It’s finally time to think about early summer and spring. If you’re reading this, it means you at least thought about outdoor furniture and want to learn more about them.
Rattan is a sustainable, long-lasting, and fashionable furniture material. Rattan lounge sets, such as gardens and patios, are popular in the outdoors and are inexpensive, lightweight, and practical. And if you’re curious about the pluses and minuses of rattan garden furniture, keep reading.
Pluses of Having a Rattan Garden Furniture
If you buy brand new rattan outdoor furniture, you may wonder how useful it will be and how long it will last. After all, you’ve invested in your garden furniture, so you’ll want to know how to keep it in good condition for as long as possible.
But here’s the good news: rattan garden furniture is more beneficial than you think. Of course, you must purchase high-quality natural rattan because it makes a huge difference. Here are the pluses of having rattan furniture in your garden.
Hardy and Versatile
You can still find some rattan furniture from the 1940s and 1950s; your grandparents most likely purchased it for their lanai. That furniture is still in excellent condition today. It will be in excellent condition if properly cared for for the next 50 years.
Outdoor rattan furniture purchased today can last for generations and is often more durable than furniture made of leather or wood. You can use rattan furniture in various outdoor settings, such as the patio, but it also works well indoors. You can use rattan furniture in various settings, including the bathroom, kitchen, and sunroom.
Eco-Friendly
Rattan is environmentally friendly because it is a sustainable material. Rather than cutting down entire trees to obtain the materials for furniture, the manufacturing company has harvesters that will cut vines. Those vines regrow quickly.
Most furniture requires the clearing of entire forests. Rattan harvesters can remove vines and pieces, keeping the forest intact.
Resilient to the Outdoors
Rattan garden furniture can withstand prolonged exposure to the sun. It can also withstand cold temperatures. Whether you want to use rattan furniture outside in the summer or a sunroom during winter, the material is resistant to extreme temperatures.
If you intend to use rattan furniture outside, all you need to do is prepare it. Rattan should not soak up water; it can be left outside in the rain with a coat of lacquer.
When it comes to bad weather, high-quality rattan furniture can withstand any weather system. As a result, you won’t have to rush outside during a surprise rainstorm to put away the rattan garden furniture.
In addition to being waterproof, resin-weave rattan garden furniture is UV resistant. Remember that the rattan material itself may not be waterproof, only the cushions.
Flexible Appearance
Rattan furniture is long-lasting and has a classic appearance that makes it suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Whether the wicker is natural, tinted, or lacquered, rattan furniture will blend in with any color scheme or décor at home. Rattan furniture in neutral colors will go well with your rugs, flooring, and carpets.
Rattan furniture has a distinctive Victorian-era design, both traditional and contemporary. You can use rattan furniture in sunrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms. You can bet that rattan garden furniture will add flair to your living space.
Minuses of Having a Rattan Garden Furniture
You should be aware of these drawbacks of rattan before purchasing those lounge sets.
Uncomfortable
The tight nature of rattan in patio furniture does not allow for much give. While that is excellent for the life of a chair seat, it is not the most pleasant for sitting. However, the same is pretty much true of wood couches and chairs.
That is why most pieces of furniture have cushions. Rattan furniture is more comfortable than solid wood and can hold cushions, making it easier on the back. Colorful cushions will complement the rattan furniture on your deck in any case.
Loosens Over Time
Rattan furniture weaving can become loose over time. While rattan garden furniture can be well-made, any piece of furniture can become loose or require repairs. Rattan’s thinness must be monitored over time for loosening fibers and repairs.
When purchasing rattan furniture, double-checking the construction is always a good idea. It’s already prone to loosening pieces. If it’s not well-built, you’ll need repairs sooner instead of later.
Requires Care
Wood furniture requires maintenance to keep it in good condition. Rattan garden furniture has the same requirements and needs as other types and styles of furniture. You must monitor it for loosening fibers.
If the fibers are left outside, they must be treated. It should also be cleaned and conditioned regularly.
If you leave your rattan chairs or couches outside, keep an eye out for sun and water damage. The cushions will help shield the seat, but you will still need to regularly brush water and dirt away from the pieces.
Expensive
Because each piece is painstakingly handcrafted, rattan garden furniture is more expensive than traditional wood or plastic furniture. To make the furniture, workers process and treat every plant fiber.
Local artisans spend days weaving plant fibers into a single chair. Because the work that goes into each piece of furniture is labor-intensive, the final product is more expensive than any mass-produced furniture.
Styles Shift
While rattan furniture is generally durable, remember that it may be produced in a style that will no longer match your decor in 25 years. People’s tastes change over time, including their furniture, so you might not want a hardy rattan table after several decades, even if it’s still in good condition.
As a result, there’s a lot of rattan in thrift stores and antique shops because folks have abandoned the table or chair since their tastes have changed. This can be seen as a benefit for the rattan, which is still in good condition, but depending on the individual and their preferences, they may no longer want it.
Some people never change their styles and will covet their rattan furniture until you have to wrangle it from their cold, dead hands.