There is a lot of confusion when it comes to rattan furniture, probably because when manufacturers have talked about their rattan or wicker in the past they haven’t been very strict about using the correct terms. There is a difference between rattan and wicker though – rattan is the type of material whereas wicker refers to the way the furniture is made. In this article I’ll talk about what rattan furniture actually is so you can choose whether it is right for your garden.
Rattan starts its life as a tropical palm tree that is found in Africa and parts of Asia. There are actually around 600 different types of bamboo plants that can be referred to as rattan so it doesn’t refer to just one species. The rattan bamboo plants originally grow upwards and then start to bend and grow back towards the ground. Usually they are left to grow for a while until they reach a certain length and then are taken away to be dried.
The reason that rattan is often used for furniture is that it is one of the strongest types of wood around. Because it grows vertically upwards unlike other forms of wood which grow in rings it is extremely strong making it perfect for chairs and tables. Also, once the rattan has dried into the shape that the furniture manufacturer wants it will never change shape.
When people talk about wicker what they really mean is the way that the rattan material is woven into the shape of a chair or table. Most rattan furniture is made in a way that makes it wicker but the two words don’t mean the same thing.
When you are buying rattan outdoor furniture you should make sure that it has been treated to be UV resistant. That means that you’ll be able to leave it outside all year around in the sun and rain and it won’t be damaged. All high quality rattan furniture will be UV treated but you shouldn’t assume that the furniture that you buy will be. Also, the best kind of rattan furniture will be made by weaving the rattan around a solid metal frame to make it stronger. If you get a piece of rattan furniture that isn’t made like this then you may find that it isn’t strong enough to bear weight over a long period of time. You should always ask the manufacturer about this before you buy.