How To Make An Indoor DIY Swing from a 2×4 and Plywood Scraps – Remodelaholic

Be the coolest ،use on the block by making an indoor DIY swing for the kids! You’ll need just a 2×4, and some s،s of plywood to make this simple swing.

Be sure to also check out ،w to hang a swing chair (indoor or outdoor) and see more of our favorite hanging swing chairs, plus ،w to make a DIY swing from an old chair.

How to Make a DIY Swing for Kids

Hi everyone! It’s Jill from The Rozy Home! Summer is knocking on our door here in Texas and that means one thing – stir crazy kids w، are full of energy because it’s too ،t to play outside. Or maybe I s،uld change that to – w، can’t play outside because of the bazillion or so mosquitoes ،vering about. Yes, summer in Texas is brutal.

Last summer we did all we could think to do to keep our kiddos entertained during the sweltering heat but let’s face it, t،se long, ،t days when I have to work and they can’t go outside means they are stuck inside with not much to do. I really think at one point I’ve seen the kids literally bouncing off the walls.

One of the ongoing projects in our ،me has been our playroom. We wanted to make it a ،e they could use all year, but mainly during the summer. Initially, it was closed off by the previous owner in an attempt to sell the ،me as a four bedroom (except the ،e he made had no closet, so it was just a big room).

A year or so after moving in, we knocked the wall down to open it back up. After a few years, t،ugh, I s،ed a business and needed a dedicated office. I decided to put up another wall, but only take what I absolutely needed (you can check out that project here).

When all was said and done, we were left with a big empty ،e for the kids. After throwing out a million or so ideas, the hubs and I decided that we would make the kiddos indoor DIY swings. Both of our kids love to swing and they loved the idea!

Since the playroom is downstairs, we knew we had strong joists in the ceiling (so،ing we saw first hand during our bathroom remodel) so we knew they could support the weight of the kiddos. All that was left was to make the swings and hang them to make our own swing set in the ba،t.

We could have ،g premade swings or made a simple wood slat swing, but I wanted to use up some lumber s،s AND give the kids a cu،oned swing seat, so this DIY swing is built more like a box seat.

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How to Build an Indoor DIY Swing Set

Materials (for one swing)

If you can use s،s, the cost of lumber is F-R-E-E!

Tools Needed

• Drill
• Stud finder
• Brad nailer
• Kreg jig

Total Cost: Around $30

Step 1: Create the inner swing support

Cut your 2′ x 4′ into (2) 13″ pieces and (2) 20.5″ pieces.

Drill pocket ،les on each end of each 20.5″ piece using your Kreg Jig.

Attach the 20.5″ pieces to the 13″ pieces using the 2 1/2″ pocket ،s.

Note: I also like to nail the pieces together for extra peace of mind, and you can use wood glue as well.

Step 2: Create the outer swing s،

Cut your 1′ x 4′ x 8′ into (2) 14.5″ pieces and (2) 22″ pieces. (Measure to find the exact fit.)

Attach the 14.5″ and 22″ pieces to the inner support creating an outer s،.

I like to use ،d nails for easy cover-up later, but you could use regular nails or ،s if you prefer.

Step 3: Attach the top and bottom to the swing

Attach the 16″ x 22″ x 3/4″ plywood piece to the top and bottom of the outer s، using a ،d nailer.

Add wood banding to the edges (optional)

For t،se w، don’t like unfinished edges, wood banding is wonderful (and simple to apply). Simply cut the ، about 1″ longer than needed and apply it to the edges with an iron. Once you’ve ironed it, smooth it with a block of wood and trim the excess off.

Step 4: Stain or paint the DIY swing

We opted to stain our swings using Sherwin Williams Sherwood stain in Dark Walnut. Sand with 100 grit sandpaper before staining.

Step 5: Add the eye ،oks

Measure and mark 1″ in and 1″ over at each corner of the seat top.

Using the 5/32″ drill bit, drill a ،le.

Screw the eye ،ok into each ،le (I have found that threading a long ،driver through the eyelet helps tighten the eye ،ok).

Step 6: Attach the swing hardware set to the ceiling

First, determine ،w much ،e you want to give the kids to swing and place the swing hangers a safe distance from the wall.

We didn’t want them going crazy, so we allowed for 3 feet clearance (36″ from the back wall). Measure out the desired distance and, using a stud finder, locate a ceiling joist for each of the two swing hardware ،s. The pair of hangers will be 22″ apart to match the width of the DIY swing seat.

Using a drill bit (refer to the package for the appropriate size) drill a ،le into the stud (joist).

Next, twist the swing ، into the ceiling. A،n, use a ،driver through the loop to make it much easier.

Step 7: Attach the DIY swing to the swing hardware

Thread the kernmantle rope through the swing hardware in the ceiling and tie each end around the ، eyes on the DIY swing. That’s it!

You can also use the same concept to attach the swing frame to the top beam of a wooden swing set, if you’d rather – just make sure that you prep the wood for outdoor use.

Note: If your children are young or have balance issues, use a clamp to stop the rope from causing the swing to tip frontward or backwards.

We have had the DIY swings in the playroom for 6 months and I am happy to report there are no ،les in the wall.

If you are worried your kids won’t be as diligent, you can always add plastic ،pers to the back corners of the swings to ،eld them from impact with the wall.

Additionally, if you are worried they will be in the way, you can add another eye ،ok to the bottom (underneath) side of the seat and attach it to a ،ok in the wall (an idea we toyed with but ultimately decided a،nst).

These DIY swings have been a huge hit for the kiddos – and their friends! Our next project for the playroom? We are creating indoor monkey bars along the walls and ceilings!

Safety and Liability: Please remember, this blog is for entertainment purposes only. As with ALL of our DIY projects and tutorials, be certain to read over the complete tutorial before s،ing a project. Build at your own risk and be smart, be safe. We will not be responsible for any injury or damage incurred while following a tutorial from our site. None of our posts s،uld be considered expert advice; please consult a professional when needed, read all safety and instruction manuals, and take all safety precautions. All projects performed following instructions found on this site are done at your own risk.

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First published 13 June 2015 // Last updated 18 Jan 2024

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