How to choose and secure a hanging chair to the ceiling

Hanging chairs attached to the ceiling have been gaining popularity in recent years. Such furniture is placed not only in children's rooms, but also in living rooms, bedrooms, and on the verandas of country houses. A variety of models allows you to choose the right option for any interior and taste. The fastening must be reliable in order to withstand the weight of the furniture and the person sitting inside. In this article we will look in detail at how to properly hang a chair from the ceiling. We will also conduct a master class on how to make this piece of furniture yourself.

Types of hanging chairs

All variety is divided by type of design, materials and sizes. By design, this furniture belongs to one of the following categories:

1. Hanging chair with a rigid frame . As a rule, it is made in the form of a hemisphere, oval or drop.
2. Solid plastic chair . The product comes in the shape of half a ball or an egg, transparent and colored.
3. Cocoon chair . Maximum closed on all sides, can be hard or soft. The hole through which one enters is sometimes equipped with a curtain for complete privacy.
4. Hammock chair . Suspends from one attachment point, directly or through a horizontal spacer stick. More often found in fabric version.
5. Chair with fastening to the floor and ceiling . You won't be able to swing, just spin around your axis.
6. Chair on a stand . Used when there is no possibility or desire to hang furniture from the ceiling. This design takes up more space and has a limited range of motion, but the chair can be easily moved to another location.

The frame is made of metal, wood or wicker. It is braided with rattan, strips of leather or ropes, and covered with fabric.

Often a hanging chair is complemented with matching pillows or other harmonizing colors.

The sizes are divided into children's, adult and family. Rocking chairs for children are usually smaller and brighter in color. Among them there are often cocoons in which the baby settles down, as if in his own house. In the soft version, the design is also called a bag.

An oversized hanging chair is designed for two or even four people. Usually has the shape of a horizontal oval.

When choosing, take into account:

1. Who is the chair intended for (adults, children, couples).
2. In which interior the furniture will be placed - this affects the choice of materials and colors.
3. What they will do in it: seek privacy (then closed models are more suitable), relax (pay attention to soft options), swing (the type and length of the fastening is important).

Types by size and shape

Hanging seats are manufactured in a variety of variations, and it is possible to choose a model of the desired shape and size for any interior.

Cocoon

A cocoon chair is a real refuge for introverts.
This type is suitable for those who want to be alone. It is deep and a significant part of it is closed by walls, and the person seems to be fenced off from the outside world. “Cocoon” has a beautiful appearance and is suitable for any room, regardless of its design.

A drop

This is a rather original form of “air” seats. These models are small in size, and some are equipped with doors. “Drops” are mainly used in children’s rooms.

Swing

Such pieces of furniture come in two types: soft (hammock) and on a rigid frame. The hammock consists of a wicker or fabric fabric, the edges of which are securely attached to the crossbar with 4 slings, and it is fixed to the ceiling or to the leg - stand. The second type of chair - swing - is a rigid frame covered with a soft base.

The “swing” chair can be installed both in the house and in the open area

When choosing this interior element, you should remember that it should be durable and comfortable. You need to sit on several seats and choose the one in which you feel more comfortable.

Permissible load

The maximum value depends on the material. The least durable are fabric or rope hanging chairs, which can withstand no more than 100 kg. Rattan wickerwork is a little stronger - up to 120 kg. Swing chairs with a metal frame are designed for loads up to 150 kg. These materials are used for single seating.

The most durable furniture is made from plastic or metal panels. These are the options that are used for paired and family structures, as they can withstand up to 200 kg.

Attention! When choosing a chair, it is necessary to leave a margin of safety, since the load increases when rocking.

Interior matching

The appearance of the chair attached to the ceiling gives a clear impression of good taste on its owner. At the same time, it is important not to rush into buying the first model you like, since no interior will accept it harmoniously.

There are a number of recommendations to help you select a suitable hanging chair:

1. A strict classic interior basically excludes the possibility of using such structures. At the same time, efforts to adapt the hanging chair to this style continue. The result is simply a repetition of the design of classic furniture, equipped with a specific fastening. Such products must have a comfortable back and wooden armrests. It is clear that we are not talking about any wicker or plastic models here.
2. Despite the fact that Baroque, Rocaille or Rococo are also considered classical styles, they allow the presence of swings. In this case, it is advisable to do without plastic, cocoons and rattan models. Options made from natural wood, the lacquered back of which is decorated with beautiful carvings, are perfect: this favorably emphasizes the pomp of the overall design. In these styles, the use of artistic forging is encouraged: given the large weight of forged chairs, it is recommended to install them on frames.
3. In cases where the owner of a classic interior still wants to purchase a hanging chair, during its installation there is no need to hide power fasteners (chains, cable, etc.). On the contrary, these details are often highlighted with additional decor.
4. The Art Nouveau style is distinguished by its versatility, which makes it possible to use any type of suspended structures. It is important to remember that Art Nouveau is characterized by a riot of bright colors. This opens up wide possibilities for the use of bright wicker cocoons, transparent “Bubble” and fabric mini-hammocks. The main thing is that this furniture is bright and catchy.
5. Country and French Provence are perfectly complemented by wicker furniture. The design of the chairs here can be very diverse: the main condition is that they must be wicker. When using fabric models, they try to give preference to rounded shapes. Provence allows the possibility of using forged pendants installed on separate frames.
6. It is not advisable to complement the increasingly popular ecological and ethnic interiors with plastic furniture. The ban does not apply to other materials here. It can be an imposing hammock, a wicker cocoon, a fabric or wooden drop.
7. Most often in high-tech style they use transparent “Bubble”. It is important to remember that despite the assurances of emancipation and freedom of action, this style has a fairly extensive list of restrictions (almost the same as the strict classics). They try to give preference to furniture made of plastic and nickel-plated metal. Bizarre configurations are encouraged.
8. The modern loft is also distinguished by its originality. Considering the fact that the loft is classified as an attic style, knitted and fabric hammocks fit most harmoniously into it. A cloth drop would also be appropriate here. Transparent “Bubble” will come in very handy in the loft style, which cannot be said about wicker lashes.

On what ceilings can you not attach chairs and swings?

Before purchasing, you need to evaluate the overlap. If it is old and unreliable, problems will arise over time. The ceiling may crack or even collapse, leading to complex and costly repairs. And the person sitting in the chair will suffer if he falls.

Do not hang heavy structures from old ceilings. It is undesirable to choose a place next to which a chandelier or something else, even light, hung. When drilling, the strength of the slab decreases and microcracks may occur. Once the item is removed, the consequences remain.

When attaching to a concrete ceiling, it is important not to fall into an empty compartment. The floor slabs have hollow channels inside, the walls of which are quite thin; their thickness is not enough to securely fix the hook. A hole must be drilled between the voids.

With suspended or suspended ceilings, installation becomes somewhat more complicated. Since this trim is not intended for fastening heavy structures, you need to make a hole in the trim and hang the chair from the base ceiling.

The hook is taken with a long pin, the size is selected depending on the distance between the rough ceiling and the decorative finish. As a result, only the ring remains visible, to which the chair is suspended on a chain or rope.

The plasterboard surface is then puttied and tinted. The stretch ceiling is pre-strengthened with a tread ring (the same as when installing lamps).

Read more: How to make a hole in a suspended ceiling

How to hang a chair from the ceiling

The main requirement here is reliability. In second place is the aesthetic component, because furniture should decorate the room.

Mounting methods

Several options are possible, the choice between which depends on the type of overlap. A hole is drilled in the concrete ceiling with a hammer drill and an anchor with a hook is screwed in until it stops. A ring is hung from below, onto which a carabiner with a chain or cable is put.

In ordinary city apartments, the slabs have voids, so a hole must be drilled between them. For reliability, a chemical anchor is additionally used. This is a polymer-based solution that is used to fill the hole before screwing in the hook. Then it hardens and firmly fixes the anchor in the ceiling. Therefore, even if it gets into a hollow compartment, the fastening will be reliable. Sold in construction stores.

The following method is suitable for private houses with wooden beams. If they are strong enough, you can screw in a screw with a ring and hang the chair on it.

The diameter and size of the hook are selected depending on the load.

When none of these options are suitable, a load-bearing screen or bus is installed. Usually a metal profile is used, which is fixed to the ceiling. The result does not look very aesthetically pleasing, so it is disguised, for example, decorated as a false beam.

You can also use special ceiling mounts for a punching bag. They are designed for heavy loads. Structurally, they are a plate with a hook, which is attached to 4 bolts.

Installation instructions

Let's consider the method that is best suited for a standard apartment - with a chemical anchor. To work, you will need a hammer drill, fasteners and a construction syringe.

First, determine where the air cavity is located in the ceiling. To do this, tap the surface. A hole is drilled between the voids and cleaned with a small brush or a directed air stream. The cavity is filled from a syringe with a polymer composition.

Then screw in the anchor and wait for the product to harden. This takes from two hours to a couple of days (information is indicated on the packaging and in the instructions).

Attention! A hammock or chair can only be hung after the mixture has completely hardened!

Installation features

Popular recommendations for attaching a hanging chair to the ceiling emphasize the use of a chemical anchor. To be fair, it is worth noting that this term does not apply to the anchor bolt itself, but to the installation method. In this case, you will need the most ordinary anchor, and a special paste is pumped into the hole made for it. After polymerization, this composition will provide a very strong bolt fastening. In this way, it is most convenient to hang chairs exclusively from a monolithic concrete beam. As you know, ordinary city apartments are not equipped with such structures.

Hollow reinforced concrete slabs are used as floors in multi-storey buildings, the walls of which are no more than 40 mm thick. At dachas and inside private houses, in addition to reinforced concrete slabs, durable wooden beams can be used. For example, you can disassemble the installation of a hanging chair to the ceiling of a children's room: in this case, it is necessary to ensure maximum fastening strength in order to ensure that collapse is avoided. Installation is carried out not on one, but on several chemical anchors.

Operating procedure:

1. Take a metal plate 5 mm thick, square in shape (the length of one side is 30 cm). Drilling is done in the center and in each of the corners. The central zone is equipped with a securely fastened repair bolt. Mounting bolts will later be threaded into the holes in the corners.
2. The back of the repair bolt is exposed from behind, making it difficult to press the sheet tightly to the ceiling base. To solve the problem, the shank is measured, according to which 4 pipes are made of metal.
3. Anchors are immersed in these pipes and installed at each of the corners of the plate (in the space between the plate and the ceiling). This will make it possible to provide the fastening with stability that is important for it. Next, markings are made along the holes in the plate on the base of the ceiling: holes are drilled in the designated areas and filled with fastening mortar. After this, you can install the anchors.
4. It is better to choose a reliable chain as a suspension for the chair. To disguise not very attractive ceiling fasteners, you can use decorative foam elements (molding, frieze, etc.). Despite their cheapness, they are distinguished by their visual appeal.
5. Installation of a hanging wicker chair to a wood ceiling is done without the use of chemical anchors. The best option in this situation would be a solid metal clamp that completely encircles the supporting beam. Considering the fact that the maximum load on fasteners sometimes exceeds 200 kg, it is recommended to use tape with a width of 50 mm and a thickness of 3 mm to make the clamp. As a rule, timber with a cross-section of at least 100 mm is used to construct ceiling beams. The suspension can be done on a rounded log, which is stronger than a simple beam.

How to make a simple DIY hanging chair

This option is quite inexpensive. And for production you only need sewing skills and some materials:

• metal hoop with a diameter of 70-110 cm;
• two square pieces of durable fabric with a side of 120-160 cm;
• one or more pieces of fabric 20 cm wide and a total length of 35-40 cm;
• the same amount of padding polyester;
• border to match the fabric or in a contrasting color;
• a zipper that matches the length of the hoop;
• about 10-11 meters of durable cord for hanging;
• a pair of carabiners and rings.

The fabric is laid out on the table and a hoop is placed on top. At a distance of about 25 cm, draw a circle (you can mark the points with a centimeter and connect them). Cut along the contour. The same is repeated with the second piece.

Fold one of the circles exactly in half and cut it. A zipper is placed in this place. Connect both parts with the wrong sides facing out, stitch and turn inside out.

Make four holes for fastenings. To make sitting more comfortable, the two front ones are moved a little closer to the rear ones. The edges are trimmed with a border. The hoop is wrapped in strips of padding polyester. To make the material stick better, you can apply a little glue. The insulation is secured with stitches over the edge. Then they cover it with fabric (after folding it inward and pinning it with pins).

The hoop is inserted into the case through the hole in the middle and the zipper is fastened. Turn this side down and make hangers. The cord or rope is cut into pieces: two 2.2 m each and the same number 2.8 m each. A knot is tied at the end of each. The rope is passed through the hoop and the loop is tightened. Short cords are placed at the back, and long cords are placed at the front. The ropes are attached in pairs to carabiners and suspended from the ceiling.

The rag chair is complemented with pillows. You can find suitable ones or sew them from leftover padding polyester and fabric.

What is better to hang a homemade chair on?

For this purpose, chains, cables or ropes are used. Many people prefer the first option because they consider it more reliable. But that's not true. The durable climbing cord can support up to 900 kg when suspended. This is more than enough for both the chair and the person sitting in it.

In addition, the chain jingles and makes noise when swinging, which can distract from relaxation and disturb others. A chair suspended on a rope moves silently and is capable of spinning at a greater number of revolutions. Thus, it is better to choose a durable cord.

Rattan as a manufacturing material

A variety of materials can be used to produce hanging frame and frameless chairs. Rattan is considered the most popular and widely known. Rattan is a vine.

This material can be natural or artificial. It has a number of advantages:

• Rattan chairs can support a person up to 150 kilograms.
• The material easily takes the shape of the body.
• Chairs made of natural material weigh no more than 20 kilograms.
• Does not require special care. Wipes easily with a clean dry cloth.
• The chair can last you about 40 years.
• Is a decoration of a classic interior.
• The material used for weaving is environmentally friendly.

Along with the advantages, the following disadvantages can be identified:

• It doesn’t look good in all interiors.
• When installing to the ceiling, a number of difficulties arise.
• Takes up a lot of space.
• High price.

Photos of hanging chairs in the interior

When choosing a hanging chair, you need to focus not only on the technical characteristics of the product, but also on the appearance. Then the purchase will fit perfectly into the interior and will evoke only pleasant emotions.

History of appearance

The hanging version of the chair was first introduced in 1957 by the famous Danish designer Nann Ditzel. The invention was shaped like an egg and was attached to the ceiling. This idea was later refined by the Finnish designer Eero Aarino: his “bubble” model was released in 1968. The chair looked like a transparent plastic ball and had the familiar ceiling mount.

Subsequently, a strong trend towards development and improvement in this direction was maintained. This led to the fact that hanging chairs not only gained a place in the market, but also turned into a separate line of home furniture. When purchasing such a structure, you have to take into account a number of factors, including the features of the ceiling, interior style, type of fastening, etc.