Moving into a new apartment or dorm and do not want to lug another heavy frame, box spring, and mattress up and down narrow, winding stairs for the umpteenth time? You can save time, money and sanity with a hammock bed. Below are a few tops to help you simplify your new place.
Step 1: Scope Out Your New Space.
It's easy to find hammocks online in all sizes and styles. The following questions will help determine which will work best in your new place.
How much space do you have in your new place? Do you have a large bedroom with walls spaced 14ft or more apart? Or do you have a tiny dorm with walls placed 10ft apart? Do you have solid cement walls, wallpaper, or painted drywall with a wooden stud frame? Also, will you have a permanent sleeping space or are you crashing in a friend's living room and need to take down the hammock each morning?
Pay attention as well to the current décor - if any - in the new place. People often think hammocks only come in white or crazy neon colors, but that's not the case. A tastefully chosen hammock design can really complete or spice up your living space.
Step 2: Set Your Budget
It's a pretty safe bet you'll be saving lots of money buying a hammock online vs. a complete bed set, but exactly how much is up to you. With a simple power and basic know-how you can drill a pair of lag screws into your walls and buy a simple hammock and some rope and your set. (Hint: do a simple Google search for "how to hang a hammock indoors." There's plenty of diagrams and step by step directions available - and you might even find a good hammock in the process!) But if you'd rather not do that you may need a hammock stand, which will often cost around $ 100 depending on the size and quality you choose.
Hammocks can run from small, cheap camping hammocks for $ 40 on up to $ 250-300 for extremely deluxe models.
Step 3: Let the Search Begin.
When searching for hammocks online keep in mind the space constraints, whether or not you'll want a hammock stand, and the proper color from the questions above. Once you know those variables and have decided on an approximate budget it's time to start searching online.
Since you'll be using the hammock as a bed comfort should be top priority. The most comfortable hammocks should be woven from either cotton or nylon. Cotton is slightly more comfortable but nylon is much more durable, and still extremely comfortable in the right weave. Nicaraguan and Mexican hammocks are top of class in this regard. If you can find a hammock with fringes on the sides even better; they serve as a great makeshift blanket for a cool night. A company named Lazy Bandido makes a great Mexican / Nicaraguan fusion hammock with fringes in some very attractive colors that are extremely popular among customers looking to replace their beds with hammocks.
Good luck in your search and enjoy your new hammock bed!