Country swing: we choose a practical and beautiful option

At a summer cottage or a personal plot, in a garden or a country house, a swing has become not just a whim or a luxury, but a necessary element of improvement. In addition, garden (cottage) swings are one of the most simple and inexpensive ways to make outdoor recreation as comfortable as possible. In a country house or on a terrace, in a gazebo or under a canopy, on a site or just near your favorite big tree - a swing has become an important component of organizing outdoor recreation and leisure. If there is a demand, then the offer will not be long in coming. Manufacturers offer us a wide range of garden swings of various modifications. Various material of execution, sizes, method of fastening, design and level of comfort also dictate a wide range of prices for such a popular object for arranging a summer cottage or adjoining territory of a country house. Country swings have become a difficult part of landscape design, but also its decoration.

A variety of models of country swing

Garden swings have many variations of performance, they may differ by the following criteria:

• material of the carcass and seat (metal, wood, plastic, vine or rattan);
• fastening method (hanging or free-standing swings, hammocks and rocking chairs);
• color performance;
• comfort level (availability of soft seats, related accessories - armrests, soft back);
• performance style (modern, country, beach, traditional);
• the dimensions of the product and the maximum allowable weight (not only the dimensions, but also the type of construction, the material of the carcass, fasteners and the seat itself affect the weight tolerance);
• the possibility of year-round use or installation exclusively in the premises (only the material of the design elements has an effect).

Freestanding garden swing

This section includes all self-sufficient models that do not need additional supports and suspensions. Such swings can be installed in any convenient place and carried if necessary. It is mobility that is most often the key criterion when choosing a model of garden swings for many owners of summer cottages and country houses. Swings that do not require supports for hanging can be installed in the open for the summer, and at other times they can be hidden under a canopy or in a garage (shed).

If you transfer portable swings to the glazed veranda or covered terrace for the winter, you can please yourself and the household with a gentle sway in a comfortable environment even in the cold season. Most often, to increase the comfort of such a swing, the hosts use soft removable mattresses and pillows. Covers for such soft swing elements are most often removable and easy to wash in a washing machine. Soft parts often come with a swing, but can also be purchased separately if the model does not include them.

Modern models of free-standing swings most often have a visor, a small tent or any other option for the roof above the seat. This design allows you to protect those sitting on a swing from the hot summer sun or light rain. Many models are improved by various accessories and additions - comfortable armrests with holes for installing a glass or cup with tea, the mosquito net included in the kit allows you to be on a swing in the evening, when the presence of insects in the summer cottage is especially noticeable and unpleasant (such models are purchased by homeowners with small children )

Wooden garden swings that do not require additional supports have been very popular lately. Natural material of the construction most organically fits into the surrounding picture of the garden or summer cottage, landscape design of a private courtyard.

Wooden swings look luxurious, but efforts to care for them require more than usual (compared with metal or eraser counterparts). As a rule, manufacturers, before sending wooden models for sale, impregnate products with special antiseptics and varnishes to prevent rotting of the material and the formation of fungus. But during operation, you will need to "refresh" the impregnation and coating. The frequency of use of antiseptics will depend on the type of wood. Usually, the instructions for the product contain all the necessary care information, but more than once every 1.5-2 years you will not need to take any actions to take care of the product.

Nevertheless, wooden products are recommended to be cleaned in a dry and well-ventilated room for the winter. This approach will help not only to maintain the original appearance of the swing for many years, but also significantly reduce the frequency of use of antiseptic sprays and varnishes for coating wooden surfaces.

The original wooden swing, the frame or all the elements of which are made of logs, are perfect for the ensemble of a country house or country house, made in the country style.

Suspended structures

The simplest and most memorable for many of us, even from our childhood impressions of relaxing in the country or in a private courtyard, is the swing option - a suspended structure that was attached to a tree branch or any crossbeam. The modern landscape design is multifaceted; you can suspend the most ordinary swing, consisting only of a seat to an arch or pergola, if they are already on your personal plot.

A more advanced version of the hanging swing has a backrest, often equipped with armrests, soft removable mattresses for the seat. On such a swing, you can stay in a comfortable and comfortable pose for a long time, read books, conduct conversations or just enjoy the surrounding view, the purity of the countryside air.

Such models can be suspended on strong ropes or metal chains. Both options are reliable enough and the choice of one or another mount will largely depend on your personal preferences. Both variations require the installation of special hooks to cover the awning or roof of the terrace, and ropes or chains will already be attached to them.

Chains for a garden swing are made of stainless metals that do not require painting. But to ensure that the moving parts of the structure were lubricated while using the swing, it is necessary for the owners of the site or country house. Also, before using a hanging swing before starting a new warm season, it is necessary to check the fastening elements not only of the roof, but also of the seat.

Suspended swing on the ropes is not recommended for use without a canopy or roof over them. Although the ropes are impregnated with a special compound that helps the material resist decay, its action is not infinite. Suspension structures on ropes are excellent for terraces, gazebos with a solid roof or under awnings.

Seats and backs in suspended models can be made of wood, metal, plastic or can be a wicker element made of twigs or rattan. Each of the options for the material of execution has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a plastic seat significantly reduces the cost of the entire product, it is not affected by moisture and other weather conditions, it is incredibly easy to care for. But plastic products do not differ in high strength and durability, are subject to all types of mechanical stress, and can simply crack at low temperatures.

Wicker seats, more like comfortable sofas, look very colorful, especially if your terrace, in addition to the swing, is equipped with garden furniture made of the same material and in a similar design. Most often, such models are made of artificial rattan, because natural material is quite expensive, and the analogue made of vines is not durable.

Popular oval shaped hanging swings made of natural or artificial rattan began to be used to create a recreation area not only in the premises of country houses, but also outside the premises. Suspend similar models on verandas, terraces and under patio awnings.

Alternative to swings

Alternative options for installing a swing can be called hanging a hammock or installing rocking chairs. Of course, it is not possible to fully compensate for the absence of a swing for a hammock, which is intended to a greater extent for resting while lying down, but for many owners of country houses and summer cottages this method of relaxation is a priority. The hammock is inexpensive, it is easy to hang it between two trees, poles or any other stable and durable supports. You can wash the hammock in the washing machine and clean it for the time of rains and frosts, while maintaining the original “salable” look for a long time. And yet, a hammock is a resting place for one person, while several people can fit on a swing (depending on size).

Rocking chairs installed on the outdoor terrace, under a canopy or in the gazebo are an excellent opportunity not only to organize a place of rest and relaxation in the fresh air, but also to create the most comfortable atmosphere in a summer cottage or garden.

Choosing a place to install a garden swing

Where to install or hang a swing in a garden or garden? This question must be answered before purchasing the product itself. Indeed, the choice of the installation or suspension of garden swings depends on the capabilities of your site, the presence or absence of buildings, additional elements of landscape design and the presence of large trees with a spreading crown.

Freestanding swings that do not require additional supports can theoretically be installed in any place convenient for the owners of the site. But such an approach is possible only in theory, in practice it will be necessary to determine who and for what purpose will use the swing. If children primarily swing on a summer swing, then installing the product on an asphalt or paved stone (brick) site is not the best option from a safety point of view in case of possible falls. If adults will sit on a swing (and more often than not alone), i.e. the weight of the structure with users "on board" will be significantly greater, it is better to resort to installation on a hard surface. Settling of the legs of the swing in the ground can not be avoided, so the patio area, paved with a particular material (from stone to wood) will be the best option.

A hanging swing on ropes or metal chains can be hung on a tree branch. But it is important to understand that the tree must be strong, with thick and strong branches. And even in this case, the maximum allowable weight of those sitting on a swing will not be high. This swing option is more suitable for use by children and adolescents or adults with low weight.

If your country house is located near a reservoir, then most likely it stands on stilts. In some cases, the floors of the house are located high enough above ground level and this distance is enough to hang a small swing.

The location of roomy swing swings under a canopy or on the terrace is a great opportunity to organize a vacation spot with the most comfortable conditions. Under the roof of the terrace you will be in the shade and protected from sunlight, there is no fear of rain and slight wind. Under a canopy or on the terrace, you can use mattresses and pillows with covers made of fabrics that are prone to fading in the sun or luxurious textiles that you simply would be sorry to expose to the effects of all possible natural phenomena.

Most often, when choosing a color palette of swings that will be hung on the terrace, they are guided by the elementary principles of combinatorics. Depending on the color scheme of the building’s facade and the terrace structure, the swing can either become an accent spot or fit seamlessly into the overall picture. Most often, the swing is selected in color to the rest of the garden furniture located on the terrace - armchairs or a sofa, a coffee table.

Another option for choosing a color for a swing is a combination of a bright or contrasting shade with any element of the terrace against the background of a neutral or bright image of the whole structure. For example, a bright swing can match the color of the shutters or the front door, the design of the porch or railing on the platform (terrace).

You can also hang garden swings in a glazed terrace or veranda. If it often rains in your area, or even in the summer there are rarely warm days, then this option may be the only one available in terms of practicality and comfort.