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Vintage Style Porch Swing – Easy DIY Project

A vintage style Porch Swing can be a great place to relax in the warmer months! If you’ve always wanted a porch swing that doesn’t look like everyone else’s, then this project is for you. It’s not that complicated to do with some simple knowledge of power tools and can be hung from a tree as well as a porch! In this post you will learn how to DIY one for your own space.

Vintage Style Porch Swing

Dare to be different is something that I’ve always embraced in design! Your home is your nest, your sanctuary. Make it your own and give it some individual flair and honestly I feel that by letting go of any fear of DIY you can do this! If you aren’t handy with power tools yourself then take some design ideas to a friend or handy person and see what they can do along with you! This vintage style porch swing is just that.

This one is bit different with my own personality and you can use this as a base to build your own. It can be hung on a tree (as we have done) or suspended from beams on a porch. We simply didn’t have room on our own covered porch and hung this vintage style porch swing from an old oak tree that provides lots of shade.

This is a paid post in behalf of Spectrum Brands but the work and opinions expressed here are my own. As always, use the proper care and safety equipment when working with power tools.

Build A Vintage Style Porch Swing – DIY

MATERIALS:

To Build

To Hang

  • Four – 1/4″ x 4″ Eye Hooks
  • Four – 1/4″ Quick Links
  • Four – 3/16″ Quick Links
  • 50′ 3/16″ Fixed Link Chain

Optional – Cushion For Seat

*NOTE* We recommend an outdoor fabric for your cushion. Ours did not arrive in time for this post (you know, supply chain issues 🙄 !)

TOOLS:

  • Chop Saw
  • Screw Gun
  • Level
  • Palm Sander
  • Tape Measure
  • Pencil

HOW TO BUILD INSTRUCTIONS:

BUILDING THE SWING – 

STEP 1 – 

Design

STEP 2 – 

Once you’ve decided on the size that you’d like your vintage style porch swing to be, lay out the wood pieces and measure for cutting.

STEP 3 – 

CUTTING –

  • Two – 2 x 4’s to 48″ in length.
  • Two  – 2 x 4’s to 17′” in length.
  • Two – 2 x 4’s to measure 21 1/2″ in length.
  • Two – 2 x 4’s to measure 13″ long.
  • Two – 1 x 6 to 20″ in length.
  • Three – 1 x 6 to 46 1/4″ long.
  • Two – 1 x 6 to 53″ in length

STEP 4 – 

Attach two National Hardware Joist Hangers to one of the 48″ 2 x 4’s as shown in the photo below.

STEP 5 – 

Set the 17″ 2 x 4’s in the joist hangers and secure with National Hardware Hex Head Screws.

STEP 6 – 

Then attach the other 48″ 2 x 4 to the 17″ 2 x 4 with 2 1/2″ deck screws.  Next add a National Hardware Corner Brace to the corner where they intersect on the opposite end for strength.

STEP 7 – 

Secure two 21 1/2″ 2 x 4’s to the back of the seat (platform) on either end to form the back of the bench.

STEP 8 – 

Using 2 1/2″ deck screws, attach two 13″ 2 x 4’s to each end to form the support for arm rests.

national hardware diy vintage style porch swing

STEP 9 – 

Take the 20″ 1 x 6’s and cut 45 degree angles on all four corners. These will be decorative corners for the arm rests and will create safer edges that aren’t so sharp.

STEP 10 – 

Using the three 46 1/4″ 1 x 6’s, place them on the bottom frame to make a seat. Attach with 1 /5/8″ deck screws as necessary.

testing the arm height for building a vintage style porch swing

Porch Swing Arm Rests

You’ll definitely want to create arm rests for your porch or patio swing!

STEP 11 – 

Secure one 20″ 1 x 6″ to the top of each arm brace using 1 5/8″ deck screws to create the arm rests.

vintage style porch swing with cushion diy

STEP 12 – 

As your vintage style porch swing is almost complete, you’ll now either paint or stain as desired. Allow the stain to dry and then attach the two top boards that have been wallpapered to the back using 1 5/8″ deck screws.

building a vintage style porch swing

STEP 13 – 

Attach the 1/4″ x 4″ eye hooks to the ends of each 2 x 4 on all four corners, as shown.

STEP 14 – 

Cut four pieces of your chain to measure 4′ long. Attach to the 1/4″ quick links that are already attached to the eye hooks on each corner.

Hanging Your Vintage Style Porch Swing

Finally you are ready to hang your vintage style porch swing! Add 1/4″ quick link to each eye hook.

Options For Hanging

To Hang From A Porch Beam – 

Attach two 1/4″ x 4″ eye hooks into a solid wood beam on your porch ceiling approximately 52″ apart from each-other. Attach chain and drop down to about 24″ above the ground.

To Hang From A Tree Branch –

Find a sturdy horizontal tree branch that can support the weight of the swing plus two people. Wrap the chain around the branch while protecting the tree with rubber to prevent damage to the bark. Secure with the 3/16″ quick links and drop chain down to about 24″ above the ground.

For either option of placement of the swing you’ll be bringing the two pieces of chain on both the left and right sides into a triangle. Attach the triangle of chain to the piece of the chain hanging down from the tree (or porch) with a quick link as shown.

The Finished Vintage Style Porch Swing!

vintage style porch swing

As mentioned, add  rubber stripping underneath the chain that is wrapped around any tree branches. This is good practice so that the tree branch isn’t damaged by the chain and weight of the person seated.

vintage style porch swing

I love how the wallpaper gives this swing a vintage look. It could also be lightly sanded and then hit with a coat of antiquing gel for even more of an antique feel.

vintage style porch swing

This vintage style porch swing has become a great spot for reading a book on a summer day in the shade!

vintage style porch swing hung from a tree

Happy swinging and let us know what you think in the comments!

If you enjoy working on DIY projects for the garden, check out these recent posts:
How To Build A Simple Rolling Potting Bench
DIY A Raised Covered Vegetable Garden
Build A Pergola/Bench Instructional

Vintage Style Porch Swing - Easy DIY Project

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14 Comments

  1. Love it! Where do you find a cushion like that?

    1. I had this one made, but it’s temporary here until my outdoor cushion arrives

  2. Victoria Eubanks says:

    Lovely projecy! Do you know what the weight limit would be for this swing? And where did you find that beautiful cushion?

    1. Thank you Victoria! The swing itself can hold a lot of weight and the limit would be determined more by the chain used and the branch it’s hung on. For ours that would be up to 400 lbs. I had the cushion made, but it’s temporary until the outdoor one that I ordered arrives.

  3. Always wanted a swing but we never sit on our front porch so this is an idea for the backyard. Thanks Janet!
    Wallpapering that back board gave it a more home style feel and looks great. Can’t wait to see your other cushions for outdoors but in the meantime that large one you had made looks fabulous! My 2 pups would love to sit out on a bench in the shade…me included!

    1. I always wanted a swing too Lori and once I thought of the wallpapered back it inspired me to make this one!

  4. The swing looks great! I love the wallpaper accent. It looks like a great place to relax on a summer evening. When it cools down, of course.

    1. Thanks Michelle and strangely enough we can sit out there during the day too! Seems to be quite cool under the shade of the oaks with the nice breezes that we get here.

  5. I LOVE this porch swing Janet! I’ve always wanted one, but we don’t have an obviously good place for it. If I ever find one, I’m coming back here and make my own! Thanks for the tutorial and the inspiration!

    1. Thanks for stopping by Barb and these days it’s all about staying cool outside so we are happily using it!

  6. Could you please make a PDF, on swing? can’t have computer outside!
    Thank you

    1. You can always copy and paste the text yourself Lola and print it out. Or…our website is mobile friendly, so use your phone instead. Hope this helps.

  7. Dennie Brooks says:

    Where did you get the cushion?