When it comes to strength, sturdiness, and versatility of a material, none can beat the Rattan. Gone are the days of Rattan just being used for outdoor spaces or a one-dimensional boho theme. Now, even young couples turn to the trusty time-tested material to freshen up their modern spaces with a chic touch of nature in their homes. And not just that, you’ll be able to find Rattan in hotels, cafes, and even some of the more upmarket restaurants. Its true potential is only beginning to unravel.

Curious about what makes this classic material so unique? And why it’s starting to make a comeback? Well, read on further and learn all about the basics of this material – put together by the onestop team.

OLD-FASHIONED MODERNITY

It seems like an impossible conundrum. Old-fashioned, yet modern? While Rattan has indeed been put to use in furniture since way before, its traditional charm lends a tangible warmth to uplift any modern spaces easily. Paired with the right materials, this stylish old-timer proves more than capable to keep up with its modern counterparts. And it’s usable in almost every part of your home.

Bed frames / Headboards

A sense of warmth and comfort is brought to the bedroom easily with Rattan in the centre of your bedroom. As a bed frame or headboard, it can look chic when paired with single-colour bedding, or it can be sprayed into other colours to suit the interior décor of the room while retaining its natural texture.

Bar carts

Make way for your next favourite furniture in the house. Serving drinks up on a Rattan bar cart adds charming vintage vibes into your evenings. On top of its durability as a frame to keep glassware, pitchers and serveware handy, it also looks confidently tropical when stowed away in the corner with a potted plant.

Mirrors

Easily one of the most stylish ways to add volume to spaces, mirrors are perfect for incorporating Rattan into your designs without committing to a larger piece. With a myriad of frame designs and sizes to play with, it’ll never fail to look delicate and brighten up the ambience.

Wall shelves

You can have them as small as a necessities rack, or as wide as a decorative wall display mounted above the bed. Either way, a beautiful Rattan wall shelf adds texture and dimension to every space. And for a truly natural green look, small potted plants will serve to bring life to the shelves – see more examples in our restaurant references here.

Doors

They may come in many forms – cabinet doors, sliding doors, partitions and more. Even as a plain door frame, it acts as a brazen statement piece in any space, without adding anything bulky. All it takes is a keen eye and a well-rounded interior design theme to pull it off.

GET TO KNOW RATTAN IN DETAIL

Even within the category of Rattan as a material itself, there are already choices to be made. Selecting specific details for different furniture is all part of the versatile charm of Rattan. Mixing and matching these varied details and textures into your spaces is what creates a wholesome stylish look that will stand the test of time.

Rattan weaving sheets

They are mostly for decorative purposes. Commonly applied as screens for cabinet doors or even room dividers, they also come in an array of woven designs to choose from. It just might be the finishing on your furniture that you never knew you needed.

Bent Rattan

Almost all of your Rattan furniture would come with bent Rattan in one form or the other. Being a highly flexible material, Rattan can be shaped, bent or curved into most forms. Its unmistakable durability and lightweight nature are what leads it to be used as the structural parts of a furniture.

Peeled and Unpeeled Rattan

Did you know that Rattan comes in peeled and unpeeled textures? Most of what you see and feel is probably Rattan in its peeled form, as it is smoother and aesthetically more pleasing, at the cost of durability. Unpeeled Rattan usually lasts longer and is more durable to external factors, therefore they’re used for the structural cores of furniture.

STYLISH ALTERNATIVES TO RATTAN

If you like the structural aesthetic of Rattan furniture but don’t want to use it in its organic and natural form, then here are some friendly alternatives that might be more suited to your needs. Synthetic Rattan, made of plastic (High-Density Poly Ethylene – HDPE), is a non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative that comes in many choices for colours and textures that you won’t be able to find with natural Rattan. It also retains an organic look that many Rattan users love. Another option available for use is wire – made from aluminium or steel, it is naturally pricier than natural rattan. What you get in return is a sturdier piece of furniture that achieves a similar look to a Rattan frame while looking stylish and impeccably modern.

ADD YOUR TOUCH OF CONTEMPORARY RESILIENCE

There’s much to explore in the world of Rattan. Whether you’re looking to renovate your spaces or simply give it an uplift, Rattan is a reliable go-to material to start designing your look with. As long as you stick to the formula of matching Rattan with complementary textures in your designs, you can avoid the well-worn look of traditional homes, and instead, bring a touch of contemporary resilience into your spaces. As always, if you need help navigating the different avenues of using Rattan or its alternatives, feel free to contact us. And for more on maintaining and preserving Rattan furniture, check out our previous article here.

14 August 2020