Garden hanging chairs are hanging seats for adults or children that allow users to swing in a seated position. Hanging chairs are the ideal furniture for relaxation, meditation and conversations indoors and outdoors.

Wing light swing armchairs from collection Wing Light,design Hertel & Klarhoefer for Fischer Möbel  Photo: Fischer Möbel Wing light swing armchair is with seat shell in coated aluminium and seat and backrest in rope
Wing light swing armchairs from collection Wing Light, design Hertel & Klarhoefer for Fischer Möbel
Photo: Fischer Möbel
Wing light swing armchair is with seat shell in coated aluminium and seat and backrest in rope

 

They are the subject of the work of designers all over the world. Garden hanging chairs are often part of a collection of outdoor furniture that includes products for other purposes such as chairs, armchairs, sofas, outdoor poufs daybeds with and without canopies, deck chairs, or tables for different purposes. 

This type of furniture is becoming more popular in the market as modern interiors often extend to outdoor spaces, and their furnishing requires furniture elements that contribute to user comfort.

The Garden hanging chair from Portofino collection, design by  Santiago Sevillano for Roberti .  Photo: Roberti  Portofino Swing is with aluminum frame woven with Nautic Rope.
The Garden hanging chair from Portofino collection, design by Santiago Sevillano for Roberti.
Photo: Roberti
Portofino Swing is with aluminum frame woven with Nautic Rope.

The garden hanging chairs are easily adapted to modern decors for various public or private purposes. They look great on a deck, patio, hanging from a tree branch or anywhere indoors. Garden hanging chairs ‎ are equally suitable for contracted spaces such as hotels, bars or children’s playgrounds.

Types

Hanging chairs can be intended for outdoor or indoor use and often for both purposes. They can be hung from the ceiling or a beam indoors or a tree branch in the garden. The free-standing structures allow the user to install them wherever he wants. Hanging chairs are designed for one person (with one seat) or more people (with two or more seats).

The Cocoon Leather Hang Chair®  designed by Rikke Gjørlund and handcrafted for Trimm Copenhagen  Photo:  Trimm Copenhagen The Cocoon Chair is indoor lounge furniture, with aluminum frame creating and natural grain leather seat. The Cocoon Leather Hang Chair®  designed by Rikke Gjørlund and handcrafted for Trimm Copenhagen  Photo:  Trimm Copenhagen The Cocoon Chair is indoor lounge furniture, with aluminum frame creating and natural grain leather seat.
The Cocoon Leather Hang Chair® designed by Rikke Gjørlund and handcrafted for Trimm Copenhagen
Photo: Trimm Copenhagen
The Cocoon Chair is indoor lounge furniture, with aluminum frame creating and natural grain leather seat.

The seat shell is designed in different ways. Several versions are options: garden hanging chairs with a seat only, the variant with a seat and backrest or with a seat, backrest and armrest. This product can be supplemented with pillows or upholstered parts (on the backrest and the seat).

The  hanging chair  Bouli, design by UAP 2011 (JULIA PAWLIKOWSKA, OLGA MĘŻYŃSKA, URSZULA BURGIEŁ) for Noti  Photo: Noti Buli is hanging chair with the seat only,with the irregular, amorphic forms suspended on ropes.
The hanging chair Bouli, design by UAP 2011 (JULIA PAWLIKOWSKA, OLGA MĘŻYŃSKA, URSZULA BURGIEŁ) for Noti
Photo: Noti
Buli is hanging chair with the seat only,with the irregular, amorphic forms suspended on ropes.

Some models are like armchairs with protection above the seats and look like comfortable nests. They represent a comfortable place to swing and a product with individual aesthetic values.

Materials

The main parts of a garden hanging chair are the chair and the hanging mechanisms. 

A more environmentally friendly approach to the selection of materials is always recommended. Wherever possible, it is necessary to choose natural materials with adequate characteristics for the intended purpose.

 Tropicalia, cocoon designed by Patricia Urquiola tropicalia for Moroso Photo: Moroso Tropicalia is with multicolored polymer cord woven on tubular steel frame. The collection is completed with pillows.
Tropicalia, cocoon designed by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso
Photo: Moroso
Tropicalia is with multicolored polymer cord woven on tubular steel frame. The collection is completed with pillows.

The maintenance of the product should be in line with the manufacturer's instructions. Some products require additional attention and care, such as protection with a stable cover (overnight, in case of rain or seasonal protection indoors).

Seating shell

The structure: Metal is the most common material used for the structure of a garden hanging chair. Steel profiles are usually protected from rust and other external influences. Powder-coated tubular steel profiles are ideal for exterior and interior use. Steel is a strong material, but heavy and with price impact. 

Aluminium frames painted for exterior use (rust-resistant) are also in use. Aluminium as the material is lightweight and durable. Aluminium tubes are often finished with high-resistance textured epoxy. The finishing of metal profiles can be matte or glossy, depending on the designer's choice. 

The seat is usually a combination of the selected metal for its construction and numerous other materials like a rich and robust nautical rope, fabrics of different origins adapted to the purpose, teak details, polymer cords or leather. The selected material is wrapped around the structure and creates the form of the seat. Natural and artificial leather versions are not suitable for outdoor use.‎

Marea , garden hanging chair from Collection Marea,designe by  Andreu Carulla, Joe Doucet for Calma  Photo: Calma Marea is one seater fabric garden hanging chair with a frame made from solid iroko wood, seat and backrest of equal dimensions, made from technical Batyline Eden fabric, with inserts of fir wood to structure the shape and ergonomics.
Marea, garden hanging chair from Collection Marea, designe by Andreu Carulla, Joe Doucet for Calma
Photo: Calma
Marea is one seater fabric garden hanging chair with a frame made from solid iroko wood, seat and backrest of equal dimensions, made from technical Batyline Eden fabric, with inserts of fir wood to structure the shape and ergonomics.

The coordination of the colour(s) of the cord(s) with the colour of the seat structure gives individuality to the product. It is playful when two or three colours are used or sophisticated in a single color.‎ 

A hand-woven fibre thermoplastic acrylic Teflon is waterproof and easy to clean.

If wood is in use, it is treated against stains and water with water-based products that limit the absorption of liquids and greasy substances.‎ 

Bubble Hanging Small designed by cbdesign for cbdesi Bubble is hanging chair with aluminum frame covered with weave in 12/18 mm big core HDPE synthetic and aluminum or teak feet. Cushions in non-deformable foam with removable water-repellent and stain-resistant olefin lining. Photo: cbdesign
Bubble Hanging Small designed by cbdesign for cbdesign
Bubble is hanging chair with aluminum frame covered with weave in 12/18 mm big core HDPE synthetic and aluminum or teak feet. Cushions in non-deformable foam with removable water-repellent and stain-resistant olefin lining.
Photo: cbdesign

Comfortable hanging chairs can be made of rattan, natural or synthetic wicker. The natural weave of rattan fits perfectly into different spaces, porches or verandas. Its texture and sophisticated weave help to create a special effect in the semi-open spaces in which it is located. Synthetic rattan is also used for seats.

Some seat panels are made of bamboo sticks connected with jute belts and attached to the structure.

The manufacturing process of garden hanging chairs gives the product added value and a unique look. For example, a completely hand-woven multi-coloured nautical rope or weaving from synthetic fibres of different origins, in addition to aesthetic values, confirms a high level of craftsmanship. The mesh knitted in the characteristic weave of the yarn known as fishbone gives the chairs a distinctiveness that increases their attractiveness. 

Cushions and fabric: The swing seat can be with or without cushions. Comfortable, ergonomically shaped pillows increase the product's comfort.

We distinguish between a seat pad, a back cushion and loose cushions, of which there can be several, depending on the user's wishes. The seat pad is usually made of polyester fibres, with a stress-resistant polyurethane insert and a fixed cover of waterproof polyester. Materials of natural origin such as natural latex, wool felt can be used to fill the seat cushion, all depending on the future use.

Lisa Swing designed by Marcello Ziliani for S CAB Design  Photo: S CAB Design Lisa Swing is with powder-coated tubular steel, seat and backrest are in woven nautical rope.
Lisa Swing designed by Marcello Ziliani for S CAB Design
Photo: S CAB Design
Lisa Swing is with powder-coated tubular steel, seat and backrest are in woven nautical rope.

The back cushion and loose cushions are most often of similar composition, made of polyester fibres, with or without polyurethane insert, and fixed upholstery made of waterproof polyester. 

Fabrics used for pillow covers must be easy to wash and resistant to weather and sun. Other required features are to be stain resistant, water repellent, UV resistant, salt, snow and bad weather resistant.‎ The fabric (such as Sunbrella®) must be washable, light, soft and recyclable.‎

Lisa Swing designed by Marcello Ziliani for S CAB Design  Photo: S CAB Design Lisa Swing is with  powder-coated tubular steel,  seat and backrest are in woven nautical rope.
Lisa Swing designed by Marcello Ziliani for S CAB Design
Photo: S CAB Design
Lisa Swing is with powder-coated tubular steel, seat and backrest are in woven nautical rope.

The fabric fibres can be specially treated so that retain their original colour - even after prolonged exposure to the sun outdoors. This treatment ensures a long life of the product. Some fabrics are designed to be breathable and water-repellent, but not completely waterproof.‎ In this case, it is necessary to use dedicated protective covers for outdoor furniture. It is recommended that the cushions are independent, with removable covers for easy maintenance and washing. A wide range of fabrics suitable for outdoor use gives designers a wide range of choices.

The hanging mechanism

The hardware kit for hanging the swing includes weatherproof chains, hooks and other elements such as carabiners, thimbles, and adjustment brackets that are ready for assembly.

 There are two basic hanging options.‎ The first variant implies that the seat shell is fixed with carabiners to two hanging points.‎ This version is most suitable for hanging in the case of lower heights of approx.‎ 2.70 m - 3.70 m. Another variant of the suspension includes a stainless-steel crossbar that allows fixing at one hanging point, suitable for heights of approx. ‎ 4 m - 5.50 m.

The Garden hanging chair  Allaperto Nautic design  Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez for Ethimo   Photo Ethimo The Garden hanging chair  Allaperto Nautic is made of aluminium, while seat is combination of the teak with polypropylene rope, a recyclable and 100% outdoor material. the suspension with a stainless-steel crossbar  at one hanging point.
The Garden hanging chair Allaperto Nautic design Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez for Ethimo
Photo Ethimo
The Garden hanging chair Allaperto Nautic is made of aluminium, while seat is combination of the teak with polypropylene rope, a recyclable and 100% outdoor material. the suspension with a stainless-steel crossbar at one hanging point.

The chain must be certified with defined characteristics including load capacity.

Cables for hanging on the ceiling or on a beam together with clamps and hooks are made of stainless steel. They are produced using high-tech procedures to achieve high strength and other required characteristics. The steel cables can be covered with a rope in the appropriate colour (monochromatic or multi-coloured). The manufacturer defines the length of the chain that is standardly delivered with the product. Delivery of non-standard cable length is usually possible as a special order.

Garden hanging chairs return the user to childhood, providing him with pleasure and relaxation, especially in the open air.