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Honest Review
We Got a Macrame Swing for Our Bangalore Balcony —
Here’s Everything That Happened
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Sanya & Karan Mehra
April 2026 · HSR Layout, Bangalore · 12 min read
My husband Karan and I have been talking about getting a macrame swing for our balcony since we moved into our flat in HSR Layout three years ago. Every time we scrolled Pinterest or watched a reel of someone’s beautifully styled apartment, there it was — the macrame jhula in the corner, the afternoon light filtering through the cotton knotwork, a cup of chai balanced on the armrest.
The thing that kept stopping us wasn’t money. It was the ceiling question. Our flat — like most in Bangalore — has a combination of concrete slab in some areas and false ceiling in others. We had no idea if our balcony ceiling could take the weight. This post is about figuring that out, ordering from Shopps.in, and what arrived at our door.
“We are not interior designers. We are a software engineer and a marketing manager who love their home and take their home decor seriously. This is an honest account of a real purchase — what we decided, why, what arrived, and whether we would do it again.”
— Sanya Mehra, HSR Layout, Bangalore
40+
Macrame designs at Shopps.in
120kg
Dynamic weight rating on standard swings
8 days
Delivery to our HSR Layout flat from Shopps.in
Step 1: The Ceiling Question (This Is the Most Important Part)
Before I touched a single Shopps.in product page, I spent a weekend trying to understand what was actually above our balcony ceiling. Here is what I found out — and what it means if you are in a similar situation.
Our balcony has a direct concrete slab ceiling — no false ceiling was installed there when the flat was built. This is actually common in Indian apartments for balconies even when the interior rooms have POP or gypsum false ceilings. I confirmed this by going up to our neighbour above us and looking at their balcony floor — raw concrete, just as I hoped.
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Concrete Slab Ceiling — You’re Good to Go
Drill, anchor, mount. A concrete slab will hold any swing in the Shopps.in collection safely with proper hardware. Most Indian balcony ceilings are concrete even when interior rooms have false ceilings installed.
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Structural Wooden Beam — Also Good
Load-bearing beams (not decorative ones) are excellent anchor points. A hardware store can advise on appropriate screw hooks rated for dynamic load.
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False Ceiling (POP / Gypsum) — Do NOT Drill Into This
False ceilings have zero structural capacity for swing load. If this is all you have, buy the Macrame Swing with Stand from Shopps.in — no ceiling work required at all.
What We Actually Ordered (And Why)
With a confirmed concrete ceiling on our balcony and a measurement of 10 feet 2 inches from floor to slab, we were in good shape for a standard single-seater swing. After about two weeks of browsing, I narrowed it down to three products and eventually ordered two of them. Here is my honest review of both.
Order 1 · Macrame Swing Chair · Premium
₹19,080 ₹28,800
Macrame Swing Chair — For the Main Balcony
I ordered this first because the chair form — with higher, more enveloping sides — looked significantly more comfortable than a flat jhula for the extended balcony sessions I was imagining. The price was higher than some alternatives but I had read enough reviews to understand that the knotwork quality on cheaper pieces degrades quickly with outdoor exposure.
It arrived on day 8 in a large, well-constructed cardboard box with the cotton macrame carefully folded and the steel hardware — chains, carabiners, ceiling hook — wrapped separately in bubble wrap. Nothing was tangled. Nothing was damaged. The package was genuinely impressive for something this delicate.
Installation took Karan and our building handyman about 90 minutes including the drilling, anchoring, and height adjustment. The swing now hangs at 18 inches from the balcony floor — exactly right for comfortable sitting. The illustrated instructions that came with it were clear and accurate.
What I didn’t expect: how meditative the movement would feel. A macrame swing doesn’t swing aggressively — it turns and sways gently with the breeze. On mornings when I work from home, I have started sitting in it for my first cup of chai and it has completely changed how I feel going into the day. This sounds dramatic but it is genuinely true.
✓ Loved
Knotwork quality is genuinely excellent. Chair form much more comfortable than flat jhula. Hardware quality solid. Clear installation guide. 8-day delivery to Bangalore.
△ Worth Knowing
Installation requires a hammer drill and masonry bits (not included — buy from any hardware store). Budget 90 minutes and ideally two people.
Order 2 · Macrame Hanging Sofa Chair
₹11,160 ₹19,200
Macrame Hanging Sofa Chair — For the Living Room Corner
After the success of the balcony swing, I decided to try a second piece for our living room corner — a spot that had never quite found its purpose since we moved in. We had tried a floor lamp there, then a small armchair, then left it empty for six months. I ordered the Macrame Hanging Sofa Chair because the wider seat seemed like it might actually work as a substitute occasional chair rather than just a decorative swing.
Our living room has a concrete slab ceiling (no false ceiling in this corner — we checked carefully before ordering). The installation was the same process as the balcony. What I didn’t anticipate was how dramatically the swing would change the feel of that corner — it introduced a softness and a texture that neither the lamp nor the chair had been able to achieve.
At ₹11,160 — down from ₹19,200 — this is the most accessible quality macrame swing I have seen in India. The price feels almost too low for what you receive. I have recommended it to four friends since installing ours and all four have ordered it.
✓ Loved
Transformed our dead corner into the most-used seat in the living room. Excellent value. Wide seat genuinely comfortable. Looks stunning in photos.
△ Worth Knowing
The wider form means it takes up slightly more visual space than a standard jhula. Measure your corner carefully — it needs at least 3ft of clear width to hang comfortably.
Which Macrame Swing Should You Buy? My Quick Guide
Your Situation
Buy This
Price
Balcony or room with concrete ceiling, 9–10ft height
Macrame Swing Chair
₹19,080
Renter, false ceiling throughout, or want outdoor lawn placement
Swing with Stand
₹48,000
Villa, covered patio, or 11ft+ ceiling
Grey Swing Bed
₹17,999
First-time buyer, want to test before committing to big spend
Hanging Sofa Chair
₹11,160
Balcony with plants, want colour accent not neutral white
Green White Swing
₹11,880
Ready to Find Your Macrame Swing?
40+ designs at Shopps.in — jhulas, swing chairs, macrame beds, swings with stand. Free all-India shipping.
📦 Free All-India Shipping
✅ IGST-Inclusive
💳 COD Available
🔧 All Hardware Included
Browse All Macrame Swings at Shopps.in →
Questions Our Readers Have Asked
Q
How do I tell if I have a concrete ceiling or a false ceiling?
A
The easiest way: knock on the ceiling surface. Concrete sounds dense and dull — almost like knocking on rock. POP/gypsum false ceilings sound hollow. You can also push a pin into the ceiling — it will not penetrate concrete but will easily enter POP or gypsum board. For balconies specifically, concrete slab ceilings are much more common in Indian construction even when interior rooms have false ceilings.
Q
Will a macrame swing damage or fade on a covered balcony?
A
A covered balcony (with roof overhead, open sides) is fine for a macrame swing. Direct rain is the main enemy — if your balcony keeps the swing dry in rain, you’re good. Direct prolonged sun will fade the cotton gradually over 1–2 years, but a covered balcony typically has shading. During heavy monsoon in high-humidity regions like Mumbai and Kochi, consider bringing the swing indoors for the worst weeks.
Q
Is the hardware from Shopps.in strong enough? Do I need to buy additional hardware?
A
The chains, carabiners, and ceiling hook that come with Shopps.in swings are genuinely rated for dynamic load — not just decorative hardware. You do not need to buy additional hanging hardware. The only thing not included is the ceiling anchor kit (hammer drill + masonry bit + expansion bolt/anchor), which you can get from any hardware store in India for about ₹200–500. The installation guide tells you exactly what size anchor to buy.
What Readers Are Saying
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Ananya · Powai, Mumbai
2 weeks ago
The ceiling check tip saved me! I was about to order a swing and just assumed our balcony ceiling was concrete. Did the knock test as you described — hollow sound. Checked with the building maintenance team and confirmed it’s a false ceiling extension. Ordered the Swing with Stand instead and it arrived perfectly. Thank you for being this specific!
🌿
Rashida · Koramangala, Bangalore
4 weeks ago
Ordered the Green White Swing for our balcony based on your recommendation and it is PERFECT with our plant wall. The colour combination is exactly what I was looking for. Knotwork quality is really impressive for the price. Shopps.in delivery was smooth and fast to Bangalore.
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Vikram & Aarti · Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
6 weeks ago
Got the Grey Swing Bed for our covered patio. Your description of it being ‘the piece your social life revolves around’ is completely accurate — we have not used our patio furniture the same way since. The grey colour looks incredible against our white walls. Worth every rupee and then some.
Disclosure: Installation guidance reflects our personal experience — always consult a professional for structural assessments specific to your building. Last updated: April 2026.
