Is it a vibe? A look? No, a hammock is more than that.
It’s an instant shift to a different gear, a few quiet moments with a good book, a ridiculously satisfying afternoon nap. Really, it’s a breeze that feels like it’s coming in from another world.
A hammock offers more than a place to land. It offers a different kind of life — if only for a moment.
Sure, at first there’s the unavoidably awkward surrendering the gravity of your feet on the ground, and rearranging your limbs to find just the right spot. But then, mmmmm, then. That’s when that particular corner of your porch or yard becomes a no to-do list zone. A blissfully suspended getaway.
And you can create your sanctuary, your own little escape, in your favorite spot with a hammock in whatever fabric colors and patterns feel like you, feel like home. Let’s talk about that.
Why Hammocks — And The Fabrics You Choose — Have Work To Do
With hammocks, performance is about more than spills and stains, so there’s a bit of planning to be considered beyond design style alone. You can buy a hammock, or make your own. (Seriously, there are many, many DIY options.) You can sling one between trees, posts, or on a stand as a freestanding hammock.
Although, here at the largest online furniture upholstery fabric store, we rarely share anything warranting a disclaimer, given the unique role a hammock plays in your comfort (or sudden discomfort), make sure you test out your hammock’s ability to confidently deliver the relaxation you deserve.
After that, there’s plenty of fun to be had — and personalization to be played with — in your new hammock heaven.
Maybe that’s simply adding a layer of decorative fabric over an existing hammock to bring a little pop, like a sunflower coral and peach geometric pattern fabric. Maybe you’re counting on the fabric to do the lifting on a do-it-yourself hammock, like with layers of an indigo woven textured jacquard marine fabric. Add some pillows to that one in nautical navy, red, and aqua stripes on ivory to finish the look.
Bottom line: If you build it (safely), the relaxation and style will come. On to more of that…
The Best Upholstery Fabrics For Your Hammock, Simplified
To stick the landing…err…hanging for hammock fabrics, stick with outdoor performance fabrics. Generally (but not always as you’ll see), you’ll aim for the tightest weaves possible, like a canvas and/or a solution-dyed acrylic of some sort.
Since most hammocks dwell outdoors, there’s the additional strain of weather and weight placed upon them. So, choose fabrics with an eye toward utility. This is actually really helpful in narrowing down choices in the vast landscape of options these days. For instance…
- You may choose a very sturdy, highly durable fabric for your hammock, like a sand brown heavy-duty Sunbrella fabric. Then comes playtime, adding pillows and more personal patterns and textures, like a terrace pool aqua Riviera stripe and a nubby white outdoor boucle.
- Or you might just be covering an existing hammock to personalize it, freeing you to lean into a looser weave since it won’t be loadbearing, like a marine blue tropical pattern woven fabric.
- Or some hybrid of the two with a foundational fabric like forest green sturdy canvas twill, and then an additional fabric to lend some pop, like an abstract geometric pattern in rust orange and white.
Performance will be king. But beyond that, you get the joy of adding that indoor level of invite, outdoors. You just make sure that the fabric understands its responsibilities, too.
How Fabric Helps Your Hammock Tell A Fresh Design Story
It’s storytime. The thing we love so freaking much about design — whether indoors or outdoors – is it’s a type of conversation. Actually, it’s a storytelling jam where you have exclusive access to the microphone.
And one of the big gifts of hammocks being outdoors is you can color outside the lines of your home’s typical design vibe. You can tell a different story and reveal a different side of you.
Perhaps you simply want to offer a grounded serenity, like a solid textured jacquard in pond blue or earthy charcoal grey. Or elevate the energy to offer resort-like vibes with a hammock in coastal blueberry blue, white, and yellow stripes, vintage vibe burgundy and natural tone linen stripes, or a cheerful buttercup yellow, white, and coral stripe basketweave fabric.
It’s a bit like the lovely lady who shows up to a wedding reception in a color or pattern you hadn’t ever thought of, or the dapper gentleman wearing super interesting shoes, vest, and a vintage cap. They understand the occasion, but don’t feel the need to fit in and match everything. They’re happy to stand out with a smile.
How Layers Of Fabric Make Your Hammock Even More Relaxing
In addition to the joy of luxuriating, there’s a functionality to elevating the comfort of a hammock.
For instance, you might have some less than comfortable bits securing your hammock, like grommets or knots. Well, that’s a perfect place to add some padding and deck it out in a sumptuous fabric, like a nubby dune beige jacquard or a maize blue and gold abstract geometric pattern basketweave fabric.
Pillows are a welcome addition to any hammock, adding pattern, texture, and comfort. Like a woven greige fabric with a handcrafted feel and diamond pattern against a hammock with a light blue heavy-duty woven fabric. Or pillows in a richly textured serape stripe in poppy blue and red against a solid indigo fabric hammock.
Quick tip: Our custom pillow service helps here, as well as some of our DIY cushion tutorials re-purposed for a hammock.
Add personality and flexibility to your hammock — make it double-sided and/or reversible. Because some days you feel like a simple sky blue stripe or light blue outdoor velvet (yes, velvet), and some days you feel like a playful ginkgo poppy or a Belize botanical print fabric.
The point is, comforting layers of fabrics that don’t carry the weight of the project allow you to offer even more softness, texture, and pattern.
Make A Little Room For A Hammock — And The Joy Of Doing Nothing
Here’s the best part about a hammock. It’s so clearly designed for one purpose, and one purpose only. Creating a spot for relaxing — exclusively.
Whether you DIY your hammock or buy one from the store and personalize it, fabrics offer a simple and affordable opportunity to add even more comfort and allure.
A single, solid color inspiring an exhale. A pattern popping with tropical energy or luxurious vibes. Or piles of pillows with colors, patterns, and textures calling you to chill whenever the weather permits.
Now, unfortunately, we can’t help you get in and get out of your hammock gracefully. (C’mon, that ahhhhh is worth feeling a little silly for a second.) But we are here to help you find the right and perfect hammock fabrics.
And we’d love nothing more than to help you deepen the relaxation of your new hammock hang. Give us a call today.
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