Rattan Conservatory Furniture Is Different To Garden Furniture?
A Popular Choice
Rattan conservatory furniture is a popular choice for use in sun rooms. Characterised by the wicker look, rattan furniture brings a tropical, airy feel to any room it is used in. Rattan has been used in furniture construction for thousand of years due to its inherent qualities of strength and durability. Usually teak framed, the rattan is woven using the wicker technique to clad the framing and produce the furniture’s shape. Rattan is a tropical vine, but you will often find all types of cane and wicker furniture described as rattan.
What Is Different
Whilst conservatory furniture is usually made from natural, organic rattan, the furniture described as outdoor or garden furniture tends to be constructed from man made materials including aluminium framing and synthetic rattan weave. These man made materials are better at standing up to the elements long term as they are unaffected by damp or UV.
Can You Use Rattan Conservatory Furniture Outdoors?
You can use natural rattan furniture outdoors. The furniture was originally developed close to source in tropical climates for general use. Natural rattan does not like damp conditions so it is advisable to only use conservatory furniture outdoors on the best days, do not leave out overnight or where weather is changeable. The effects of damp on natural rattan are likely to be mold spots and breakdown of the rattan fibres over time. UV can also damage rattan conservatory furniture whether it is used indoor or outdoors. UV tends to dry out and bleach the rattan over long periods of time, but there are some simple steps you can take to extend the furniture life time.
Styles/Types Available
Most rattan conservatory furniture consists of armchair and sofa lounge sets which may come with additional low level glass topped tables. There is a wide variety of styles available from traditional rustic styles through to modern contemporary styles. You will often find that modern styles use an element of man made materials to contrast with the natural materials. You can find modernist sofas with stainless steel or aluminium framing clad with natural weave which showcase both materials to great effect. The choice you will have to make is whether you want a traditional style in which case teak and rattan will be better or whether you want a room with a more modern feel.
Maintenance
Rattan furniture created from traditional techniques using all natural materials should last up to 15 years if treated correctly and kept out of the damp. UV can dry out furniture so it is wise to occasionally wipe down rattan furniture with a damp cloth periodically to prevent the rattan becoming brittle. Most rattan conservatory sets will often have a lacquer coat applied that will help protect the furniture from UV and low levels of damp, so check the set you are considering buying has a coating for easy maintenance.
If mold spots do develop on untreated natural rattan you can use a 50:50 water/bleach solution to kill off the mold and restore the furniture. Use sparingly only on the mold spots, rub the solution into the rattan with a toothbrush and rinse with a small amount of water after treatment.