Rattan Garden Furniture Guide

Outdoor rattan garden furniture is one of the most sophisticated and stylish types of furniture you can use in your garden, on your patio or in your conservatory. There is nothing quite like sitting out on your deck enjoying the late sunset of a hot day with the patio heater and barbacue going whilst sitting back chilling with a few friends and long cool drinks.

What Is Rattan?

This type of furniture has been around for years, mainly because the use of rattan as a material has been around since the beginning of time. Rattan is a type of long vine that grows in tropical areas, when heated it becomes pliable and can be crafted using the wicker technique, but as soon as it cools it returns to a hard stiff state making it an ideal durable, renewable material with which to build furniture.

Rattan is a type of vine , but the wicker technique used to describe the weaving of the vines into furniture is applied to all types of natural materials such as reed, seagrass, palms, canes and bamboo so be careful to note that not all wicker furniture is woven rattan garden furniture.

Traditional high quality rattan  furniture utilising a teak frame to support the rattan covering is ideal and long lasting in warm dry environments such as the areas where the material grows naturally.

Any Disadvantages?

In moist environments traditional rattan furniture, although being long lasting, can become damaged by molds over time. To avoid this, most traditional construction wicker rattan furniture is sold in western markets as ideal for conservatory use, or as rattan conservatory sets. It can be used outside, it is just not preferable to store the furniture outside where moisture may attack the natural materials.

Overcoming Disadvantages To Benefit From Rattan Style

Wicker furniture sold for garden use tends to be constructed from synthetic materials for durability and longer life span. This synthetic rattan garden furniture is variously known as poly, plastic, pvc or resin rattan outdoor furniture all of which are ideal for all weather conditions. Due to the use of man made materials, this furniture can be cheap compared to traditional rattan or expensive depending on design sophistication and framing techniques used in some sets.

Getting A Good Deal

If you are looking for a rattan set you will find the synthetic versions are generally cheaper than sets made from natural materials. The best time to buy a set is during winter time or between the months of September and March. Although you can buy individual pieces, it is often cheaper to buy full sets.

Flexibility & Options

Traditional and contemporary outdoor dining sets are generally either four chairs and a table(usually glass topped), lounge sets for conservatory use tend to be two individual chairs and a sofa arrangement all accompanied by cushions to suit. Many manufacturers offer side pieces to complement any garden decor ideas you have, such as coffee tables, add on chairs, foot stools and the like that can be added to sets. You should be able to find rattan furniture in all colors with red, yellow and black sets being popular.

Choose The Perfect Option

When choosing rattan furniture you need to consider the climate you live in, your budget, the expected lifespan of the furniture and which type of furniture you feel morally comfortable with.

If you live in an all year round dry climate or have a conservatory or adequate dry storage, can afford a little luxury, expect your furniture to last 15 – 25 years and would rather have furniture made from renewable, organic sources made by craftsmens using traditional skills then a teak framed, rattan wicker furniture set may be best for you.

If you are on a budget, want the widest possible choice of styles at the best prices with assured durability in all weathers and are willing to forego the renewable aspects of traditional materials then a poly rattan furniture set will probably be best for you.

If you are considering buying some garden furniture for the new season and have set your sights on a dining set, you would be well advised to check out some of the latest wicker rattan cube furniture sets available on the market.

What Is Cube Garden Furniture?

These contemporary outdoor dining sets are created to stowaway into a cube shape when not in use to minimise space taken in your garden and to maximise functionality. The side effect of this concept can be a very pleasing cube design, even when in use, which adds a contemporary modernist feel to your outdoor experience.

What Are These Garden Sets Made From?

Cube garden furniture sets are often constructed from a synthetic or poly weave, formed to resemble rattan vine wicker furniture. Frames for outdoor furniture cube suites are usually aluminium. The result of this combination of materials is that you have an all weather dining set that is light and robust, is UV resistant, mold and mildew resistant and incredibly easy to keep clean. Having been made from recycled material it is even good for the environment.

What Do You Get In A Rattan Cube Furniture Set?

You are likely to get two main options, either a four chair set or a six chair set. Both sets obviously come with a dining table that in four seater sets tends to be square, usually measuring 120 by 120cms but going up to 130 by 130cms . Six seater sets are usually accompanied by a rectangular table generally 2 metres long and 120-130cms wide. All cube dining tables are generally glass topped. Higher luxury sets will generally be accompanied by matching footstools, making lounging after meals more pleasurable or giving the kids somewhere to sit.

Any Extras?

Some wicker weave cube sets will not come with cushions however most come with stylish cushions for both chairs and footstools. Check that the cushion covers in any set you are considering are removable and washable, to improve the longevity of your set.

Are you likely to want a parasol to go with your set? Some sets may be sold with parasols but if a set your interested in doesn’t have a parasol check that it has a hole to allow a parasol to be fitted if you are likely to use one. If the set doesn’t have an opening for a parasol this could make using the set difficult on sunny days.

What colors are you into? Many rattan sets tend to be available in either black or coffee brown shades. If you are looking for a bland or even pop art color scheme you are likely to be disappointed. However, keep in mind cushion covers come in many color schemes so a dash of color can easily be added to your set.

What about storage? After the summers long gone, your wicker weave cube furniture should stowaway ergonomically. To reduce cleaning and to keep the set in tip top condition you should check whether the set you are considering purchasing comes with a cover or whether you will have to buy one separately. They are not expensive if bought separately but it is always nice to have the right cover for your set.

Likely Costs?

Depending on size and extras, you can expect to pay anywhere between £500 and £1200 for a cube rattan dining set. But whatever the cost remember you are buying durable, stylish, luxury end furniture that will give you a lot of use over many years if you take advantage of the covers available.