Is Rattan Wicker Furniture Any Good For Outdoor Use?

Rattan wicker furniture can be great for outdoor or patio use. Traditional rattan has drawbacks. If you don't live in the right climate and don't have indoor storage then traditional rattan probably isn't a wise choice.

If you have a kind climate, not to wet, good warmth then natural rattan furniture can be a great way to go. Even if you live in a wetter climate or one that has distinct winter periods natural rattan can still be a good choice if your furniture can be stored indoors in periods of poorer weather. Some people save on garden furniture by using a rattan set inside and move the furniture out on hotter days.

If you climate is often cold and wet, or you just don't have indoor storage space then you can still enjoy rattan effect furniture but it will have to be constructed from synthetic rattan. Synthetic or poly rattan wicker furniture has some distinct advantages over the natural material. As well as being weather proof, poly rattan is available in a far wider choice of colors and styles and as it can be built in any country rather than close to the natural source, it often more widely available and cheaper than natural rattan products.

In terms of colors and styles, poly rattan wicker furniture comes in all shades from red through to black and grey hues. Modern plastic weave technology means far more styles of furniture can be achieved than might be achieved using the natural vine from contemporary cube furniture to the traditional colonial style furniture.

If you are looking for rattan wicker furniture for your garden then you will find a wide range of styles to suit your budget and taste and you can be sure that whether you go for natural or poly rattan wicker you'll get a stylish furniture set, ideal for long hot days in the garden over many years.

What is Rattan Wicker Furniture?

Rattan wicker furniture has been around for hundreds of years. Rattan is a vine originating in tropical regions predominantly in SE Asia. Rattan vine is tough and durable and only becomes workable when heat is applied. As soon as the heat is removed the rattan stiffens and remains fixed.

Wicker is the process of weaving used with natural materials as varied as rattan, sea grass, reed and cane. So rattan wicker furniture is essentially rattan vine that has been wicker weaved. This woven rattan is then applied to furniture frames traditionally made from hardwood such as teak to produce traditional hand crafted natural furniture.

Rattan wicker work is great for furniture to be used in tropical climates. Unfortunately it does not do as well in colder damp climates as the rattan can be liable to develop mold and mildew being a natural fibrous material. As a result natural rattan wicker weave furniture is often used indoors in temperate climates. For such climates synthetic rattan wicker garden furniture made from man made materials can give you the chance to enjoy wicker rattan furniture in your garden without needing large storage space indoors.