Learn From A Do-It-Yourself Guide To Relaxation

(WMS) -- This year, as many people forgo vacation travel away from home, choosing instead to vacation right outside their own back doors, creating a backyard retreat is an inviting option. No matter your space limitations, whether in a city rooftop garden or on a wooded back 40, your dream retreat can become reality. It's easy when your plans begin with a hammock and a hammock stand. Hammocks and a hammock stand can come in many styles and designs as well as are accompanied by a long list of unique accessories that create the swaying, shade and mist that will perfect your relaxation spot.

Choose The Perfect Hammock and hammock stand

Hammock stand construction is the most important factor because there are safety issues involved.

"When you're lying in a hammock, you are suspended in midair sometimes with a steel pipe underneath your head -- the hammock stand," states Douglas Orians, vice president of The HammockSource, manufacturers of Hatteras HammocksЁ and The Original Pawleys Island Rope HammockЁ.

"It is important to take steps to make certain that your hammock is not only beautiful, but it is going to be safe for years to come." Items to look for are weight and amount of rope in the bed of the hammock. The more rope, the stronger and the more comfortable the hammock will be. Heavy-duty steel end hardware should accompany your hammock for hanging safely. The end is the area at which most of the weight is placed on a hammock and the heavier the gauge steel, the longer the life in the outdoors.

Durability in the outdoors is also a key factor. Hardware that is plated for long life will provide a safer environment down the road as the elements are at work. Most hammocks are made for two-person lounging with a weight capacity in excess of 400 pounds. In hanging the hammock, make sure the structure from which you are hanging the hammock will hold the weight you plan to place in it.

Most hammocks come with hooks for hanging from a tree or post and a large variety of stands are available for those who do not have those two perfectly positioned trees.

Hammock Styles And Accessories

Three basic styles of hammocks are available; classic rope, quilted fabric and vinyl-coated open weave hammocks.

* Hammock Styles -- The classic rope style is hand-woven of either cotton or polyester rope. Although cotton is the most popular, polyester rope does offer extended outdoor life and often comes in a variety of colors. The comfort of all rope hammocks comes from their ability to contour to the user's body and provide a floating-on-air feel.

Quilted fabric hammocks, though slightly more expensive than rope styles, are perfect for those who prefer a full fabric bed when lounging. These hammocks are crafted of the latest weather-resistant and colorfast fabrics, which accounts for the additional cost. Each hammock is quilted with a layer of batting for greater comfort.

The third and final style offers a combination of the open, cool weave of a rope hammock and the full fabric bed of a quilted style. This is the vinyl-coated open weave hammock. Vinyl-coated fabric is constructed in an open or "mesh" style for easy airflow and is coated for long life in the outdoors. Many colors and designs are available in this style also.

* Accessories -- There is a long list of hammock accessories, starting with hammock stands. The most popular hammock stand available is made of steel and easily assembles without any tools. This hammock stand offers a welded vs. screwed together construction for safety. One of the safest designs is constructed by welding the elbow into the foot cross piece with a 360-degree weld called a "right connection" by the manufacturer. A weight capacity of 450 to 600 pounds is available on most hammock stands. Other stand styles available include an arcing laminated cypress stand that provides a dramatic outdoor statement.

Weather resistant fabrics are used to craft large, beautiful hammock pillows that accommodate two-person relaxing. Other accessories that will create just the right relaxation spot include wheel kits, canopies, rocking kits, misters, drink holders, storage bags, portable tree straps and many more. A Wheel Kit is especially popular as it makes it easy to move the hammock stand when mowing the lawn or into the sun for drying out. Canopies provide shade and can be attached to the steel hammock stand without tools. As Hammock Rocking Kits make that gentle sway like a constant breeze possible, the Mister Hammock attaches to a hammock and standard garden hose to produce a soft mist like that off the ocean.

Lie Back And Relax

Every do-it-yourselfer, after toiling on project after project to provide greater comfort and beauty for their surroundings, needs to learn the do-it-yourself tips of relaxation.

Find hammock stands at local house and garden retailers or through several online retailers.