Rattan furniture is very trendy. They bring Mediterranean flair on the balcony, terrace and especially in the living room. They provide a special feeling of living and harmonize with different furnishing styles. Rattan is a natural product of different types of palm trees that grow in the Asian rainforest. The thick stem parts are used for frames and racks of chairs, beds or tables. The thinner, drawn and planed strands are used for the typical wicker work. In the trade are often also offered furniture made of polyrattan under the name ‚Rattan‘. These are plastic rattan, which is much cheaper and is mainly recommended for outdoor use.

Different types of rattan in furniture production

In the manufacture of rattan furniture different types of rattan are used, namely Manaurohr-, Peddigrohr-, Boondoot-, Croco and Koboo Gray rattan. Manaurohr is unpeeled rattan with diameters of up to 8 cm and is considered the highest quality rattan in furniture production. Croco rattan is also unpeeled and untreated, giving every piece of furniture a natural finish. Rattan is split or split rattan, provides a uniform wicker pattern and is used to disguise smooth furniture parts. Boondoot rattan is practically the bare rattan. Here we peeled off the prickly surface. The typical rattan node approaches are preserved. Koboo rattan gives this furniture the typical Koboo gray tone. For this purpose, this wood is placed in clay-containing water for a few days.

Advantages and disadvantages of this natural material

This natural material impresses with its long durability, its rustic look and its low weight. It is not hollow, like bamboo for example, but it is as sturdy as wood and, moreover, elastic and durable. Every single piece of furniture is unique. Rattan is a fast renewable resource and recyclable. These plants wake up within 5-7 years. The care is uncomplicated. Dusting can be rattan easily with any conventional duster. In order for these furniture to stay beautiful for a long time, it should be lightly sprayed with a water atomizer at regular intervals. So the material remains permanently supple and beautiful as on the first day.

Where there is light, there are also shadows. For example, peeled rattan is not weather-resistant and must be protected against moisture, moisture and direct sunlight. If it stays permanently in the rain, it turns gray and becomes brittle. As a result, natural rattan is more suitable for indoor use and less for outdoor use, even if it is unpeeled and its natural protective coating is still present. If it is still used outdoors, it should not be in the open air and in bad weather always brought to dry or at least covered.

What to look for when buying?

Before you decide to buy a rattan piece of furniture, you should pay attention to a few things. First, the piece of furniture in question should be connected with glue, wood cones or dowels. Nails, screws or staples indicate a lower quality, they can rust relatively quickly, which leads to unsightly discoloration. At best, the corner joints are wound with leather bindings. Even with brittle ends and irregularities in the braiding you should take distance from the purchase. The wickerwork is the higher the denser and denser it is processed.

The braiding fibers should be round and smooth, so they are more flexible and can be easily brought to the desired shape. If, on the other hand, they are rough and angular, this quickly leads to breakages in the mesh. In addition, bars and feet should not be cracked or cracked and the piece of furniture should have a firm footing. Trial seating is definitely recommended. Last but not least, you should make sure that all wrappings on the frame and braid are not torn. If you like natural rattan, you should know that this is mainly suitable for indoor use. A very good alternative for outdoors is poly rattan, because that is particularly weather-resistant.