Many of us have heard the word “rattan” without fully understanding what it means. So What Is Rattan?
(Let’s be honest—many of us have used the word “rattan” without fully understanding what it means.)
We have some sense that rattan tends to be beige or light brown. And we know the word is often used to describe woven furniture. But we also know that some rattan furniture isn’t woven—and that some woven furniture isn’t called “rattan.”
Thankfully, the truth is pretty simple: Rattan is a material. Specifically, it’s a long-stemmed vine that looks a little like bamboo. Because rattan is often used in wicker furniture, we tend to confuse the two terms. But they’re not interchangeable.
While “rattan” describes a material, “wicker” describes a technique (specifically, a technique of weaving plant-based materials together).
Some wicker furniture is made of rattan, and some aren’t. And some rattan furniture is made using the wicker technique, while some aren’t. That’s really all there is to it.
Different manufacturers produce different quality of rattan, choose the right rattan furniture supplier
What is Rattan?
We’ve Already Established That Rattan Is A Material. But What Exactly Is It?
The Word “Rattan” Describes A Family Of Lianas Or Long-Stemmed Vines. (Just Like There Are Many Different Kinds Of Shrubs And Trees, There Are Many Different Kinds Of Lianas—And Rattan Is One Of Them.)
Different Rattans Grow In Different Places, But Most Of Them Have A Few Things In Common.
For One Thing, Most Rattans Have Long, Slender Stems.
They Also Typically Grow Like Vines (Though A Few Grow More Like Shrubby Palms).
Finally, Most Rattans Boast Solid Stems. This Sets Them Apart From Bamboo, Which Looks Similar But Grows Hollow.
You Can Find Rattan In A Few Different Places, But Most Of The World’s Supply Comes From Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, And The Philippines.
If You Spot Rattan In The Wild, It’ll Likely Look Like A Long, Thin Vine. But Most Of The Time, You’ll See Rattan In More Contemporary Settings—Like When It’s Been Transformed Into A Piece Of trendy, bohemian furniture
Harvesting Rattan
When Rattan Is Harvested, It Is Cut Into 13-Foot Lengths, And The Dry Sheathing Is Removed.
Its Stems Are Dried In The Sun And Then Stored For Seasoning. Then, These Long Rattan Poles Are Straightened, Graded By Diameter And Quality (Judged By Its Nodes; The Fewer Internodes, The Better), And Shipped To Furniture Manufacturers.
Rattan’s Outer Bark Is Used For Caning, While Its Inner Reed-Like Section Is Used To Weave Wicker Furniture.
Wicker Is The Weaving Process (A Technique), Not An Actual Plant Or Material. Introduced To The West During The Early 19th Century, Rattan Has Become The Standard Material For Caning. Its Strength And Ease Of Manipulation (Manipulability) Have Made It One Of The Most Popular Of The Many Natural Materials Used In Wickerwork.
Rattan’s Attributes
Its Popularity As A Material For Furniture—Both Outdoor And Indoor—Is Unmistakable. Able To Be Bent And Curved, Rattan Takes On Many Wonderful Curving Forms.
Its Light, Golden Color Brightens A Room Or Outdoor Environment And Instantly Conveys A Feeling Of A Tropical Paradise.
As A Material, Rattan Is Lightweight, Almost Impervious, and Easy To Move And Handle.
It Can Withstand Extreme Conditions Of Humidity And Temperature And Has A Natural Resistance To Insects.
Why is it expensive?
Rattan Characteristics
Rattan’s popularity as a material for indoor and outdoor furniture is well known. It can be bent and shaped, taking on many great curving forms. Its natural look and light color will instantly brighten a room or outdoor environment, providing any space with a welcoming, coastal feeling.
Rattan is lightweight, which means it can easily be moved around. Additionally, it is durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions such as humidity and high temperatures, and has a natural resistance to insects, therefore being very suitable for outdoor furniture.
But like with any natural material, it is always important to make sure that it is looked after well. A bit of Care will keep the rattan material clean and allow you to enjoy your rattan material and decor for a much longer time.
But the Rattan Furniture used in Yoho Furniture contains steel frames, so you don’t need to worry about it being bent or couldn’t bear too much load.
Cleaning Rattan Furniture
Its Popularity As A Material For Furniture—Both Outdoor And Indoor—Is Unmistakable. Able To Be Bent And Curved, Rattan Takes On Many Wonderful Curving Forms.
Its Light, Golden Color Brightens A Room Or Outdoor Environment And Instantly Conveys A Feeling Of A Tropical Paradise.
As A Material, Rattan Is Lightweight, Almost Impervious, and Easy To Move And Handle. It Can Withstand Extreme Conditions Of Humidity And Temperature And Has A Natural Resistance To Insects.
Are Rattan And Wicker The Same Thing?
Wicker And Rattan Are Not The Same. The Primary Commonalities The Two Share Is That They’re Both Lightweight And They’re Both Cheaper Than Your Run-Of-The-Mill Wood Or Metal Furniture Sets.
Rattan Is A Plant, Which Can Be Used To Make Furniture. And Wicker Is A Weaving Technique, Which Can Also Be Used To Make Furniture.
Some Wicker Furniture Is Made Of Rattan, But A Lot Of It Isn’t. You Might Also See Wicker Furniture Made Of Bamboo, Reeds, Or Synthetic Fibers.
So While Some Of The Time, It’s Fair To Use The Words “Rattan” And “Wicker” To Describe The Same Piece Of Furniture.
A Lot Of The Time, It Isn’t.
Not All Rattan Furniture Is Made Using The Wicker Technique.
Some Rattan Pieces—Like Chairs And Benches—Are Made Using The “Caning” Technique.
In Caning, You Use Strips Of Rattan Cane Or Rattan Peel To Create A Woven Seat Or Chair Back. The Resulting Weave Tends To Be Much Thinner Than A Wicker Weave, Leaving The Piece A Little More Delicate.
Rattan Furniture Can Also Be Steamed, Bent, And Shaped. This Technique Produces More Sculptural, Open-Weave Rattan Pieces—And It Can Produce Some Seriously Pretty Tables, Benches, And Chairs.
If You’re Looking For A Stylish, Light, And Durable Product, Rattan Is Certainly The Way To Go.
If You’re A Fan Of Natural Weaving Materials, Then Wicker Should Be The Choice For You.
What Is Wicker?
Wicker Is A Weaving Technique.
And It Specifically Describes The Process Of Weaving Plant-Based Materials Together.
A Wicker Piece Can Be Made From Rattan—But It Can Also Be Made From Willows, Reeds, Or Bamboo.
These Days, It’s Not Uncommon To See Wicker Pieces Made From Synthetic Fibers, Either.
While These Aren’t Technically “Plant Materials,” The Style Of Furniture Looks So Much Like Classic Wicker That The Two Get Grouped Together.
(We Know—It’s A Little Annoying. But Wicker Furniture Is A Popular Pick For Porches And Backyards, And Synthetic Fibers Can Handle More Wear And Tear Than The Natural Stuff.)
Another Thing To Remember Is That Wicker Is Not Just Confined To Outdoor Use, As It Can Easily Be Used Indoors Or Outdoors.
Material Used In Wicker
There Is A Lot Of Variety In The Type Of Material Used In Making Wicker Furniture.
There Are Four Major Types Of Organic Materials Used For Indoor Wicker Furniture: Rattan, Reed, Willow, And Bamboo, With Rattan Being The Most Popular For Indoor Use.
Rattan, Which Is The Thin, Pliable Stem Of A Palm, Has Many Uses In Furniture Making As It Is Also Often Used In Making The Frames Around Which Wicker Is Woven.
Furniture Made From These Organic Materials Should Not Be Used Outdoors, As Moisture And Excessive Sunlight Can Cause Deterioration In These Materials.
This Will Render The Furniture Useless In Very Little Time As The Materials Dry Out Or Fray.
Unlike Indoor Wicker Furniture, You Will Find That Outdoor Wicker Furniture Usually Has Aluminum Frames.
Synthetic Or Man-Made Fibers Are Used For Weaving This Furniture.
The Aluminum And The Synthetic Vinyl And Resins Keep The Wicker Look But Are Much More Hardy And Will Last Longer Outdoors Despite Sunlight And Moisture.
Caring For Wicker Furniture
But, even so, Care should be taken to keep the outdoor furniture dry as moisture can easily lead to mildew.
Wipe down the furniture after rainfall or get wet for any other reason.
You might also want to keep it away from too much sun exposure as that can sometimes cause splintering in certain types of wicker.
A large umbrella can help, or placing the furniture in a protected location can help it retain its looks.
Care should be taken to Keep it Clean, and touch-ups from time to time can keep it looking fresh for years.
Tips For Long Lasting Rattan Furniture
It Is Important Not To Drag Your Rattan Furniture Across The Floor. Lift The Furniture If Possible To Prevent The Fiber From Split And to tear.
Additionally, Avoid Placing Rattan Furniture In Excessive Weather Conditions Or Directly In The Sun For Longer Periods Of Time To Avoid Color Fading.
Use Cushions And Pillows In Rattan Seats To Distribute The Weight And Prevent The Rattan From Bending Too Much.
Sources： The Spruce – What is Wicker? Zocohome – Everything you need to know about Rattan Furniture The Spruce – What is Rattan made of BillYoh Rattan and Wicker
