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How to Hang a Hammock Indoors - DIY!
Ever dreamt about relaxing in a beautiful hammock from the comfort of your own home?
These days, we are so used to the fast pace of life that we have forgotten how important it is to stop and slow down. Our indoor hammock collection is the perfect solution to create a little oasis of calm. Not only in your own space at home, but it’s also a great gift idea that your friends and family will be forever grateful for. An indoor hammock space is perfect for reading, watching a movie, snuggling, meditating, listening to a podcast, drawing, swinging or sleeping. You can do all this and more in a hammock, right in the comfort of your home 🙂
Let’s start making that dream a reality! No matter what kind of room you have available, it’s possible to hang a hammock. Whether it’s a spacious living room, an attic, a modest balcony, or a tight corridor, every space can become somewhere to relax and experience a moment of calmness.
While hanging a hammock might seem intimidating, it needn’t be. Below, I’ll answer exactly how to hang a hammock yourself using some basic tools. This includes how to take the right measurements and a step-by-step guide on mounting the hammock indoors.
To make things clearer, I’ll be sharing with you my own personal journey of creating a siesta corner including critical decisions such as furniture rearrangement and hammock location.
By the end of this post, you should feel confident that you too can enjoy the benefits of your own personal indoor hammock.
Let’s get started!
Guide
#1 - Knowing your walls
First things first, you need to understand what kind of walls you’re dealing with. Not all walls are suitable for hanging a hammock, but nowadays there are suspension solutions available for most construction materials.
Brickwork, concrete, and stone are considered the strongest materials to support a hammock but can be harder to drill into.
Less robust ceilings, breeze blocks, and plasterboard walls are also suitable for hammocks providing you secure the suspension hardware to a wooden joist/beam or use specialized fixings.
It’s also worth investing in a stud finder, no matter what kind of walls you have. These can help find wooden support structures and also electrical wiring to avoid accidents when drilling. Without this handy, who knows what’s in there? 👀
#2 - Methods & your vision
The most common ways of hanging a hammock indoors are:
- Wall to wall
- Wall/ceiling to beam
- Wall to ceiling
Deciding on the location of your hammock comes down to your living space arrangement, the construction materials, and ultimately your own vision for your hammock.
Before proceeding, take time to envision using your hammock regularly in the room and the best way to hang it. Going about things methodically and ensuring you’re 100% happy before starting means you’re guaranteeing a pleasant and functional space the first time around.
#3 - Envisioning my hammock space
As you can see from the photo above, my day room is quite spacious. However, it already has a lot going on and part of my vision was to keep the space uncluttered.
In the end, I decided to suspend the hammock from two points just below the ceiling. This way, the hammock will form a cosy, inviting corner in the window recess and avoids visually dividing the room with horizontal lines, affecting the aesthetics.
Practically speaking hanging the hammock here also works as I can still water my plants and the rest of the room is still usable, allowing free movement in the space.
All in all, this spot is just screaming out for a hammock! Located in a window bay, I can envision myself taking time out to relax watching the sunset with the hammock serving as a retreat from the rest of the living space.
If you like the idea of a high-hanging hammock but want it situated in the middle of the room, this is possible too using eye hooks or other fixings. These can then be multipurpose and used for plant macramés, cat hammocks, swingasan chairs, or even TRX exercise straps.
#4 - Calculations to achieve the perfect curve
While hanging a hammock is easy, it’s important to calculate the distance between suspension points correctly. Measuring this incorrectly will result in an uncomfortable hammock and a disappointing end result.
The distance between suspension points depends on whether you want your hammock suspended at waist height or from the ceiling/just below. Get it wrong and the shape of the hammock will be affected. The higher you suspend your hammock, the easier it is to adjust, resulting in a more attractive shape.
Remember to hang the hammock where there will be enough space for it to comfortably swing from side to side.
#5 - Distance and height calculations
To figure out the minimum distance between your two suspension points use the following formula:
- The minimum distance between suspension points = (Hammock length – 10%)
To calculate how high your suspension points should be use the following formula:
- Minimum suspension height = (Distance between suspension points ÷ 2)
#6 - My calculations
#5 calculations will give you an idea of how to set up your suspension points but there are other factors you should consider. Make a note of the following to achieve the perfect set-up:
- Total hammock length
- 2x mounting rope length
- Length between suspension points
- Height of your hips (for easy entry into the hammock)
- Suspension angle of 15°-20°
* With the above in mind, here are my measurements and calculations that I used to hang my own hammock:
- Total hammock length: 346 cm
- 2x mountain rope length: The Potenza Indoor Mounting Suspension system is adjustable, meaning the length can be adjusted. The shortest length is 85 cm and the longest is 135 cm on each side.
- Minimum length between suspension points: (346 cm – 10%) = 311.4 cm.
- The actual distance between suspension points: 403 cm (we have the minimum! 🙌)
- Minimum suspension height: (403 cm ÷ 2) = 201.5 cm
- Height of my hips: 90 cm
Note: as I’m using adjustable ropes, I can essentially change the hammock length. For this reason, I’m going to mount the suspension hardware a little higher than this calculation recommends. This way I can achieve the minimum height requirements when factoring in rope lengths.
#7 - What you’ll need
With the calculations checked (and double-checked!) it’s time to get started. In my own hammock hanging experience, I needed the following:
- Meter
- Pencil
- Hammer drill & drill bits
- 2x hardware suspension with screws and lines (available separately)
- Hammock fabric
- Ladder
- Vacuum cleaner
- (Additional tools might include a spanner or ratchet set as well as alternative anchor mounts.)
If you’re dealing with concrete, brick, or stone, you might want to consider using a chemical anchor. These are inserted into a pilot hole and then fuse to the inner material through an expanding, chemical process.
For those anchoring to wooden beams, single-eye bolts are another option. Thicker bolts with a long thread can be extremely secure, especially as wood expands over time.
Picking an anchor solution is an important decision so consider all your options. Factor in the type of walls you have and the tools you have available. While a basic drill will have no trouble with wooden beams, for example, it might struggle with concrete and stone.
I opted for plates designed to suspend hammocks. These allow me to easily adjust the rope lengths and provide a sleek finish that suits the space.
#8 - Let's drill
Now that you have your calculations, the hardware, and the necessary tools together, it’s time to drill! This process will differ slightly depending on your anchor choice. Nevertheless, the following steps can be used as a guide.
- Amila
- November 8, 2022
- 6:31 pm
- No Comments
- 1. Mark the drill holes according to your calculations.
- 2. Replace the drill bit with one appropriate for your bolt/screw size.
- 3. Drill holes at a slight angle. (approx. 30°)
- 4. Place dowels into the holes.
- 5. Affix the plate and carefully screw in the bolts using a ratchet or spanner.
- 6. Repeat the process for the second plate.
- 7. Vacuum up dust and debris.
- 8. Fasten the hammock arms with a carabiner on each side.
#9 - Enjoy your hammock!
At this point, your hammock should be ready to enjoy. While the above process might seem like a lot of work, it takes a couple of hours at most. After which you have an idyllic, luxury hammock ready to use at any time! From now on, you not only know your walls better, but also you have created a proper siesta corner in the comfort from your own home. I hope that using the hammock will bring you a lot of joy, although, once you get in, I’m pretty sure you are unlikely to come out soon 😀
I would be delighted hearing back from you about how did you find your DIY experience. Share your thoughts, opinions, doubts & questions in the comment below.
Happy hammocking!
Warning: as with any kind of DIY, it’s important to keep safe while hanging a hammock. DIY hammock hanging is undertaken at your own risk so remember to use safety equipment, have someone hold the ladders, and take your time ❤️. And remember, if you don’t feel comfortable hanging your own hammock, you can always enlist the help of a local handyman or your best friend!
