads. At the intersection points you need to make a cross-shaped dressing, and also with threads. No other connection method is used.

As practice shows, attempts to make holes in the ellipse lead to subsequent breakdown of the hanging chair. Therefore, all such products are woven.

You can put a knitted lining inside the hanging chair, tie the hoop itself, or even use the macrame weaving technique for decoration. In general, if you make a hanging chair strictly according to technology, it will be able to withstand the weight of an adult (80-85 kg), and will last much longer than furniture made from wicker.

Classic hanging chair

The disadvantage of the previous model was the excessive rigidity of the structure. In essence, it was a cocoon in which only those who, due to their anatomical features, fit inside a hanging chair, can sit comfortably.

Therefore, it is better to make a suspended seating model from a more flexible material, for example, artificial rattan or fiberglass reinforcement used to strengthen concrete structures. If you're lucky, it's better to make it from rattan, but the material is scarce and is used to make wicker furniture.

For one hanging chair you will need 4 pieces of 2-2.5 m long. The specific size is selected according to the drawings of the chair.

Fiberglass reinforcement is flexible, you can easily bend it with your own hands or even make a ring. Sold in bays. The recommended workpiece diameter is 12-16 mm.

There is a spiral on the surface of the reinforcement, so the cut pieces need to be inserted into a 15-16 mm PVC tube used for watering the beds.

First draw the main outline of the chair. To do this, we cut a workpiece with a length of at least 3 m. Next, we attach 2 ring-eyes at the ends, used for sealing steel cables. It's just a ring welded to a steel tube. It is necessary to put it on the ends of the workpiece and press it. Then we bend the workpiece into a drop-shaped outline and connect the eyes with wire.

The second element of the hanging chair is the “onion”. It needs to be made from separate pieces 140-150 cm long. The technology for caulking the ends is the same as for the main contour. But instead of eyes with rings, you need to put on and crimp 10-12 cm sections of copper or aluminum pipe.

We hammer the edge of the tube to make it flat, and then drill a 9 mm hole. To make the bulb, you will need 4 blanks according to the profile of the hanging chair.

Next you need to connect the contour and the “onion”. In the upper part, we simply insert the suspension and tighten it with wire; in the lower part, between the two parts, you need to insert a spacer in the shape of the letter “P” with a length of 30-35 cm. This is important and needs to be done so that the supporting surface is flat and there is more space for sitting.

All that remains is to cover the frame of the hanging chair with polypropylene mesh and decorate the upper (lower) part with a tape of non-woven material.

For those who like a hanging chair with a rigid frame, the manufacturing and assembly process can be simplified.For example, make it from aluminum hoops cut in half. It is enough to lay them out evenly and weld them to the main contour (a whole aluminum hoop).

The metal frame will need to be additionally covered with fabric or leather. Sitting on such a chair is not very comfortable, but it will be very useful for the interior of an apartment or the landscape of a local area.

A simple hoop model

The hanging chair does not have to be hung in the courtyard of the house. If the size of the apartment allows, then similar furniture can be made for a nursery or living room.

The simplest option is a hanging chair made of metal-plastic pipe. Comfort level is average. Sitting in such a chair is not very comfortable, but many parents prefer to make such an attraction for the younger generation as a surprise.

For a hanging chair, 2 hoops made of 25 mm pipe are used. You need to make 2 rings with a diameter of 60 cm and 80 cm using a spring. The workpiece is tightened with a mesh, the ends of which are firmly tied to the pipe.

Next, you need to join the hoops over a small area 250-300 mm wide. You can use polypropylene cord. From it you need to knit 2 small suspensions of 50 cm each, with the help of which you connect the opposite part of the hoops, thereby providing back support.

All that remains is to make the hangers, cover the sides with a knitted mesh, and the hanging chair can be used for relaxation or as a swing.

Hanging chair with increased level of comfort

For a good rest, it is possible to make more comfortable furniture with your own hands. One of the most popular models of hanging furniture is an almost complete copy of an office chair, but simpler in design, with a frame made of metal-plastic pipe with a diameter of 18 mm.

The hanging structure consists of only 4 main parts, but the back and front contour will need to be made from one piece of pipe.

We bend the front contour in the shape of an equilateral trapezoid. You will need to add 2 U-shaped frames to the back at the top and bottom. In order to connect the parts, you will first need to make 6 through holes. Next, insert an M6x35 screw into each point and tighten the nuts with a locking ring.

The back will have to be made by folding the pipe into a snake. Typically, the bending radius of a metal-plastic pipe does not exceed 6 diameters, but in this case it can be bent as convenient. The pipe will not break.

You will need to add soft back support and a seat cushion to the chair. It is best to make a metal hinged suspension that allows the hanging chair to swing in only one plane. During testing, the chair can also be hung on a regular canvas strap.

The main thing in a hanging chair is the frame

Most homemade models suffer from the same flaw: the frame is not rigid enough to allow you to rest, completely resting on the seat and back of the furniture.

For long-term rest, it is better to weld the frame part from metal. You can sew a wooden strip on top of the profile or even cover the seat with leather.

For manufacturing you will need a pipe bending machine, a welding machine, a drill, a screwdriver, and 4 welding clamps. Materials: square pipe 25x25 mm, pieces of corner. You also need regular half-inch and ¾-inch water pipes. For upholstery, you can use foam rubber or furniture polypropylene foam.

For each rack you need to cut a couple of blanks from a square profile - 270 cm long and a half-inch pipe - 280 cm.In addition, make 5 pieces of spacers from a ½-inch pipe. For each stand you will need 2 pieces of 2 cm, 2 pieces of 1 cm and 1 piece of 3 cm.

Assembly begins by rolling cut blanks on a pipe bending machine. The curvature of the arc is not important, you just need to make sure that all 4 pieces turn out the same.

The next stage is welding the spacers. The workpiece is placed on the welding table and secured with clamps. A spacer of 3 cm is welded in the center, then at a distance of half a meter - 2 cm, and after another 40 cm, centimeter parts are welded. Next, a half-inch bent piece is welded on top of the spacers. Once completed, the main posts need to be welded at the ends.

The next step is to form the frame of the hanging chair. In shape it will resemble a triangle bent into an arc:

1. We connect the ends of the posts and secure them by welding. On the opposite side, at the base of the triangle, you need to weld a crossbar from a square, at least 55 cm long.
2. Weld another 2-3 crossbars higher to the top of the triangle.
3. A bracket for suspension is welded to the top of the frame.
4. On the sides of the triangle, 2 arcs are welded, bent from a square or ¾-inch pipe.

All that remains is to sew up the supporting plane of the hanging chair with wooden slats. It will be possible to lay a soft lining on top of the lining and install a headrest. Such a chair can be made stationary and not put away for the winter, even if no one uses it in the cold.

Cocoon chair for two people

One of the most difficult options, a real master class. Making such furniture with your own hands without special equipment is difficult, but possible. Material – steel pipes ¾” and ½”.In addition, you will need to make a stationary stand, since the furniture is quite heavy and can injure vacationers if it falls.

The base of the cocoon can be made from 3 parts - a front contour and 2 rear pillars. The first is bent on a pipe bending machine to the shape of an onion. The racks have to be bent twice. The first time a profile is made of the same radius as the main contour. The second time you will need to bend the sides (armrests). All parts are welded into a finished frame on a special slipway (table).

Next you need to make the back of the hanging chair. To do this, a steel cross member is welded at a level of 50-60 cm from the attachment point. 2 more crossbars from ¾” pipe need to be welded into the upper part of the frame for attaching the hangers. The back of the chair is formed from 8 mm reinforcing rod - the blanks are evenly sewn onto the back of the cocoon in increments of 20 cm.

The lower part and back are braided with a belt, and the pillars and front contour are covered with synthetic material. It will be comfortable to sit in a hanging chair in any position, but it is still better to make a lining of soft material or lay a mattress.

If you make a roof or a canopy, then such furniture can easily replace a garden gazebo and will become a favorite place for children to play.

How to hang a chair firmly

The reliability and safety of furniture depends on the reliability of the suspension. The heavier the hanging furniture, the more complex the knot becomes.

The heaviest double structures are attached to a steel frame using two chain hangers.

The chain is secured to the crossbars using rings and screw carabiners, which makes the suspension system quite durable and easy to maintain.

Fastening for frame furniture

Securing a hanging chair with a rigid frame is much easier than with frameless furniture. The design is such that all the ribs and posts are assembled at the top point, where the suspension ring is usually welded or mechanically attached. You just need to correctly attach the anchor hook (Molly dowel).

To do this, a hole is drilled in the ceiling, cross beam or any other ceiling to a depth of at least 6 cm. The diameter is from 8 mm to 12 mm, depending on the total weight of the hanging chair with “passengers”. A plastic spacer sleeve is inserted inside and a threaded hook is screwed on.

In this way you can hang relatively light furniture.

Heavy frame structures are suspended using self-expanding bushings. Inside the metal plug there are 2 conical plugs, which, when the hook is screwed in, move and push the walls apart. This suspension can support a hanging chair weighing up to 150 kg.

How to hang a frameless chair

Installing hanging furniture that does not have a rigid frame looks a little more complicated. The slings or cords to which the hanging chair is attached can be from 2 to 10 pieces. Depending on the conditions, the lines may diverge to the sides. In this case, an intermediate rail is used for suspension.

The cords can be attached to the seat or directly to the rail using knots.

Most frameless chair models are secured with a bunch of slings. In this case, the cords can be tied into one knot, into which a carabiner ring can be threaded.

Instead of a knot, it is often practiced to tie macrame cords with a transition to a ribbon and a mounting ring. But it is difficult to make such fastenings, so these methods are used only for entirely knitted models.

Making a hanging chair with your own hands is no more difficult than ordinary furniture. All that is required is the right design and high quality workmanship, since in any case a fall can be traumatic, especially if children are playing with the furniture.

Tell us about your experience making a hanging chair. Which models do you consider the most successful and why? Write in the comments. Save the article to your bookmarks so as not to lose useful ideas.