Last week we showed how we built the DIY outdoor hanging daybed for our front porch. As promised, here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to how we hung it — because if you’re like us, hanging something that will support one or two people can feel a little nerve-wracking.
Honestly, the whole process was extremely simple. We actually hung it more than once so we could end up with the smoothest, most stable sway possible. Our first attempt used only two ceiling hooks and the bed rocked front-to-back more than we wanted, tipping forward when you sat on the front edge. The second attempt, with four ceiling anchors, solved that problem and made the bed stay level while allowing a gentle sway.
Here’s how it looked after our first hanging attempt:
When we initially hung the daybed with two ceiling hooks, it swung more like a playground swing and tipped forward if you sat near the front. Lying on it felt like a shallow rocking motion, when what we wanted was a level, subtle sway. Upgrading to four ceiling anchors made the bed stay flat and comfortable for reclining, reading, or hanging out — and we couldn’t be happier with the result.
Securing the daybed from four points was a small but transformational detail. We filmed the whole process to make it easy to replicate: the video covers the hardware we used, how to account for rope stretch, and simple knot techniques for adjustability. If you can, watch the video while you’re ready to hang your daybed so you can follow along.
Note: You can also view this video on YouTube, where you can enable closed captions if that’s helpful.
If you can’t watch the video right now, read on for the key points summarized below.
Daybed Hanging Materials
The materials are straightforward:
- Four 5-gallon buckets — to prop up the daybed at the proper height while you tie the ropes
- Four heavy-duty screw eye hooks for the ceiling — each screwed into a structural beam or joist
- Four screw eye hooks for the underside of the bed — sized to allow the rope to pass through
- 3/4″ natural hemp rope — we used a 48-foot length
- Scissors to cut the rope
- A tape measure
Important: the hemp rope we used stretches significantly when loaded. That’s why you must hang the daybed noticeably higher than the final desired height before removing the temporary supports. The 5-gallon buckets hold the bed high while the knots are secured; once the buckets are removed the rope will relax to the correct height.
How To Hang Your Daybed
Many tutorials recommend propping the bed on 5-gallon buckets during installation, and for good reason: the rope will relax a lot under weight. It will feel too high while you’re tying everything, but once the temporary supports are removed, the ropes settle to the final height. Skipping the buckets risks ending up with a bed that hangs too low after the ropes stretch.
We used heavy-duty screw eye hooks in the ceiling and made sure they were driven into solid support beams. If your porch ceiling is finished, use a stud finder to locate joists. We installed one ceiling hook above each corner of the bed, matching the spacing of the eye hooks attached to the daybed itself.
Tying Your Rope
For the top knots we used a midshipman’s hitch because it’s adjustable — helpful if the bed becomes uneven later. The knot lets you make small height adjustments without retying everything. We demonstrate this slowly in the video, but you can also reference midshipman’s hitch tutorials if you want a visual guide.
On the underside of the bed we used slightly smaller eye hooks that fit the 3/4″ rope cleanly. Drill pilot holes before installing these. You can use a long screwdriver as a lever to twist the eye hooks fully into the wood for a tight fit.
With the rope tied to the top eye hook, thread it through the bottom eye hook on the bed and trim the excess, leaving about two feet extra to be safe. Before tying the bottom knots, measure and center the daybed so it’s not crooked. We used a simple decorative knot (a tight loop under the eye hook) on each corner to secure the rope.
After pulling all four knots tight against the underside eye hooks, remove the buckets and let the daybed hang. The first time you sit on it you’ll likely hear the rope creak as it stretches and relaxes — that’s normal. The tension will settle and the bottom knots may tighten against the eye hooks as the rope adjusts.
We trimmed the excess rope so it hangs slightly above the decking — you don’t want it dragging and getting dirty or making noise as the bed sways.
Finishing Touches
If the bed contacts the railing behind it when someone pushes it hard, that’s possible, but with normal lounging and gentle swaying it doesn’t. To protect the bed from occasional contact, we added clear furniture bumpers along the back edge to prevent scuffs or damage if it bumps the railing.
Here’s the finished porch daybed, now hung from four ceiling anchors. It’s a huge upgrade from simple chairs — being able to fully extend your legs and lounge makes the porch feel like a proper relaxation spot.
For comparison, here’s a “before” photo of the same angle from when we first saw this house last February. The side porch was screened in and in rough shape back then, so it’s satisfying to see how much it’s improved.
We’ve enjoyed watching this porch come together over the past year. If you’re wondering about screened-in porches, we found that a good outdoor ceiling fan helps keep bugs away without screens.
We’re looking forward to more warm days out here — once these cold snaps pass — and we hope this guide helps you hang your own daybed confidently and safely.
(Yes, our tolerance for cold has dropped since moving here — 55°F now feels chilly.)
P.S. If you want to browse more building projects and furniture upgrades, check the archive dedicated to those projects or our house update archive for a complete list of updates we’ve made over the last several months.
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