Hanging a chair from the ceiling: dangerous or not. Myths and reality

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:

Hanging chair with a rigid frame . As a rule, it is made in the form of a hemisphere, oval or drop.
Solid plastic chair . The product comes in the shape of half a ball or an egg, transparent and colored.
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.
Hammock chair . Suspends from one attachment point, directly or through a horizontal spacer stick. More often found in fabric version.
Chair with fastening to the floor and ceiling . You won't be able to swing, just spin around your axis.
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.

Features of suspended ceiling chairs

Chairs suspended from the ceiling have a number of features:

Huge variety of models. They will vary in shape, design, and materials. All of them are united only by the method of fastening;
An excellent replacement for a swing. In small-sized housing, the issue of children's swings comes to the fore. In this case, you will kill two birds with one stone. Your child will be happy and an original piece of furniture will appear in the house;
Comfortable holiday with memories of childhood. It will be enjoyable at any age;
A properly hung chair can withstand high loads;
A removable soft seat will make the relaxation process more comfortable.

Not all features are nice:

The models are not suitable for older houses. If you have doubts about the reliability of the ceilings, it is better to immediately choose chairs suspended from a rod;
A number of construction works will be required. Drilling slabs, cementing the suspension and decorative camouflage have not been canceled;
The chair loses its mobility completely. It will not be possible to move it to another place. It's too impractical.

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.

Models of suspended ceiling chairs

Hanging chairs come in a variety of interior shapes to suit every taste:

Egg/ball. This is a truncated hemisphere of regular or slightly elongated shape. The standard depth is 50 cm. Chairs with a 2/3 section can reach 85 cm in depth. Suspended strictly vertically. Designed for one person. Provide a complete overview;
Cocoon. This chair looks more like a “house” and will hide you from prying eyes. The frame can be of any shape, but it will invariably be closed. Only a small “loophole” will allow you to get inside. Although, even the entrance can be equipped with a curtain or door. A great way to find privacy in a large family. Differ in larger dimensions;
Hammock. This is a type of frameless textile chairs. They can be hung in the form of a drop (the edges are gathered at one point) or on a triangular “hanger” (hanger 2). Most loved by children for their comfort and softness. They are something between a camping tent, a swing and a hammock. The bottom is most often sealed with a special insert.

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

Mounting methods

The attachment of the chair to the ceiling must be very reliable. Installation methods depend on the characteristics of the ceilings. It is best to hang on a monolithic concrete slab using a chemical anchor. This is the most durable and reliable mount. But usually in city apartments the ceilings are hollow concrete slabs. The width of their walls should be at least 4-5 cm. It is permissible to hang such a chair in a wooden house if there are strong beams on the ceiling.

There are several ways to attach a hanging chair to the ceiling.

Chemical anchor. This is a particularly strong steel bolt, which is strengthened in the cavity with a special construction paste. After hardening, it ensures its reliable fixation. This mount can withstand 200 kg or more.
Cementing. Various hooks or blocks are fixed in the opening of the ceiling with a cementitious composition. This method is less reliable and depends on the quality of the material.
Special tires, beams or screens. Usually they are made of metal, stretched across the entire room, secured in several places around the perimeter. This fastening allows you to distribute the load evenly and increases the reliability of the structure.
Axial fastening. The chair is attached to the ceiling and the floor at the same time. This method does not allow the structure to swing, but only to rotate around its axis.

Chemical anchor

Cementing

Special tires, beams or screens

Axial fastening

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!

Varieties

The main advantage of a chair suspended from the ceiling is its originality: this piece of furniture immediately attracts the attention of others. Developers present a number of models of this design on the market, which makes choosing the right option much easier.

Types of hanging chairs:

Wicker
. The classic model that was used initially. Currently, hanging chairs from the ceiling made of rattan and willow are especially popular. This is explained by the modern fashion for natural, eco-friendly materials. These models do not look innovative, but this does not prevent them from having a luxurious look: this is very valuable for classic interiors. There are two types of wicker furniture on sale: natural and artificial. Visually, these products are not much different, but in terms of service life, the advantage is on the side of cheaper plastic options. They are the ones that can most often be found in dachas and personal gardens.
Hard plastic
. The first transparent “Bubble” ball was made from this material: despite the original appearance, this chair is quite uncomfortable to use. In more modern designs, developers try to take into account the anatomical features of a person. Solid plastic products come in both transparent and colored. This makes it possible to combine external beauty with ease of use. The cost of hanging chairs made of hard plastic is not very high.
Fabric
. The most inexpensive option for a hanging chair, which is characterized by significant ease of use. In this case, the hammock known to all mankind was taken as a basis: it was slightly reduced and equipped with a device for a seat.
"Cocoon"
. This deep chair, the volume of which allows an adult to hide inside, has been known to the world for a couple of hundred years. Modern modifications are equipped with a reinforced frame and a durable fastening cable. Thus, it was possible to breathe new life into this development, which was proven by large-scale sales of “cocoons”. People who value privacy especially loved this chair. Sitting in such a seat, a person gains 75% isolation from the outside world. The structure swings gently, which promotes peace and tranquility.
"A drop"
. This variety can most often be found in children's rooms. In appearance it is a large bag that looks like a house. Reliable slings are used to secure the chair to the ceiling. As a result, the child gets a comfortable place to play and relax. The placement features of this design make it possible not to clutter up the space of the room.

Almost all types of hanging chairs can be attached not only to the ceiling. As a rule, the kit includes a special frame that allows the use of such furniture in houses with weak ceilings that cannot withstand suspension. In addition, the frame makes it possible to adjust the swing amplitude.

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.

How to install a baby swing chair

The most commonly used hanging furniture is a children's swing. In this case, the installation must be especially reliable. When calculating the load capacity, you need to take into account not only the weight of the chair itself and the weight of the child, but also the fact that children grow and can sit on the swing together. In addition, it is important to take into account the dynamic load. Therefore, the fastening of such a structure should be as reliable as possible. The swing must be suspended from the concrete floor, even if it is installed in a doorway.

There are several options for installing such structures. The choice of the appropriate method depends on the characteristics of the ceiling.

If the ceiling has wooden supporting beams, you can hang the swing on large self-tapping screws with a hook. They are screwed into the beam, and then connected to a supporting chain or cord using carabiners.
It is better to install chemical anchors in the concrete floor. For swings it is better to use not one, but 2-4 pieces.
Stretch a metal rail across the entire ceiling and hang the swing on it. The load will be distributed evenly, which increases the reliability of the structure. Typically a steel pipe is used along which the swing can move.

Large screws with hook

On a metal bus

Chemical anchors

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.

Hanging chair on a stand

A hanging chair on a stand is a great option for those who want to move a hanging chair to any location easily and quickly. Also, this option is perfect for those who have a thing about ceilings, for those who are not ready to make even the smallest hole in the ceiling.

And finally, a chair on a stand can be placed where it is impossible to attach it to the ceiling - for example, on the street, near the house or on the veranda. The Lounge wood company produces stands for hanging chairs. The rack has a nice bonus - it sways slightly up and down, even without a spring. You should also be aware of its small disadvantage - it can withstand 135 kg (the Loungewood chair suspended from the ceiling can withstand 250 kg).

Please also note that the stand (of any hanging chair) cannot be located too far from the rocking chair itself, which means that you will not be able to swing with a high amplitude. We tell everything honestly, as best we can. :)

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.

Beautiful interior design options with hanging chairs

A unique bedroom design can be achieved by placing a hanging seat in the corner, a type called “bubble”.

A “bubble” chair will help create an unusual bedroom interior

Such rooms should not be cluttered with unnecessary items. The correct addition would be lamps of the correct, geometric shape. This interior radiates comfort and tranquility.

A room for a girl (girl) should be done in cornflower blue tones, adding floral patterns to the decoration and accessories. It is necessary to secure the seat, in which pillows of the same colors are placed. The atmosphere in the room is feminine and gentle.

For every space and design, there is a hanging seat that will be the focal point of the room. There are a lot of design options.

Hanging chairs can become both a room design element and a piece of furniture. A huge selection of colors and shapes allows you to choose this item for any room.

Models

From the very beginning, to create such pieces of furniture, ordinary chairs were used, which were equipped with a hanging mount and lacked legs. But, to bring it to life, the design had to be light in weight, therefore, most of the first hanging chairs were made of wicker or rattan. These materials are quite durable and light in weight.

The emergence of new materials could not go unnoticed by designers and soon, it was possible to choose from many models of these pieces of furniture made from a variety of materials. Special durable plastic was very popular.

However, in order to evenly distribute the load, a certain shape of the product was required. The hemisphere met all the requirements best. There are many variations on the theme from different materials. This shape made it possible to raise the product as high as possible above the floor surface and evenly distribute the weight of the person sitting throughout the structure.

Currently, you can purchase a hanging chair that is attached to the ceiling in the stores of the famous company IKEA. It offers a fairly large assortment of a wide variety of furniture, among which you can find the product you are interested in.

Separately, you can consider chairs that, being suspended, do not require attachment to the ceiling. These are models with a barbell. Their main difference is that the hanging element is attached to a special frame that stands on the floor. At the same time, the chair itself does not stand, but hangs in the air.

Types of fastenings

To reliably attach such a structure, you need to know that conventional anchor bolts, which are used for a variety of suspensions, can only withstand a load of up to 100 kilograms. Anything that weighs more cannot be secured securely. Another solution must be found.

In addition, the material of the floor itself to which this piece of furniture will be attached is also of considerable importance. To reduce the risk of falling and make fixation more reliable, you can distribute the load over several points.

A similar solution is used for mounting punching bags, the weight of which can reach up to one hundred kilograms. You can use a special frame that will be fixed to the ceiling at several points, or you can simply increase the number of anchors by combining them into one suspension system.

If a frame or mounting pad is used, it can later be painted to match the color of the ceiling without being too noticeable. However, the best solution would be to hide the entire structure behind a suspended or tensioned covering.

What are these chairs made of?

The pear is hanging - you can’t eat it! And in our case, an unusual structure hangs from the ceiling. You can climb into it with your arms and legs, take your favorite book and effectively relax. When you see hand-made chairs, the most enthusiastic metaphors come to mind:

Compact weight and dimensions.
Streamlined, “space” shape.
Simplicity and convenience.
Becomes an accent detail.

Perhaps the most common material used in the production of such chairs is rattan. Essentially, it is a tropical vine, quite strong and reliable. This is the longest plant on the planet, having a smooth and thin trunk.

Externally, rattan palm resembles reed, but it is much stronger. It bends easily, so you can create almost any configuration from rattan. Including a comfortable, soft chair.

The energy of the material is the same as that of natural wood. It has a positive effect on a person’s well-being and mood, invigorates and even improves immunity.

How sweet it is to sleep in such a chair!

Keep in mind that rattan does not grow in our country. Therefore, the cost of the finished product can hardly be called democratic. As an alternative, you can find hanging chairs on the market that you make yourself from artificial rattan. The purchase will cost you twice as much, the external differences are almost invisible. Each user will be able to choose an option that will fully satisfy his needs and will become a worthy decoration of the room.

Material of manufacture

Traditional chair models are made from natural wood, wicker or rattan. For modern interiors, you can use transparent acrylic, wool, textiles or metal. The manufacturing material is selected taking into account the general style, purpose of the room and the strength of the base on which the product will be attached.

A heavy structure consisting of wrought iron elements will require a more reliable base base, while lightweight artificial rattan can be installed on a ceiling made of wooden beams or shingles. Armchairs made of matte or colored acrylic allow you to make any interior unique and inimitable. The spectacular design can be used to furnish a modern studio apartment decorated in a loft or hi-tech style.