How to make an indoor swing
A few years ago we knocked downs all the walls around our kitchen and living room to create one big open-space living area. It took me nearly two years to convince my husband that we NEED to do it and when he eventually agreed to it I didn’t wait long to get everything rolling. You know… just in case he changes his mind again!
I was planning this huge makeover for so long I knew exactly what and how I wanted to do everything. One of the things I was dreaming of was a swing as extra seating in the living area.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a swing that I liked in shops, so I decided that I will make it myself. After all, how hard could it be?
I must say that luckily it was really easy to DIY the swing but I found that the hardest part for me was tying a knot on a rope. I found pictures of how to do it on Google Images and after a few tries I eventually mastered it. It wasn’t that hard after all!
What you will need to make a swing
a few meters of rope. I got mine on Ebay
fabric, ideally something thick like suede or velvet
upholstery foam
plywood
one length of timber for a seat and two shorter pieces for support
heavy duty wall plugs and hooks
stapler, scissors, drill and No More Nails Glue
How to make a swing
You will need a thick piece of timber as a base for your swing. I used window sill wood because it was the only sturdy thing I could find in my local hardware store. You will also need two shorter bits of timber the same width as the base. They are needed for support. Put the seat pieces together by gluing short bits to each end of the base.
Now you want to drill two holes on each end for the rope. After you finish, sand the edges of the swing. You can also paint it already. I didn’t think of it at this point and painted mine when everything was done but it really wasn’t the smartest thing I did. Learn on my mistakes and paint your swing now!
Is it painted yet? Great! Now you can make a cushion. I used a thin sheet of plywood that I wrapped first in upholstery foam and then, in a fabric of my choice. I used a staple gun to attach both to the plywood. Once you have that done, use a few screws to attach your cushion to the seat. I did a very unusual thing and I screwed them through the fabric and into the seat. This way I achieved that padded effect that I wanted to make the cushion look a little more luxurious.
Now the hardest thing. Brave yourself! Tying knots on the rope. As I said earlier, I learnt how to do it by googling how to tie a knot for a swing. Practice a few times before you commit to it. Also, be patient with it and you will master it in no time! When you succeed, ask a carpenter or someone who knows what they are doing to attach your new swing to the ceiling. Please keep in mind, that it will need to be attached to the weight bearing beam!
I must say that we love our swing. And it’s not only us who love it. Our friends, family and all the children that visit us, they all give it a go! We even have fights over who will use it first! It’s such a fun thing to have and I am really happy that I listened to my gut and went ahead with making it.
I think that it only proves that when it comes to decorating our homes we should always do it with things we love. With things that make our hearts skip a beat. Have a little fun at home… You know you want to!
