One great way to maximize the functional space you get from your home is to extend it outdoors with some comfortable outdoor furniture, such as a couple of nice hammocks. Creating an outdoor living space with a few great hammocks essentially gives you a second living room; a place to relax and read a book or take a nap, or entertain guests. And unlike your actual living room, setting up an outdoor living space with hammocks allows you to connect with the great outdoors, which is good for the mind, body, and soul.
So where do you get these hammocks that create the magical outdoor relaxation station of your dreams? Well, many furniture stores and even a few athletic equipment stores are happy to offer them to you. The trick is distinguishing the good ones that will make your outdoor space look great from the cheap ones that will quickly fall apart and make your outdoor space look unloved and neglected. To help you determine the right hammocks for your patio, here is our list of things to pay attention to when shopping for hammocks:
Three Things to Look for in Hanging Patio Furniture
- Buy a Hammock That You Want to Nap in
By now, we’ve all seen those DIY tutorials where you turn bed of a truck into a porch swing. Or a car tire, or a recycled crib, or your left boot. This might look funky and cool, but what purpose do they really service if they’re too uncomfortable to actually get any use out of. Instead, look for hanging furniture that you actually get some functionality out of. When shopping for hammocks (or any hanging furniture) you should be able to picture yourself relaxing in on a lazy Sunday afternoon. You should want to curl up and take a nap in your hammock. If it’s too stiff or unstable or downright uncomfortable for you to actually want to spend time in, it’s not worth the money!
You might not always have the opportunity to physically try out every hammock you are considering purchasing. You should always be able to read the reviews of other customers who have purchased that particular hammock. If you see a lot of reviews that complain about the comfort of a hammock, it’s a strong sign that you won’t get the use out of that you’d want and your money would be better spent elsewhere.
- Invest in Quality
You aren’t doing yourself any favors if you set up a gorgeous outdoor living space, but incorporate cheaply-made fixtures and within a month or two they’re fraying, sun-faded, and neglected looking. You’re better off leaving a patio untouched than creating an outdoor space that looks rundown.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive hammocks on the market to get long-lasting quality, but you should pay attention to the type of material used to make the outdoor furniture. You want to invest in heavy-duty metal frames rather than plastic that will dry out and crack right away. You want to pay a little extra for more resilient hammock fabrics like canvas or rope, rather than synthetic polyesters that the cheap ones are made of, as they’ll rip, fade, and fray with only a little use.
Not to sound like a broken record, but this is another important factor to watch for in product reviews. Do a lot of reviews complain about the product falling apart right away? If so, you should keep shopping. Instead of adding functionality and value to your home, your outdoor living space actually loses value if it falls apart quickly. - Judge a Book By Its Cover
The aesthetic value of your hammock is also an important factor in creating an outdoor living space that you love. It’s okay to shop based on appearance, after considering the quality and comfort of your hammock.
There’s no right or wrong answer here, no one knows your personal taste as well as you do. The point is, shop for a hammock that you want to relax in, and that you want to look at! If you don’t feel confident in your personal style, set up a Pinterest board for outdoor spaces you love, and let that be you guide while choosing a beautiful hammock.
Do you have any tips for choosing a hammock? Share below!