rattan furniture

Rattan is among the oldest natural material used for making furniture today. Rattan is a vine that grows in the tropical forests of the Far East.

Unlike bamboo, which is hollow, rattan is a solid timber vine that grows in the tropical forests in Indonesia. This country alone supplies about 70% of rattan needs around the world. The rest is supplied by rattan originated from Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Most rattan comes from tropical forest available on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara.

Technically speaking, rattan has some advantages compared to wood. It is lighter in weight, strong, elastic, easier to make both regular and irregular shapes and of course less costly. Due to these comparative advantages rattan has been widely used as the material to produce home furniture such as tables, chairs and bookshelves. Additionally, rattan grows faster than any tropical wood species and people gain from easier harvesting works. Overall, making indoor furniture from rattan is economically more beneficial than making similar indoor wooden furniture.

Most rattan grows to hundreds of feet in length; it is one of nature's strongest materials. It will not splinter nor break so it is ideal for making furniture. And when you need a curved shape rattan does it for you; once molded by steaming process, solid rattan retains its contours permanently. The outer skin of the rattan pole named as peel and traditionally is used to wrap joints. And, due to such flexible characteristics, from rattan you can make various kind of home accent and home decoration items.

Disadvantages of natural rattan furniture

Natural rattan furniture can't be exposed to harsh ultraviolet sunlight for prolonged periods of time, as this can affect the colour. Water hyacinth, for example, as it is a natural untreated handmade product, it will absorb moisture and dry out in direct relation to climate conditions. To avoid any deterioration natural rattan furniture is only suitable for use in a dry and well ventilated environment.
Briefly speaking, although protective surface finishing may help but basically a natural rattan furniture will not survive well in an outdoor setting.

Another issue is that - as happen to any natural material - rattan should receive a proper treatment to improving its resistance against attacks of termites. Again, the weather condition where a rattan furniture is located may affect its durability.

The solution for an outdoor needs

Specifically if you need rattan and wicker furniture for use in an outdoor setting, the solution is wicker outdoor furniture made of polyethylene-based fiber, the synthetic rattan furniture. Use of this polyethylene-based fiber to furniture combines the elegance of classic wicker crafts and the endurance of synthetic fiber, resulting to long-lasting all weather wicker furniture.

Wicker, although a classic, works well for the furniture buyer who wants a home reflecting the feel of casual elegance. Synthetic wicker furniture not only offers comfort, versatility and livability, but it also offers superb endurance an outdoor furniture always requires.

Synthetic rattan furniture mixes well with upholstered pieces, providing texture and nature to the home environment, patio, sunroom, and to poolside too. Whether you operate a furniture business, have a family-managed furniture store, or own outdoor restaurants and cafes, synthetic rattan furniture is worth to be considered.




How do you think would a living room look without sofas and chairs? Moreover, how would you like sleeping on the hard floor after a hard day's work? If you think this is a nightmare, try dining on your laps? Indeed, it is very hard to imagine life without furniture. Furniture has not only provided people with the comforts of life, but beautifies the home as well. Thus, furniture pieces have become a part of any home, office, or space furnishing plans.
wicker furniture
The dilemma lies however, in choosing the perfect furniture pieces that would not only complement your homes, but would give you a run for your money as well. Certainly nobody wants to be buying furniture that would just last for a year or two. With today's difficult times, it is important to make practical purchases. With this in mind, deciding on the perfect furniture requires a number of factors to consider. Moreover, it is important to make a set of criteria that would help you identify the perfect furniture that suits your needs and your budget.

One of the most popular furniture today is rattan. Although there are many rattan furniture pieces in the market, the most preferred rattan furniture is that which comes from Indonesia. Rattan is a type of material used in making furniture pieces. Rattan is actually one of the 600 species of palms that is extensively used for furniture and baskets in Asia and Africa.

Rattan furniture has gained its popularity because of a number of reasons. First and foremost, rattan furniture is durable. This is so because rattan is filled with fibers that run though its vine. These fibers add to the strength of rattan making furniture that is made from rattan durable and long lasting.

Second, rattan is very flexible. The flexibility of rattan makes this material very ideal for furniture pieces. Rattan can be easily bent and formed into various shapes such that a number of modern and contemporary furniture designs are achievable with rattan.

The third reason is that rattan has a natural appearance. This enables rattan to blend in with any other types of materials such as wood and even iron. Moreover, since rattan furniture appears very natural, it can easily go with any design concept and theme. In addition, the natural appearance of rattan furniture makes it ideal for both indoor and outdoor application.

Finally, rattan furniture is very easy to maintain. A damp cloth or a vacuum can be used in the occasional cleaning of rattan. Moreover, if the furniture appears to lose its luster and shine, it can be easily rejuvenated by applying a fresh coat of lacquer. Furthermore, if you want your rattan furniture to have a fresh new look, you can always change the cushions and the fabric.