Hammocks feel like a tropical vacation in your backyard, full stop. Feeling suspended in mid-air, while being gently and slowly swayed back and forth is highly underrated. Anyone who has ever been born (yes, you) has an innate need and love for this gentle movement and if you are like me, you still “rock” back and forth with or without a baby in your arms. While we put off doing real work to this backyard, we put up a couple of hammocks and sometimes (read: often) I think between those and the fake stream that came with the house is all we need to feel like it’s “summer” up here. Don’t think you need a fancy hammock to reap the benefits. They can be humble, inexpensive and with a stand, so you tree-less folks can hang a hammock on a patio or even inside. Can you tell I’m pro hammock? So if you are in the market for this “summer vacation in a bag” we’ve rounded up a ton of our favorite hammocks, swings, and swinging porch benches from around the web. Complicated times call for some areas of our lives to be simplified. No summer vacation this year? Snag yourself a hammock (and please tell me in the comments that you want me to do some water feature content because I LOVE A WATER FEATURE). Take it away, Mal.
Thanks for the intro, Em! Hey guys, Mallory here. I’m pretty much in agreeance with everything Em stated about hammocks in the above paragraph because I, too, am extremely passionate about gentle movements and being suspended in mid-air. I actually own a portable hammock that I keep in the back of my car so I can be prepared to seize any hammocking opportunity that might come my way (haha funny joke Mal….no but guys I’m not kidding). It’s the best investment I’ve ever made and it makes for A REALLY AWESOME DATE NIGHT (especially right now!!) Oh and really quick, if you’re interested in going the portable hammock route like I did, you need these straps (DO NOT GET NYLON STRAPS. I REPEAT. DO NOT GET NYLON STRAPS. They will stretch out and you will be on the ground). Go for ENO’s straps that are either made from polyester or polyfilament webbing. Either way it’s gotta be stronger than nylon. I learned the hard way.
Now, I found a bunch of goodies on the interwebs for you today, but before we get into that I’d like to briefly chat about the hammock and acknowledge the origins of these babies. Now I’m no history teacher, but I did do a bit of research on the topic and here’s what I found. Hammocks were originally designed and created in Central America nearly 1,000 years ago by the Taíno, Maya, and other indigenous peoples as a way to protect themselves from anything that might be crawling around on the ground while they were sleeping. The word originates from a Taíno Arawakan word, “hamaka” which means “fish net,” because these hammocks were usually netted as a method of ventilation in these warmer climates.
So now that I just taught a history lesson without my teaching credential, let’s chat about one more quick thing and then I PROMISE we’ll get to the hammocks. Now you may or may not have heard, but here at EHD, we’ve taken the 15% pledge, which means at least 15% of our links will be from Black-owned businesses. I’m gonna be completely transparent here, upon SO MUCH internet research for this post, I found very few Black-owned hammock companies or home furnishing companies that sell them. However, I did find A TON of amazing South and Central American hammock makers and artisans from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Brazil, and more. When you think back to that last paragraph about the origin and history of the hammock, it makes sense why there’s an abundance of these artisans (and I’m VERY excited to share them with you), but if you know of any Black businesses that sell hammocks or patio swings please mention them in the comments!
Okay now as promised, ON WITH THE HAMMOCKS.
HAMMOCKS
![](https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Emily-Henderson_Target_Outdoor-Collections_Summer_Patio_Pic_78_1.jpg)
![](https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Emily_Henderson_Hammocks-1.png)
1. Colonial Macrame Stripe Hammock | 2. Indigo and Vanilla Striped Cotton Hammock | 3. Lowes Fabric Hammock | 4. Hand Loomed Orange Stripe Hammock | 5. Sucure Hammock in Grey and White | 6. Handwoven Single Striped Guatemalan Hammock | 7. Linen Striped Flatweave Hammock | 8. Handwoven Maize Yellow Cotton Hammock | 9. Pillowtop Hammock
If you guys want to click around to find more hammocks from AMAZING artisans, check out Novica, which is the source for most of the artisan hammocks I found. They’re an awesome company that I recently found and am excited to shop from more since they help to empower artisans and makers all over the world!
Hanging Chairs
![](https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/TargetSpringPatioVelinda_LoRes_31-scaled_1.jpg)
![](https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Emily_Henderson_Hanging-Chairs.jpg)
1. Handmade Cotton Weave Hammock Chair | 2. Black Nylon Hammock Swing Chair | 3. Denim Hammock Chair| 4. Collectible Cotton Solid Hammock Swing | 5. Britanna Patio Hanging Egg Chair | 6. Skelmersdale Swing Chair | 7. Esquivel Solid Outdoor Swing Chair | 8. Striped Cotton Padded Hammock Chair Swing | 9. Large Hammock Chair With Crochet Edge
Ah an ol’ classic. We actually used #5 in our latest shoot with Target (and we were all very obsessed with it). Click here to see a cute dog that also approves of the chair. Also, I’m pretty sure that #1 and #3 look like the decor version of a cozy hug.
Patio Swings
![](https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Emily_Henderson_Patio-Benches.jpg)
1. Swanley Porch Swing with Chain | 2. San Blas Hanging Bench | 3. 2 Person Outdoor Porch Swing Bench | 4. Rosean Porch Swing | 5. Kimbro Lutyens Outdoor Porch Swing with Cushion | 6. All American Bed Swing | 7. The “Charlotte” Swing Bed | 8. 2-person Black Wood Outdoor Swing | 9. Indian Handmade Carved Swing
Now patio swings are not something we have used a lot of but in the right area, they are perfect for year-round enjoyment (ok unless you get snow where you live). A little less loungy than a hammock but still gives you that same healing rocking motion when you just need to take a breather. Plus if you are someone that would have a hard time getting in or out of a hammock or swing chair then this is a great alternative.
That’s all for this post guys. Thanks for reading, happy swinging, and see you tomorrow!! xx
Good round up! These look relaxing…theoretically. I honestly despise hammocks (in a “good for you, not for me” kind of way). I feel like I’m about to fall out and so I spend the whole time scared instead of relaxed. I am sort of type A. Is anyone out there with me?! Does this stem from some suppressed childhood hammock trauma or real life risk assessment? I haven’t met anyone in real life who doesn’t like a hammock…
Nice round up! Very cozy and even that little scruffy likes an egg chair! 🐾
Thank you Rusty!
WHY DID YOU SCREAM AT US NOT TO BUY NYLON STRAPS AND THEN LINK TO NYLON STRAPS???!!!
Hahaha I have these straps and they’re not actually nylon, they’re made of a polyester webbing which I has a tinge of nylon in it. I didn’t realize the website I linked to said they were nylon but that is hilarious. Thanks for catching it! I updated it to a different site with the same straps that says it’s polyester webbing 🙂
Yes. Do the water feature thing, PLEASE!!!!!
Ditto!!!
Yesssss!!!
Oh guys. Bless you. It might just be for me and you three, Celeste, Ellen and DK, but as your public servant I WILL expose the importance of water features to America, and the world. on it.
Yes! Please do water features! I have about thirty fountains saved on my board for our front and backyards but I can’t pull the trigger on any of them!
Oh snap, you read my mind….I’ve been looking for the perfect hammock!
Thank you!
This is making me wish I added a hammock to my outdoor decor, but I have a porch swing on my front porch and two wicker egg swings in the back, so I suppose I have the rocking action set.
Oooh that sounds awesome! You have it made 🙂
I love these! I’m on the cusp of hammock-buying and the hand-loomed ones will definitely be on me list.
Would it be possible to add hammock stands to the roundup? Tbh that’s why I haven’t pulled the trigger yet – so many gorgeous hammocks and SO MANY UGLY STANDS
Yeah, hammock stands are so huge and …eh. There’s probably no way to get around the hugeness but if there was I’d definitely surprise my partner with one
I know the stands are tough! This one is pretty cool (linked below) or you could always go the DIY route and secure two poles in the ground. They would need to be SUPER sturdy but at least the stand wouldn’t take up so much space 🙂 https://rstyle.me/+CBGvecHyTnXgop7AbINjxA
SOOO surprised that Hattaras Hammocks weren’t on your list. Best hammocks. They have some beautiful stands too. https://hatterashammocks.com/products/stands/hammock. Although I find the LL Bean stand, with wheels, to be perfectly minimal and more affordable
I love the colors of the hammock that Emily is using at the top of the article.
Do you have any details?
Thank you,
Sarah
Any recommendations for a good free-standing hammock stand (and where to buy it)? Thanks!
Any recommendations for a great free-standing hammock stand, and where to buy it? Thanks!
We have 2 Eno hammocks and love them! I see that you linked to Wayfair to purchase one, though. I’m thinking you probably included them because their CEO is BIPOC but I think it’s also worth looking at a company’s track record with human rights when possible. I admit that I don’t know if they are still doing this, but Wayfair has supplied beds to the migrant detention centers. Wayfair employees staged a walkout last year about this.
I’m the first to comment that you can’t expect a free website to be up on every issue, but I thought I’d mention it here in the comments in case anyone was not aware of this and would want to purchase from the Eno directly or a retailer that is not as associated with separating children from their parents and housing them in detention facilities at our southern border. Thanks!
We put in an aerial yoga swing for our kids post Covid. IT IS AMAZING. The two year old loves it; the eight year old loves it; the EXTREME sports 7 year old neighbor kid loves it. Most importantly I LOVE IT. I’ll skip my age ;). Like 50 bucks plus stand and so so cozy to read in or climb like an orangutan whatever you prefer.
We have one also!! The amazing feats of swinging and hanging and on and on that my 10
year old girl and her friends do make it worth being in my living room!
A friend at work (very sophisticated person – very much a grown up) put a hammock in her living room. At the end of the day she and her boyfriend love to crawl in there and decompress.
Thanks for letting folks know how wonderful hammocks are! And if anyone would like to support a woman owned business, we’ve been selling hammocks and swings for 39 years from our little fishing shack on the tip of Cape Cod. The shop is closed right now but the website is “in full swing”. I enjoyed the article!
That’s Northern Lights Hammocks.
Hi Nancy! I just bought a hammock from Pauley’s after searching for a small business. I’m sorry I missed you!! Cape Cod is hammock heaven and yours look great.
Another great small-hammock business is Cobble Mountain in Vermont. They make beautiful chair hammocks and I would never have found them if my sister didn’t live nearby. https://cobblemountain.com/
What is everyone’s opinion on cotton robe vs nylon for rope hammocks? When I was buying I really vacillated between 100% cotton and the “durability” of nylon. Ultimately I went classic cotton as I’m not sure how “durable” my hammock even needs to be. We’re not in a very wet climate…
A huge fan of the humble hammock. Great ones on Wayfair imho.
a giant fan of the humble hammock. Great ones on Way fair.