When it comes to adding a therapeutic touch to your home, hammocks are an unsung hero. These seemingly insignificant space hangings can provide an excellent retreat from the hustles and bustles of everyday life.
Hammocks allow you to blissfully unwind while stimulating brain activity. A 2010 study found that the rocking motion of hammocks might improve sleep quality by shortening the duration from light to deep sleep.
Napping in a hammock is particularly important for people with back pain. These suspended beds can gently massage the pain with swinging motions, restoring your happiness and vitality.
But even if you’re not keen on tapping into a hammock’s health benefits, simply hanging one can elevate your home’s ambiance. Read below as we uncover amazing tips on how to unlock hammock bliss.
Choosing the Right Hammock
Sample from Various Colors
Color is probably the last item on many people’s hammock checklist. But it’s just as important as other essential considerations when shopping for these products.
Hammocks are available in diverse colors. Depending on the desired aesthetic and psychological effects, you can choose from single-color or multi-color varieties.
Single-color options like this white hammock by Caribbean Hammocks blend seamlessly into different environments. White also creates the illusion of space, making white hammocks especially suitable for smaller yards.
On the other hand, multi-colored hammocks can add extra glitz to your home. Ensure the bed has matching color schemes that compliment your home’s ambiance.
Check the Fabric Material
Just like color, hammocks can be made from different fabrics. Popular options include polyester and cotton.
The thumb rule is to pick a hammock designed with weatherproof fabric. That’s for the simple reason that you’ll be hanging the bed outdoors.
The hammock should be made from fast-drying and moisture-wicking materials like spandex and polyester. It’s also prudent to insist on natural rather than synthetic fabrics due to the former’s hypoallergenic nature.
Measure the Size
The term “size,” concerning hammocks, denotes the bed’s height and seating capacity.
The conventional wisdom is to buy a hammock at least two feet taller than your standing height.
As for the seating capacity, that would depend on the number of intended concurrent users. Do you intend to snuggle into the bed alone or with your significant other?
Picking a Suitable Hanging Location
Numerous variables make a location ideal for hanging a hammock.
First, you must identify an outside post, wall, or tree. Whichever spot you pick, ensure it’s strong enough to anchor the hammock firmly. Do not hang a hammock on a dead or diseased tree branch. If you prefer suspending the bed underneath an outdoor post, avoid decayed posts. Walls with visible signs of weakness, such as gaping cracks and shaking foundations, must be avoided, too.
Next, pick an open space in your yard that provides free airflow and ample wiggle room. Remove obstacles in the general vicinity that could impede your swings.
The nature of the ground below is also essential when choosing a suitable spot to suspend a hammock. Do not hang a hammock over a pool of water, a rocky patch, or a thorny thicket. This prevents you from suffering grievous body injuries if the bed accidentally falls off. Remember that while generally safe, tragic hammock accidents aren’t unheard of.
Lastly, do not hang a hammock too tight or too loose.
An overly tight hammock can cause discomfort to your shoulders by wrapping firmly around you. Similarly, hanging the bed too loose might cause it to droop.
The thumb rule is to set the straps at a 30-degree angle.
Using the Hammock
Lay Diagonally
The most comfortable position to lie on a hammock is diagonal across the fabric, so your head and feet drop down. At the same time, the rest of your body reclines ergonomically on the bed.
Besides relieving back pain and improving general comfort, this position also boosts blood circulation.
Anchor Your Knees
Lying diagonally across a hammock may relieve various body parts, but not the knees.
If you feel discomfort under your legs, you might want to place a pillow underneath your knees for extra anchorage.
Raise Your Legs Higher
While swinging in a hammock, the body tends to slide to the center of the bed due to gravitational pull. This can cause great discomfort, especially when using a narrow hammock.
One way to avoid this is by hanging the hammock’s foot end 8 – 10 inches higher. Alternatively, rock in the bed with your legs raised disproportionately to the rest of your body.
Consider a Bug Net
Many outdoor hammocks come with sewn-on bug netting. This is a handy feature that helps to trap bugs, allowing you to unwind hassle-free.
Remember to bring a full-length bug net if your hammock lacks one.
Bring Extra (But Appropriate) Entertainment
A hammock is ideal for reading a few chapters of your favorite book. It’s especially suitable for keeping up with a romantic novel.
Similarly, avoid overly stimulating activities while using a hammock, such as going on social media and playing video games.
Wrap Up
Implementing the above tips can elevate your comfort and experience using a hammock.
Remember that choosing the right product is the biggest trick to enjoying blissful moments in a hammock. So, be sure to understand your needs before you go shopping for these hangings.