Frequently Asked Questions

Most questions our customers commonly ask are answered in detail in the sections below. If there's anything not answered or you're still not sure on please don't hesitate to get in touch with us by calling us on 01297 443084 or emailing us at info@sittingspiritually.co.uk.

About Sitting Spiritually

Who is Sitting Spiritually?

Sitting Spiritually is a British maker of oak and painted Accoya garden furniture, founded in Lyme Regis in 2004. We make swing seats, swinging day beds, rope swings, benches and oak pergolas, each to order in our workshops in Devon and Dorset. Our seats are endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society and placed in RHS Gardens Wisley, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater.

Where are Sitting Spiritually swing seats made?

In our own workshops in Devon and Dorset, by a small team of makers. We do not buy in finished frames or assemble imported parts. The maker who builds your piece often installs it too, and our cushions are sewn in our own workshop.

Are Sitting Spiritually pieces endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society?

Yes. The RHS Four Seasons Bench, RHS Four Seasons Swing Seat, RHS Rope Swing and RHS Trilogy are licensed and endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. Our seats are placed in RHS Gardens Wisley, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater, where visitors are welcome to sit on them. See our RHS collection for the full range.

Who designs your furniture?

Our designs are drawn and developed in-house. The founder, Martin Young, built the first seat in 2004 and set the proportions the range still uses. The Floating Bench was designed with the Dorset furniture maker Simon Thomas Pirie and holds the Design Guild Mark. Our design process page explains how a commission is developed.

How long has Sitting Spiritually been making swing seats?

Since 2004, so over 20 years. Our oldest Kyokusen has been outside for 20 years and is still in use, silver-grey and sound. That seat is the evidence behind everything we say about how long oak lasts.

Choosing a Piece

What sizes do your swing seats come in?

Four: one-seat, two-seat, three-seat and four-seat. With an A-frame the footprint is 2.0m wide for a one-seat, 2.3m for a two-seat, 2.6m for a three-seat and 2.9m for a four-seat, each 1.6m deep. Allow 50cm clear in front and behind for the swing. The two-seat is the most popular. Full dimensions are on our swing seat size guide.

What back styles are available?

Six: Fan, Curve, Heart, Slat, Swirl and Arc. The Fan is the original and still the most chosen; the Slat gives the firmest support to the lower back; the Heart is our Arts and Crafts design and costs a little more. The Heart is not made on the one-seat Affinity or Kyokusen. Our back styles guide shows each one.

What is the difference between the Tranquillity, Kyokusen and Affinity ranges?

The Tranquillity is our oak swing seat on a straight A-frame. The Kyokusen is oak on a curved frame; the name is Japanese for a curved line. The Affinity is the Tranquillity's shape in painted Accoya, in any of 132 colours. The choice comes down to the frame you prefer and whether you want oak that silvers or a colour that stays.

Should I choose an oak or a painted Accoya swing seat?

Choose oak for natural timber that turns silver-grey over one or two summers; choose painted Accoya for a colour that holds for many years. Every new piece carries our five-year guarantee, and Accoya timber also carries its manufacturer's warranty against rot: 50 years above ground and 25 in ground contact. Our swing seat page compares the two in full.

Do you make swing seats for children?

We make a Children's rope swing, with a smaller seat sized for younger swingers, and three heights of oak frame to hang it from. Our swing seats are made for adults and are used happily by whole families; the frames are built for a full load of adults, so children are well within it. We do not make scaled-down swing seats.

Can I personalise my piece with a carving or inscription?

Yes. We carve inscriptions into swing seat beams, benches and rope swings, and can carve flowers, birds, initials or a family crest, or set a Jurassic Coast ammonite into the timber. Inscriptions on furniture cost £17.40 a character, with a minimum of £120. On rope swings, a carving is £100 for up to 15 characters, with spaces free. We send a proof before any carving starts.

How do I choose between a swing seat, a day bed and a rope swing?

Choose a swing seat to sit on every day, for one to four adults. Choose a swinging day bed to lie full length, read or sleep outside, in sizes from 2.0 x 1.5m. Choose a rope swing to hang from a tree or one of our oak frames, for play as much as rest. Our day beds guide walks through the decision, and you can sit on all three at Forde Abbey before you choose.

Can I order a bespoke piece?

Yes. Much of our pergola work is drawn for one particular garden, and we make swing seats, benches and day beds to non-standard sizes too. We work from our own designs, from a garden designer's drawings or from a brief you send us. Bespoke pergolas start from £6,420, and every piece made this way is quoted from a drawing before anything is cut.

Materials and Craftsmanship

What wood do you use for your swing seats?

Air-dried, Sterling grade European oak for our oak ranges, and Accoya for our painted ranges. The oak comes from Hewins Timber, an oak specialist, and is FSC certified. Accoya is a softwood modified right through its thickness so it takes up very little water. Our pergolas are made from green oak, for reasons explained below.

What grade of oak do you use?

Sterling grade, Hewins Timber's equivalent of prime grade and the cleanest grade sold for joinery and furniture. About 70% of Sterling grade pieces are clear of defects on three or four faces, each piece is graded on its worst 1.5 metres, and knots over 30mm are the rare exception. Our makers cut around what remains. Fewer knots means fewer points where oak checks and moves outdoors.

Why do you use air-dried oak rather than kiln-dried?

Air-dried oak moves less once it is outside. Kiln-dried oak is brought down to 7 to 10% moisture for centrally heated rooms; in a garden it has to take water back on, which is when it twists and splits. Our oak is seasoned slowly in the open air for months rather than days, so it reaches you close to the moisture level it will live at outdoors.

Why are your pergolas made from green oak?

Because green oak is the traditional timber for large oak frames, and it tightens as it seasons. Sections this large are cut and jointed while the oak is still green. Over the first year or two the oak dries in your garden, shrinking as it does, which pulls the joints tighter. Expect checks along the grain as it seasons; they do not weaken the frame. Our pergola page explains more.

What is Accoya and why do you use it for painted ranges?

Accoya is softwood modified by acetylation, a process that cuts its swelling and shrinkage by 70 to 80%. Because it barely moves with the weather, paint stays put on it outdoors, which is why we paint Accoya and not oak. It is rated durability class 1, the highest under the European standard EN 350, and Accoya warrants it against rot for 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground contact.

Where does your oak come from?

From sustainably managed forests in France and elsewhere in Europe, supplied to us by Hewins Timber, which specialises in European oak. We buy Sterling grade, air-dried and FSC certified, and our makers select each board for colour, grain and the shape of the part it will become.

Is your timber sustainably sourced?

Yes. Our oak and our Accoya are both FSC certified, which means the timber can be traced back to forests managed to the Forest Stewardship Council's standards. European oak forests are managed over long rotations, with felled trees replaced, so the oak we use is grown and harvested as a renewable crop.

Why do you spray-paint your seats rather than dip them?

Spraying in five coats gives an even, durable finish in any of our 132 colours. The five coats are a stain block, a primer, an undercoat and two top coats. A sprayed Accoya seat rarely needs repainting. Spraying takes longer and needs more skill than dipping, and lasts longer for it.

What paint colours do you offer?

132 colours, drawn from Farrow and Ball and Cuprinol Garden Shades. If you have another colour in mind, send us the reference and we can usually match it.

What metal fixings do you use and will they rust?

Marine-grade stainless steel throughout, so they will not rust. Stainless matters more with oak than with most timbers: the tannin in oak reacts with ordinary iron and steel and leaves dark stains around the fixing. Check the eyebolts and seat bolts once a year and tighten them if needed.

What rope do you use on your rope swings?

Hempex, a marine rope that looks like natural hemp but will not rot, mould or weaken in rain. It is threaded through the seat rather than tied around it, which keeps the oak from splitting at the edges. The seats themselves are air-dried FSC oak, with oak battens beneath for strength.

How are the cushions made and what fabric do you use?

Our cushions are made in our own workshop in Agora, an outdoor fabric that resists fading and lets water drain through. Day bed mattresses are made to measure in Nautolex, a waterproof marine vinyl that can stay outside all year. Bring cushions in, or cover them, in heavy rain.

Ordering, Pricing and Payment

How do I place an order?

Online, by phone on 01297 443084, or by email to info@sittingspiritually.co.uk. Every piece is made to order, so after an online order we call to confirm the size, back style, colour and any carving before we start. Nick Hunter looks after every commission from the first call until it is settled in your garden.

Do I need to pay in full upfront?

No. A deposit confirms your order, and the balance is due when your piece is finished, before delivery. We do not start making until you have approved the specification. Around four weeks in, we send you a photograph of your finished piece in the workshop.

How much does a Sitting Spiritually swing seat cost?

A one-seat Tranquillity oak swing seat with its A-frame starts from £4,230, and a seat to hang from your own tree, beam or pergola from £2,410. A two-seat painted Affinity with its A-frame is £5,095, and a swing seat in our oak pergola starts from £8,645. Prices include VAT. Size, back style and timber change the price; every price is listed on each product page and in our brochure.

What do your other pieces cost?

Rope swings start from £295, oak benches from £2,205, swinging day beds from £5,190 for the bed alone and pergolas from £5,620. Prices include VAT. Delivery is priced separately by postcode.

Do you offer finance options?

We do not offer finance on our furniture. Rope swings can be paid for in three instalments with Klarna at checkout.

Are your prices inclusive of VAT?

Yes. Prices on our website and in our brochure include VAT at 20%. Delivery is shown separately and priced by postcode. Orders delivered outside the UK are usually zero-rated for UK VAT, though local import taxes may apply on arrival.

How do I request a brochure?

Through our brochure request form. The printed brochure arrives within a few working days and has the full range, dimensions, colours, a cut-out planner for your garden and every price.

Do you offer gift vouchers?

Yes, in any amount, and they can be used against anything we make, including pieces made to your own design. A rope swing carved with a name is one of our most popular gifts; a voucher suits when the person receiving it will want to choose their own design.

Do you ever have sales or ex-display pieces?

Occasionally, at the end of a quarter, we offer a small number of ex-display pieces. They are announced to our newsletter first, so sign up here to hear about them. We do not run sales across the range.

Lead Times, Delivery and Installation

How long does it take to make a swing seat?

Typically 4 to 6 weeks from order to delivery, and longer in spring and early summer. Pergolas take 6 to 8 weeks. Every piece is made to order; nothing is held in stock. If you need it by a particular date, tell us when you order.

Can you make a piece in time for a specific date?

Often, depending on the workshop schedule, so call us before you order if the date matters. Rope swings are quickest: ready in five working days without a carving, or up to 14 days with one. We will tell you plainly whether a date is achievable rather than promise and miss it.

How much does delivery cost?

Delivery is priced by postcode and shown separately from the product price. A swing seat with its frame starts from £180 to deliver. Add a piece to the basket and enter your postcode to see the cost to your address. Rope swings include UK delivery in the price.

Who delivers my order?

Saturn Removals, our long-standing delivery partner, who specialise in large, high-value furniture. They call ahead to agree a delivery window, carry the piece into the garden and assemble it if you have chosen assembly. Day beds and pergolas are installed by our own team.

Do you deliver internationally?

Yes, to Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere. Each international delivery is quoted individually, and pieces travel crated by sea or road. Orders leaving the UK are usually zero-rated for UK VAT, though local import duties and taxes may be due on arrival. See our international delivery page.

What if my garden is difficult to access?

It is rarely a problem. A swing seat and frame arrive in parts that pass through a standard doorway, and Saturn's vans are Transit-sized. If you have a narrow side gate, steep steps or a long carry, tell us when you order so the team can plan for it.

How heavy is a swing seat or day bed?

A two-seat oak swing seat weighs around 40 to 50kg without its frame, and the frame adds considerably more. A swinging day bed weighs about 200kg and arrives fully assembled, which is why our team installs it.

Do you offer an assembly service?

Yes. Assembly of a swing seat is £60, chosen at checkout. The team builds the frame in position, hangs the seat, sets it to the height you want and checks it swings freely before they leave. Day beds and pergolas are installed by our own team and quoted individually.

Can I assemble my swing seat myself?

Yes. A swing seat and frame is a job for two adults. Pergolas arrive with numbered parts, instructions and an assembly video. Day beds arrive fully assembled at around 200kg, so they need a team to position.

Does the delivery team install rope swings?

No. Rope swings come with our no-knots hanging system, guidance on measuring the drop and a hanging video, and most owners hang their own. If you are unsure whether a bough is strong enough, ask a local tree surgeon to look at it. Our rope swing page covers trees, beams and frames.

Siting, Weather and Year-Round Use

Where is the best place to put a swing seat in the garden?

On level ground, with some shelter, a good view and 50cm clear in front and behind for the swing. Try the seat in place for a few days before laying slabs or setting the legs, and watch where the afternoon sun falls. Our siting video shows the space needed.

Can I place my swing seat directly on grass?

For a short while, yes; for good, set a paving slab under each leg. Slabs keep the feet out of standing damp, keep the seat level and let you mow around it. Lay them after delivery, not before, so they sit exactly under the feet. Some owners set the back legs into a planting bed, on slabs, so the planting grows up around the frame.

Does a swing seat need to be fixed to the ground?

Most of our swing seats do not; the A-frame is wide and heavy enough to stand on its own. We recommend fixing down the oak frames for rope swings, and the High frame must be fixed down. Pergolas are set in concrete on soft ground or bolted down with stainless steel shoes on paving. Our fixing guide shows how.

Can I hang a swing seat from a pergola?

Yes, if the pergola is built to carry a moving load. A pergola made for climbing plants holds a still weight from above; a swing pulls sideways every time it moves. Our oak pergolas are built for exactly that load. If you want to use a pergola you already have, send us photographs and its dimensions and we will tell you whether it can take a seat.

Can I hang a swing seat from a tree?

Yes, and we make seat-only versions with stainless steel shackles for it, but we cannot guarantee the tree. We need two measurements: the height of the bough and its girth. If you are unsure the tree is sound, ask a local tree surgeon to inspect it. Our tree hanging video walks through the set-up.

Will my swing seat or day bed cope outdoors all year?

Yes. Oak and Accoya are both chosen to live outside through a British winter, and every fixing is marine-grade stainless steel. Day bed mattresses, in Nautolex marine vinyl, stay out all year. The only things to bring in or cover are scatter and bolster cushions.

Do I need to cover my swing seat in winter?

Not usually; we do not cover our own. Oak left uncovered silvers evenly, which most owners prefer. Our waterproof pull-over covers are breathable, so they protect without trapping damp, and they are most useful if you leave cushions in place.

Will a swing seat survive in a coastal or exposed garden?

Yes. Our marine-grade stainless fixings are chosen for salt air, and many of our seats live on the south and west coasts, including Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens and the Seaside Boarding House at Burton Bradstock. Salt and wind turn oak silver faster, but the timber stays sound. Painted Accoya suits exposed positions well because it barely moves.

Do wasps damage swing seats?

Wasps sometimes scrape fibre from bare oak to build their nests, leaving small pale patches. The damage is only on the surface and weathers back in as the oak silvers. If it bothers you, a freshly sawn offcut of wood left nearby often draws them elsewhere. We leave them be; wasps are useful in a garden.

Care, Maintenance and Longevity

How do I care for my oak swing seat?

Clean it once or twice a year and keep algae from building up; that is most of it. Use our wood cleaner or sugar soap with a soft brush, and never a pressure washer. Leave new oak unoiled for two to three years while its tannin washes out, then feed it each spring if you want to. Full guidance is on our aftercare page.

How often should I oil an oak swing seat?

Once a year, in spring, and not at all for the first two to three years. New oak is still releasing tannin, and oil applied too early seals it in and can leave the colour patchy. Oil is optional: it keeps oak closer to its honey colour but will not stop it silvering, and unoiled oak is no weaker.

What cleaner do you recommend?

Our own wood cleaner, from our aftercare range, or sugar soap, with a soft brush. Never use a pressure washer. It tears up the soft grain between the growth rings and drives water into the joints. Our aftercare kit, with cleaner, feeding oil and brushes, is £210.

Why is my oak swing seat turning silver?

Sunlight breaks down lignin, the natural binder in the outer layer of the oak, and rain washes it away, leaving the surface silver-grey. Only the surface changes; the timber beneath is as sound as when it was made. Most seats go an even silver after one or two summers. Oil slows the change but will not reverse it.

Are tannin stains on my patio or terrace normal?

Yes, in the first season. Rain draws tannin out of new oak and it can mark paving beneath, especially pale Indian sandstone. It stops after the first few heavy rains and the marks weather away. To avoid it, stand the feet on something for the first few months, and lay new slabs after delivery rather than before.

Are black spots around the screw plugs a fault?

No. They are tannin marks, caused by the tannin in oak reacting with traces of iron, and they are only on the surface. They usually weather in as the timber around them silvers. If they bother you, a light sand at a future refurbishment removes them.

Will my oak swing seat crack or split?

Fine checks along the grain are normal and do not weaken the seat. Outdoor oak moves between about 12% and over 20% moisture with the weather, and the rays that give oak its figure do not move with the rest, so small checks open in dry spells and close in wet ones. Air-dried oak keeps this to a minimum. If a crack runs through a joint, call us.

How long does an oak swing seat last?

Decades. Our oldest Kyokusen has been outside for 20 years and is still in use. With a clean once or twice a year an oak seat lasts a generation, and our five-year guarantee is the minimum we promise. A refurbishment every ten years or so keeps it looking its best.

How long does an Accoya painted swing seat last?

Accoya is warranted by its manufacturer against rot for 50 years above ground. Because it barely swells or shrinks, our five-coat paint finish holds for many years and rarely needs repainting. When it does, our refurbishment service includes a full repaint in your colour.

Guarantees and Refurbishment

What guarantee do you offer?

Every new piece carries our five-year guarantee against faults in materials or workmanship. If a fault is ours, we inspect it and repair or replace at our cost. To keep it valid, look after the piece as our aftercare guide describes and keep your proof of purchase. It does not cover the natural ageing of timber, such as colour change and surface checks, wear and tear, or repairs by anyone else. Rope swings have their own guarantee, below.

How long is the Accoya guarantee?

Accoya warrants its timber against rot for 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground contact. That is the manufacturer's warranty on the wood, and it sits alongside our own five-year guarantee on the piece. It is one of the longest warranties offered on any timber, and the reason we choose Accoya for everything we paint.

What is the rope swing guarantee?

An unconditional twelve-month guarantee on every rope swing. Most last many years longer with a check of the rope and fixings each season. If one fails through a fault of ours, we repair or replace it at our cost.

What does your refurbishment service include?

We collect your piece, restore it in our Devon workshop and bring it home again. Typical work is cleaning and sanding, repairing checks or splits, replacing worn fixings and parts, re-oiling or repainting, and new rope on swinging pieces. It takes around four weeks. Our refurbishment page has the detail.

When should I book a refurbishment?

When the piece looks tired rather than at a set age, though for most owners that is around ten years. Signs it is time: uneven silvering, peeling paint, joints that feel loose. Winter is the most popular time, so seats come back in time for spring.

How much does a refurbishment cost?

It depends on the piece, its condition and the work it needs, so we quote each one individually from photographs before any work starts. The quote covers the work, collection and redelivery.

How do I book a refurbishment?

Send us a few clear photographs: the whole piece, any damage close up, and the joints. Email info@sittingspiritually.co.uk, call 01297 443084 or use our contact form. We quote for the work and transport, then agree a collection date that suits you.

Visiting and Seeing the Range

Can I visit the Sitting Spiritually workshop or showroom?

Our workshops are working spaces and are not open to visitors, but our show garden at Forde Abbey is. There you can sit on our swing seats, day beds and rope swings, compare back styles and talk through options with us. Book a visit through our Visit Us page or by calling 01297 443084.

Where can I see your swing seats in a public garden?

In RHS Gardens Wisley, Rosemoor, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater, and in gardens and estates including Kiftsgate Court, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Burrow Farm Gardens, Dumfries House and Sausmarez Manor in Guernsey. Our Find a Seat map shows every location. Opening times are set by each garden, so call us before a special trip and we will check the seat is in place.

What is the Forde Abbey show garden?

Forde Abbey is a historic house and garden near Chard, on the Somerset and Dorset border, where we keep a permanent collection of our swing seats, day beds and rope swings in the gardens. Everything there is there to be sat on, swung on and photographed. It is the nearest we have to a showroom, and the best way to choose a seat is to sit on one.

Can I visit another owner's swing seat?

Sometimes. If you live a long way from Forde Abbey and an owner near you is happy to host a viewing, we may be able to arrange it, with their permission. Call us on 01297 443084 and we will see what is possible in your area.

Do you exhibit at garden shows?

We have exhibited at RHS shows, including Chelsea, and our seats have featured in show gardens. When we appear at a show, we announce it to our newsletter and on our blog first, so subscribe here to hear about it.

Bespoke, Trade and Commissions

Do you work with garden designers and landscape architects?

Yes, regularly. We work from architects' plans and garden designers' drawings, and can supply CAD drawings, specifications, loading data for frames and pergolas, and firm lead times for a design programme. For a project-specific conversation, call us on 01297 443084 or email info@sittingspiritually.co.uk.

Do you supply hotels, country estates and commercial properties?

Yes. Our seats are in hotels and estates including The Pig at Combe, The Dower House Hotel, The Deer Park Hotel, The Alexandra Hotel in Lyme Regis and The Seaside Boarding House at Burton Bradstock. For public or unattended spaces we add ground fixings. Quantities, lead times and installation are planned project by project; call us on 01297 443084 to discuss a specification.

Do you make fully bespoke pergolas?

Yes, from £6,420. We draw each one from your measurements, your designer's plans or a brief, and nothing is cut until you are happy with the drawing and the price. Most are in oak; we also build in larch or Douglas fir where a project calls for it. Every pergola is built in full in our workshop and every joint checked before it leaves. See our bespoke pergolas page.

Can I commission a piece to a specific size?

Yes. Beyond our standard one to four-seat swing seats, we make longer benches, wider day beds and pergolas to custom footprints. Dimensions are agreed at the start of the commission and each piece is quoted individually from a drawing.

Do you supply technical specifications and drawings?

Yes. For trade and made-to-measure commissions we provide CAD drawings, a bill of materials, loading data for frames and pergolas, and installation notes for the site. Contact us for a specification pack on the ranges you are considering.