Rattan furniture is one of the most appreciated styles today. People like to buy cane furniture mainly for their patio or for the courtyard, but there’s a growing trend of using living room or bedroom furniture made of rattan, wicker, seagrass or bamboo.
What Is Rattan?
Unlike bamboo, rattan canes are not hollow, fact which gives an increased resistance to the furniture made of it. Rattan trees have very flexible stems and they can grow very long, thus needing support. They are actually not common trees, but climbing palms. This means that they need something to climb on. Rattans can be single-stemmed or multi-stemmed and they are surrounded by spiny leaves which keep animals away and protect the plant. Ants and wasps are usually nesting in rattan trees, making their harvesting a dangerous job. After harvesting, the rattan canes are sun-dried or, in case of large canes, they are boiled in oil in order to remove the moisture in excess. Rattans grow in South Asia and the canes and the furniture are exported all over the world.
These are the main types of furniture that can be made of rattan:
Patio and Garden Furniture
Patio and garden furniture needs special treatment, because it has to be waterproof and weather resistant. Rattan loves water, and that makes it suitable for outdoor furniture items. Many weaving designs are possible, thanks to the good flexibility of rattan canes. Colors can go from dark to light, and they are obtained by bleaching and other special treatments applied to the raw material.
Dining Chairs and Tables
Dining room furniture is special, because all special events such as Thanksgiving or Christmas are celebrated at the dinner table. Rattan can be styled in beautifully curved shapes and it can make astonishing combinations with other materials such as wood, wrought iron or glass, for an elegant and comfortable eating environment. Stools and bar chairs can match the dining set, for creating a special effect on the eye.
Living Room Furniture
Rattan and other similar materials such as banana leaf, seagrass, wicker, water hyacinth or bamboo can make gorgeous living room sets, while offering an increased level of comfort. Their natural look will make your house a home, will give it personality and it will make you feel closer to the nature elements. Rounded armchairs, couches and coffee tables, all of these can impress your guests and make them enjoy the time spent in your living room. Other rattan furniture items and accessories that go very well in living rooms are planters, TV stands, cocktail tables, daybeds, lamps, bars and counter stools, gliders or the classic chaise lounges that we’ve been used to see in old movies.
Bedroom Furniture
Bed sets can combine rattan with wrought iron or with wood, thus resulting in a very interesting touch of this slumber space. Room dividers made of rattan are also very stylish and practical. Various techniques can give rattan fibers different shades of color, so they can match the taste of virtually any homeowner or interior decorator. Racks and Storage Furniture Storage furniture is a must-have for all of us. There are so many small items in a house that it’s impossible to keep the house neat and still find everything you need, if you don’t have such storage solutions. Cabinets and racks made of rattan are usually very basic and they don’t feature those nice gliding elements that modern furniture usually includes. The drawers are pretty much baskets that go inside racks and shelves. Yet, if you don’t mind the lack of modern accessories, such rattan cabinets have their charm and they can bring a personal touch to your interior. Bookcases and etageres made of wicker or rattan can complete the look of your living room.
Bathroom Accessories and Furniture
Rattan loves water and this special feature makes it excellent for wet rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens. In the bathroom, you can have rattan hampers, benches, cabinets, stands, stools, mirrors, waste baskets or bath shelves with or without doors.
When choosing your rattan furniture, don’t forget to ask about the warranty. Some manufacturers offer two years from the delivery date. Even if they do, you still have to check what does this warranty cover, from shipment damages to manufacturing defects. Normal wear is probably not covered, but you have to make sure it’s clearly defined.
