The Advantages of a Glider

If you are looking to add a swing to your porch or yard, let me take a moment to recommend that you at least investigate purchasing a glider instead of a traditional hanging swing, especially if the area you want your swing to be located is in your yard or patio where there is no roof available.
A mission glider, unlike a hanging swing, functions by use of a gliding track system. This track system is located underneath the glider’s seat, allowing it to slide and swing without being suspended by chains as a traditional porch swing is. There are several advantages to the use of the gliding track system.
First off, porch swing chains are prone to rusting, causing extra work and additional expense in replacing them. The vast majority of gliding track systems, however, are made with rust-proof zinc hardware, making rust much less of an issue.
A second advantage to the glider is that it takes up less space than a hanging swing. If you hope to put some sort of swinging outdoor furniture in your yard or on a deck or patio without a roof, you will have to purchase an additional stand if you wish to hang a suspended swing. With a glider, on the other hand, the swinging mechanism is self-contained, allowing it to take up about the same amount of room as a stationary bench. This difference in size also makes the glider much easier to relocate.
However, gliders are not for everyone. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of both the glider and the suspended swing before making your final purchase.

Finishing Your Porch Swing

We all know that your swing is the most important part of your porch. For many people, their outdoor porch swings are not only a source of comfort and enjoyment, but also the focal point of their entire porch or patio. For this reason, it is important that you keep your swing looking its best for the many years to come. If your swing’s beauty fades, it will affect the attractiveness of your whole porch; and since your porch is the front of your home, the appeal of your entire house will suffer.
Therefore, it is crucial that you apply a proper finish to your outdoor swing. A treatment such as a varnish or a translucent finish will emphasize the grain of your wood, while creating a rich, beautiful, and glossy color. If you prefer the appearance of an opaque paint, you can coat your swing in literally any solid color of your choosing. In other words, you can create virtually any design that you want to on your porch by finishing your swing accordingly. These treatments not only look great and add style to your porch, but they also protect your swing from the harmful effects of rain, snow, and other moisture. The main purpose of a finish is to keep the wood safe from rot, mold, and other sorts of decay and to prevent insect damage.
To keep your wooden porch swing looking attractive, and in effect keeping up the appearance of your entire house, be sure that you apply a finish to the swing. Otherwise, it will be subject to the forces of nature and eventually lose both its beauty and its ability to function.

Find Comfort with a Padded Rocking Chair

An outdoor rocking chair is a classic and comfortable way to enjoy your backyard and relax. However, if you are looking to increase your comfort and reach a whole new level of relaxation, you might be interested in a padded rocking chair.

Traditionally, outdoor rocking chairs are fashioned entirely from wood. The user would sit directly on the wooden seat and the wooden spokes provide support for your back. Although this design is quite attractive, if you sit in a classing wooden rocking chair for an extended period of time, it leaves something to be desired in the way of comfort.
Padded rocking chairs, on the other hand, sport cushions both on the seat and the back. These cushions allow you to sit for as long as you want without growing uncomfortable or needing to relocate. That way, you can spend hours on your patio, enjoying both the soothing rocking motion and the beauty of the outdoors, without having to worry about comfort or support for your body.
When purchasing your padded rocking chair, make sure that you buy an outdoor one. If you buy one of the many indoor padded rocking chairs, the fabrics will be unable to stand up to the harsh elements of rain and snow. Outdoor padded rocking chairs use weather-resistant fabrics to ensure the long life of your rocking chair.

Swinging Together

Once upon a time, swing seating was limited to two people and that was it. A swing could be enjoyed with a friend or lover, but swinging was never a family activity. Until now, that is. Today, as I was surfing the web, I stumbled across the garden swing gilder. This nifty glider set feature two regular sized swings facing each other under an impressive canopy. This swing set could fit four grown members of your family; and even more if your small children want to swing. What a great way to bring your family together!
Not only will a garden swing glider allow your whole family to swing at once, but it is also incredibly helpful in creating quality time together. Instead of watching a movie in silence, why not spend your family night out on your swing glider? Since the swings face each other, the unit is highly conducive to personal conversation. It will allow you to interact on a deep and meaningful level, since sitting facing each other is the most intimate position for conversation. A swing glider will allow you and your family to enjoy each other and your backyard at the same time, and hopefully bring your family closer to each other in the process.

Choosing the Right Cushion For Your Swing

No outdoor porch swing is complete until you buy cushions or pillows to go with it. Not only do cushions soften a wooden swing and make it more comfortable, but they also provide you with an arena to show more of your aesthetic taste and incorporate your swing with the rest of your outdoor decor.
However, there are definitely certain materials you want to look for when choosing cushions for your swing. You will want to make sure that your pillows will be able to stand up to all the elements it will be facing outside.
The most important element your cushions will need to resist is rain. Therefore, it is crucial to look for cushions that are made of materials that dry quickly and can be waterproofed. The best option for outdoor swing cushion materials is canvas coated with PVC. PVC will help to repel water off the pillow, keeping it drier and more protected. Cushions made of this material are also more resistant to dust, pollen, dirt and UV rays. These protective features allow the cushion to retain its original strength and resist fading for years to come.
When you are shopping for cushions for your porch swing, it is essential that you get high-quality cushions made of the proper material. Otherwise, your pillows will remain wet for too long and last for a very short period of time, making your swing less usable than before you bought your cushions.

Enjoy Your Swing, Even in the Cold

One of the worst things that can happen to your porch swing is the weather getting too cold for you to be able to enjoy it! When the seasons start to change and the autumn begins to cool down, it just can be too chilly for you to sit on your swing for very long. Luckily, you can avoid this porch catastrophe by purchasing a patio heater.
Patio heaters come in several different varieties, all of which will keep your porch nice and toasty. The three main types are wall-mounted heaters, tabletop heaters, and freestanding pole-mounted heaters.
Wall-mounted heaters are installed on the walls or ceiling of your porch. These heaters keep your patio free of clutter, and are the best option if you have children or pets, or if you yourself is accident-prone.
A tabletop heater sits on top of a patio table, and is much smaller than a pole-mounted heater. These heaters are great, but only if you have the table space to sacrifice.
Finally, there is the pole-mounted heater. These heaters are quite tall and sit on the ground, but they also create a lot of heat.
No matter which kind of patio heater you decide to purchase, I know you will be happy that you can enjoy your porch swing, even when it’s cold out!

Create a Beautiful Arbor Swing

An arbor swing can be a beautiful addition to your backyard, because not only do you get to enjoy your swing, but you get to view beautiful flowers while you swing. However, to produce the most attractive nook you can, you need to know at least a small bit about arbor gardening. Here are a few tips on what plants grow best on the swing arbor and how to grow them:
• You obviously want to grow plants that are vines on your arbor. A few beautiful and popular choices are climbing roses, wisteria, trumpet creeper, grapes, and passionflower vines.
• Be sure to place your arbor where it won’t block sunlight from other plants in your garden.
• Place the arbor in a location where your plants will receive plenty of sunlight.
• Make sure your arbor is shielded from strong winds.
• Keep the base of your plants mulched with four inches of organic mulch, so that the soil retains water better.
• Be sure to check on your plants and water them daily.
• Train the vines to climb up the arbor. You might need to purchase weatherproof garden twine to tie them to your arbor as they grow.
If you follow these simple suggestions, you can basically guarantee that your backyard will boast a beautiful arbor.

Try Something New with a Hammock Swing!

I don’t know about you, but the hammock is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the outdoor. It is so comfortable, and is the perfect spot to lounge around, lie back, and relax. However, there is more than one way to enjoy a hammock.
One of the most unique options is the hammock swing. Hammock swings combine the design of a hammock with the fun of a swing. Although traditional hammocks can move back and forth, it is not really that good for the structure of the swing to do so. The traditional hammock also makes it difficult for you to change positions and sit up. You can really only lie down on a hammock. But the swing hammock combines the best of both worlds. This hammock swing allows you to sit up or lay down. It also is compact enough to fit on your porch, whereas a full-length traditional hammock never could.
Personally, I would much rather have a hammock swing on my porch because I find the fabric more comfortable than the traditional wooden swing. I am also pretty lazy, and I like the way hammock swings allow you to lay around and slouch. If you are shopping for a swing for your porch, don’t forget about hammock swings!

Save Money with a Rocker

While a porch swing or glider is a fun addition to your yard or patio, they also can be fairly expensive. Especially in today’s economy, if you are on a budget, but you still want something to swing on, I recommend you check out an Adirondack rocker.
The Adirondack rocking chair combines the classic comfort of the Adirondack chair with the relaxation of the rocking chair. Although it is not as large as a classic swing or glider (which can typically seat two or three people), this rocker is the perfect size for one person. If you want to curl up with a good book or sunbathe in your backyard, this rocker will do the trick.
Although swinging and rocking is not exactly the same thing, and this Adirondack chair definitely is not the same as a swing, sometimes you have to make sacrifices to save money. However, I think that an Adirondack rocker barely qualifies as a sacrifice. It is an incredibly relaxing and attractive alternative to an expensive swing, and will get the job done. Plus, the cost is under two hundred dollars for an Adirondack rocker, which is significantly less money than a porch swing or glider would cost.

It's All in the Details

Your porch swing is obviously the focal point of your porch. However, it is important to include the right outdoor furniture accessories to complete the look and style of your patio. Otherwise, your style will fall flat and your swing will look barren and unattractive. If you don’t create a complete and aesthetically-pleasing porch, complete with accessories for your furniture, you will not be able to enjoy porch swing to the fullest extent you could be able to.
One of the most important furniture accessories for your swing and other porch chairs is cushions or pillows. You can purchase these pillows in essentially any color or pattern that you want, and they come in many different sizes. Or, if you can’t find the exact look you want and desire a little more customization, why not make your own? It is really simple to sew your own pillows, and if you are looking to save money, you can even make one out of a tablecloth!
Also, the little thing make all the difference when it comes to decorating. Vases for your table with fresh flowers, paintings or clocks on the wall, and even hanging plants or planter boxes, will finish your porch’s look.

Why a Loveseat Glider?

If you want to add a swing to your backyard, but you don’t have a surface to hang it from, you can choose to invest in an outdoor loveseat glider instead. Of course, there are plenty of suspended swings that have their own stand, but you don’t want to add that bulk to your backyard, the loveseat glider is definitely the way to go. This glider has all the appeal of a swing, but none of the bulk and restrictions.
Plus, what can be more romantic than cuddling up with that special someone in your garden or maybe even overlooking a pond or fountain? A loveseat glider is clearly designed to be enjoyed by two, and is the perfect way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and the closeness and conversation with a friend or lover.
These gliders are made from gorgeous natural wood, which really complements the beauty of the outdoors. You should definitely check out a loveseat glider for the romance it brings and for the natural beauty is possesses.