I happened to have an extra crib mattress laying around… one thing led to another…
The crib mattress that was collecting dust in the garage ultimately gave my front room the “wow factor”. Do you by chance have an extra crib mattress laying around ? Well my friend, you are in luck, you can make your very own porch swing.
Shopping List:
8 = 1×4’s
3= 1×2’s
3= 2×3’s
Plywood
Brad Nails
3″ wood screws
1 1/4″ Screws
4= 6″ eyelet bolt w/ bolts and washers
Rope (length varies, depending on suspended height and ceiling height, mine was approx 35-40′)
4= swing hardware hooks
Crib Mattress
Suggested Materials/Tools:
Sander
Miter Saw
Table Saw ( For plywood, you can ask this to be cut at your home improvement store.)
Drill
1/2″ drill bit
Nail gun ( You can complete this by hand or with a drill if needed)
Air Compressor if applicable.
Brad Nails
3″ Wood Screws
1 1/4″ Wood Screws ( Not necessary if using a nail gun.)
Cut List:
1×4’s
5@ 52″
6@ 27
2@ 26.5
8@ 22″
1×2’s
1@ 56″ (45 degree angles, long point to long point)
2@ 29.5″ (45 degree angles, long point to long point)
2 @ 4″ (45 degree angle , long point to straight end)
2@ 21″
1@ 46″
2×3’s
2@ 47.5″
2@ 26.5″
2@ 23.5″
Plywood
1 @ 26.5″ x 50.5″
Begin by prepping your wood, and making all your cuts. ( If you are a beginner, I might suggest making your cuts as you go, making sure all pieces fit correctly.)
Second, sand and stain/paint all your 1×2’s and 1×4’s. While they are drying you can construct your base out of 2×3’s. (Your base will not be visible.)
Use 3″ screws when constructing the base.
Next, screw and or nail 2 of the 52″ and 26.5″ 1×4’s around the perimeter of the base.
Using a square or a level fasten your 1×4’s cut @ 22″ at each corner so that they are vertical.
At this point you can fasten the remaining 52″ slats and the 27 1/4″ horizontal slats. The top slat will be flush with the top of the 22″ vertical supports.
Next install the top finishing pieces, which consists of the 1×2’s cut at 56″ (long point to long point) , 2@ 29.5″ (long point to long point),and 2 @ 4″ ( long point to straight cut ).
After the top rail is in place, take the remaining 1×2’s and install directly below the top rail. (See pictures below.) Install the 21″ pieces on the sides and the last 46″ along the back.
Before placing the plywood in the base, we need to drill holes for the eyelet hooks.
The placement of your eyelet bolt holes will vary depending on where you are hanging it. Mine are placed just inside the corners of my base. (You will be drilling through the 1×4″ and the 2×3″)
Once the hole is drilled insert and secure the eyelet bolt with a locking washer, and bolt.
I put a large washer on the outside of my swing as well, mainly because I like the look of exposed hardware.
Ok, I am not going to sugar coat it, building the swing wasn’t too hard, it was installing the thing that is a pain in the ! You will NEED to mount your swing hardware into ceiling joists. I spent a good hour trying to configure measurements that would work. Just bear in mind, the closer set the ceiling hooks, the more momentum the swing can get… Just log that one away.
 | |||||||
| (Swing hardware) |
You can use chain if you would like to suspend your swing, I chose to use rope, if using chain simply count out the links before hanging. If you chose rope here is my suggestion. Decide how far off the ground you would like your swing to sit. Find a sturdy item that is the same height and rest your swing on it while you attach the ropes. This will make life easier, and you are assured it will be level. Originally I had tried to measure my rope in advance, but it turned out to be trickier than I had anticipated.
| Now that everything is installed, you can make it pretty! I actually designed this swing to accommodate a crib size mattress, BECAUSE they are considerably cheaper than buying foam to make a cushion. Another bonus for all my sewing illiterate friends, you can slap a crib sheet on it and call it good! |
Add some throw pillows and you are done! Now sit down, open a nice cold Diet Coke and relax in your new swing!
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john patinson says
April 16, 2014 at 12:42 pmIt was great to see the old printshop and everyone who works there again. I am excited to see a printing business still operating and growing, great job guys
memory foam off-gassing
Pauline Henderson says
August 8, 2014 at 1:14 amI love this project ! It looks amazing.
coreydecker@gmail.com says
August 8, 2014 at 1:50 amThank you so much for your comment, and for reading.
B. Lake says
August 18, 2014 at 1:47 amI am so proud of you! I have wanted a swing in my living room for the past 55 years! But… my wasbands (2) thought it was a stupid idea and told me so. Obviously, I have neither of them now, but neither do I have a swing. I’d love to come over and sit/swing a spell. You did a great job! Everyone should have a swing somewhere! I’d also like a swinging bed!
coreydecker@gmail.com says
August 18, 2014 at 7:22 pmI absolutely love having it! Me and the kids sit and read on it often. Make sure you do it. You won’t regret it.
Alex says
September 2, 2014 at 3:56 pmI LOVE this, and I love that you hung it inside. I have been wanting to do something like this on my front porch. May I ask where you got the cover for your mattress? I’ve never seen a crib mattress look so comfortable. Thanks for posting..so glad I found your site.
coreydecker@gmail.com says
September 2, 2014 at 4:38 pmThank you so much! I would not consider myself a seamstress by any means, but I can sew. I made that cover to match the room. If sewing is not your thing, I might suggest using some batting or foam padding to give the mattress some body, and then use a crib mattress sheet as the cover. They come in a ton of patterns and colors now! Hopefully that helps, and thank you for reading!
Lori says
October 31, 2014 at 5:16 amYou are very creative! Awesome idea!
coreydecker@gmail.com says
November 1, 2014 at 6:11 pmThank you so much Lori!
Creighton says
January 2, 2015 at 8:29 pmOne note: I replaced hook swings for a fairly heavy gentleman and found that some are rated for 125 pounds each while others were for 250 pounds each (at the big box stores). One of his original hooks broke cleanly like a pretzel stick, so it must have been a cheap one. There may be even heavier duty hook swings out there, but it’s worth buying the heavier rated ones (or you may not be able to put Humpty together again).
the cape on the corner says
January 13, 2015 at 7:26 pmhuh. now that is awesome.
b
coreydecker@gmail.com says
January 14, 2015 at 7:28 pmThank you! We love it.
kat says
February 20, 2015 at 3:43 amAny idea how much weight it can hold? How much swing space does it need? I love this have the perfect place for this, just worried it might swing too much and hit the wall.
coreydecker@gmail.com says
February 21, 2015 at 9:12 pmI have never tested it but me and my husband and 2 kids safely sit on it, roughly 425 ish lbs, with no problem. If you set the hardware anchors further apart, it will no permit it to swing as far. You can adjust how far apart you place them depending on the amount of space you have. 🙂