Rattan furniture can be a beautiful addition to any outdoor area or conservatory, with its durable but fashionable look that stands out in any garden. Whether looking for a comfortable armchair to relax in and soak up some summer rays, or a dining table set for entertaining, you can guarantee there will be a piece of rattan furniture to meet your needs.
This article aims to take the legwork out of purchasing your rattan furniture, providing you with all the information you could need to go out and buy the best rattan furniture for you. We have considered the things to look out for, the types of furniture and how to best look after your furniture – so keep reading if you want to be totally prepared to make your purchase.
History of Rattan Furniture
Rattan furniture has been around for over a century, with most of the rattan coming from Indonesia and other parts of Asia – it actually comprises of over 600 different types of reed. Similar to bamboo, rattan can be manipulated and worked to fit around many garden structures, but it equally strong, making it perfect for British gardens, despite its natural heritage! The material was originally popular due to its lightweight and durable structure.
More recently rattan has been adapted from the original design of the furniture, due to rattan being able to be painted many different colours. This means that there will now be a piece of rattan furniture to match any garden theme, whether it be shades of brown, green, grey, black or even more daring, bright colours! Rattan furniture has been pushed into the 21st century even more with the creation of synthetic models, which are even more durable and waterproof.
Best Pick Rattan Furniture
- INCLUDES MADE TO MEASURE WEATHERPROOF COVER WORTH £49.99. The best way to protect your rattan garden set.
- Showcase any outdoor garden patio or conservatory area with this rattan furniture range. Durable weather resistant set that will last through all seasons.
- Algarve Measurements- Double Sofa 120 x 80cm, Chairs 71 x 80cm, Coffee Table 87 x 50 x 35cm
- Low maintenance with comfortable removable seat and back cushions. Add style to your outdoor space Showerproof Cushions have convenient zip fastening which are easily Removable and Washable if required.
- Rattan 2 Seat Sofa Set with 2 Chairs and a Coffee Table, Featuring a Stunning High Black Gloss Table Top, Others Only Have Plain Clear Glass
Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Only Got 5 Minutes?
In a rush to get sat out in your garden on your new furniture? Preparing to host a party but nowhere to sit your guests? Sick of your old, tired garden furniture? Then this part of the article is for you – aimed to provide you with all the most important information you could need before purchasing your rattan furniture.
What is rattan furniture?
Commonly purchased for outdoor or conservatory use, rattan furniture is a design that involves weaving thin vines around vertical vines that are attached to a frame of furniture – this process is known in everyday use as wicker furniture! It is often the case that rattan furniture will be described as wicker furniture, and vice versa (even by shops themselves!) due to the two being so interlinked. But, it is important to remember that wicker is the method used to mould the vines into furniture, whereas rattan is the material that is used to create the product.
What to Look For
With so many manufacturers of rattan furniture and so many different styles, it can be difficult to know exactly what to look for! We have listed some of the most important features to watch out for in the best rattan furniture for your budget.
- UV protected – This is very important if you are wanting to use your furniture outdoors (or even in your conservatory!) as it will stop your furniture from fading and cracking from constant exposure to the sunlight. You wouldn’t expect your skin to survive days and weeks of constantly being sat out in the sun – so you can’t expect the same from your rattan furniture!
- Waterproof – It goes without saying that outdoor furniture needs to be waterproof – the joys of living in the UK! But actually, original rattan is not entirely waterproof! Therefore you will need to choose either a synthetic rattan material or treat your furniture regularly to keep it looking its best!
- Powder-coated steel – This refers to the frame that your rattan furniture is made of. Although with most rattan furniture you won’t be able to see the frame, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be high quality and well looked after! Powder-coated steel will be much better able to deal with adverse weather before getting rusty and worn.
- Tight weave – In general, the tighter the weave, the better the quality of furniture. This is because a tighter weave will be stronger, more stable and less likely to begin to unravel.
- Colour and Style – There are many different colours and styles of furniture, made to suit every garden so it is important to take your time to look around and find what is right for you before purchasing. We have gone into more detail on the styles of furniture available below.
- Price – Last but definitely not least is the price! Obviously the price of your rattan furniture will vary massively depending on quality, size and manufacturer. Be careful with rattan furniture that is particularly cheap, as this will be more likely to wear and become undone. The process of making rattan furniture (properly!) is not an easy one – so I would always be wary of a deal that appears too good to be true!
Best Budget Rattan Furniture
What to Consider
When purchasing rattan furniture there is more than just the furniture itself to consider – but also where you are going to put it!
- Space – Although there are some smaller pieces of rattan furniture, there are also considerably more sizable pieces that would take up a lot of space in any garden! Make sure to think about the size of your garden and the area that you are going to be using. You don’t want to choose furniture that is too large for space and leaves no room around the edge for manoeuvring. If considering larger pieces of furniture then we would always recommend measuring out space on the floor and marking this out before purchasing. This way you can be sure that there will be space to sit down/move around the furniture.
- Position – Make sure to think about where you are going to be putting your furniture as this will determine how long your furniture can be expected to last for. Ideally, you want your furniture to be on a hard, dry surface as this will stop the base of the furniture from becoming damaged. Also consider placing your furniture under a shelter/outdoor gazebo if you have a garden large enough, as this will help to protect the furniture in particularly bad weather.
- What do you use your garden for? You may think this isn’t important when buying rattan furniture, but you couldn’t be more wrong! What you use your garden for will determine what style of furniture is right for you (we will cover this in more detail further in the article).
- Covers – Although this is an extra expense, it is always worth considering purchasing covers for your outdoor furniture. This will help to protect it from the weather and the sun when not being used and will also help to keep them clean and neat for when you do want to use them.
- Cushions – As attractive and hard-wearing as rattan furniture is, unfortunately, you cannot have it all! On its own rattan furniture is definitely not the most comfortable, but you will usually find that the furniture either comes with cushions or has space for cushions to be placed, to add to the comfort! Check whether your furniture comes with cushions as this will add to the cost if it doesn’t!
Types of Rattan Furniture
There are many types of rattan furniture and what you purchase will depend on many factors. We have listed some of the main types below to help you consider what will be right for your garden.
- Sofa sets – These come in the standard forms that you would find for indoor sofa sets, with two-seaters, three-seaters, armchairs and corner sofas.
- Cube sets – These are perfect for smaller gardens or for areas of your garden where you have less space! A dining table with four chairs (usually) that can be slotted underneath the table to form a compact cube when not in use.
- Dining sets – Often very similar to the styles and designs that can be purchased for inside homes. These come in small versions with just two chairs up to large 10/12 chair models. Many come with glass tops for the table – this is something that we would strongly recommend as wickered rattan is not the most even of surfaces to be putting food/drinks on otherwise!
- Day beds – Day beds are a relatively new commodity in the rattan furniture world, but are increasingly desirable in many larger gardens. They are what the name says – a large bed-like sofa outside in your garden. Some come with posts so that the bed can be sheltered, others are more open.
- Sun loungers – Rattan sun loungers are much comfier than your standard sunlounger and you will be able to spend many hours sipping drinks and relaxing on the luxury of one. However, make sure to consider that they tend to be considerably larger than average sun loungers, which will make them a lot more difficult to move around and store when not in use.
- Storage boxes – Rattan storage boxes are a fantastic addition to any garden. As they are so stylish you will be happy for them to be left out in your garden when not in use instead of having to be hidden away. They are also perfect for all the cushions that you will likely have for your other pieces of rattan furniture so that they don’t get damaged in any bad weather!
Looking After Your Rattan Furniture
Rattan furniture can be hard-wearing and long-lasting providing it is well looked after. The added bonus is that you don’t need any special cleaning products to support this maintenance process. The instructions below link to real rattan furniture, obviously synthetic types of rattan will be more waterproof and will be able to withstand being wiped down with water much better!
- Add washing up liquid into a small amount of warm water (be sure to mix well as you want a lot of bubbles).
- Dip your cloth into the bubbles of the liquid (you want the cloth to be as dry as possible to avoid damage to your furniture) then simply wipe over the furniture that you are cleaning.
- Allow to dry and then apply a coat of varnish to keep your furniture looking brand new for as long as possible.
- If you have to use more detergent and water to remove tough stains then make sure to wipe your furniture down and if necessary use something to help the rattan dry quickly.
TOP TIP: An old toothbrush is perfect for cleaning the crevices that are found in rattan furniture.
Best of the Rest
- 【High Quality Material】Crafted with high grade durable PE rattan weave formulated with UV-resistance and anti-fading properties requiring low maintenance
- 【5 pcs Patio Furniture Set】Seat and entertain multiple family members and guests with ease using the 7 seater sectional, 3 footstools and 1 tempered glass topped table.
- 【Upgraded Comfort 】This contemporary outdoor sectional sofa comes with thick lofty sponge padded water resistant cushions, wide and deep chairs will provide enough room to seat comfortably
- 【Easy Cleaing】 - Table with removable tempered glass adds a sophisticated touch and allows drinks, meals, or decoration on top. Water resistant cushions with removable covers make cleaning and maintenance easier
- 【Sturdy & Durable】The powder coated steel frame are rust-proof and high-quality hand woven weather-resistant PE wicker won't fade.
Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Rattan Patio Bistro Furniture Set in Dark Brown, Golden Brown, Black, Light Grey or Dark Grey
- 8 Cushioned Chairs, 4 Ottoman Stools & Glass Top Dinner Table
- Made From High Quality Poly-Rattan Material
- Optional Weather-Resistant Protective Cover
- These items come flat packed for simple home assembly, all tools and instructions included.
Last update on 2024-12-12 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between rattan furniture and rattan effect furniture?
Rattan is a type of vine that comes from a tree that is similar to the palm tree. It is used to make many types of furniture, but more often than not you will find “rattan” furniture in the UK is made using a synthetic kind that is long-lasting and also waterproof. Most synthetic rattan effect materials are made of either HDPE (high-density polyethene) or PVC.
How long can I expect my rattan furniture to last for?
On average, rattan furniture will last for between 7-10 years. This does depend on where your rattan furniture is kept, it’s quality and the way that it is maintained over the years, as it could last considerably longer if it is well looked after.
Will there be a lot of assembly required for my rattan furniture?
Usually, rattan furniture will come fully assembled, or in a couple of pieces that merely need slotting together. However, we would always recommend checking with the manufacturers of each piece of furniture to be sure that it is going to be right for you!
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