Do you dream of reading that new summer thriller outside in the leafy shade of your garden, accompanied by a pitcher of sweet, icy lemonade? If so, you will likely want a place to sit or even lie down. Enter garden swings. I find that they induce relaxation much more effectively than garden benches because of the lulling rocking motion. Swaying to and fro also creates a nice little breeze.

One of my favourite styles is the three-seater garden hammock swing chair (it’s not actually a hammock, but a bench that swings). It’s the type that has the canopy overhead, to ensure that you’re always protected from the sun’s powerful rays. Many of them are made of wood, but there are also ones made of quality coated steel and come with cushioned back and seats. Once the garden swing is assembled (by simple self-assembly), it will last for years because of its sturdy construction. Another perk is that you can really stretch out in this type of swing.

If you’d like your garden swing to literally blend into your garden, I recommend a swing arbour. It’s a small arbour with a swing seat, so you could have vines or colourful climbers growing up the sides and top to create a secluded area in which to read or just relax. I prefer ones made of slow-grown pine to ensure strength and durability. It should also be treated with a solvent-free, weatherproof water-based stain.

And I’d never pass up a cool contemporary swing sun lounger with umbrella. It holds one person who can almost fully recline and gently swing. And you’ll probably end up falling asleep because it’s supremely comfortable; it has a thick mattress with a detachable pillow. You just might end up sleeping outdoors on balmy nights.

Did you know?

Kiiking is a sport played in Estonia where players attempt to swing 360 degrees around the spindle on a swing that consists of the seat and long rigid steel bars.

-Tari

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