5 reasons to choose rattan garden furniture
Rattan garden furniture is one of the most popular choices available for outdoor furniture. We know choosing garden furniture can be tough. That's why we've picked 5 good reasons to have rattan garden furniture to help you make the right decision.
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What is rattan garden furniture?
Rattan garden furniture uses a wicker weave method to create a natural-looking design. The popularity of rattan garden furniture has grown over recent years and is now one of the most favoured.
Traditionally, rattan garden furniture was made from natural materials. Most rattan furniture nowadays is made from synthetic material. Synthetic rattan garden furniture is made from plastic alternatives, such as PVC, PU, or PE resin, that imitate natural rattan designs.
Many people confuse both rattan and wicker. Wicker is the weave style, a technique where natural materials or synthetic materials are woven together. Rattan is the natural or synthetic material used for creating the weave design.
Synthetic rattan garden furniture has become a popular choice for indoor and outdoor furniture in the UK due to its many benefits. If you're unsure whether rattan garden furniture is for you, check out these 5 reasons why you should consider rattan garden furniture.
What are the reasons for choosing rattan garden furniture?
Durable
One of the main benefits of rattan garden furniture is its durability. Synthetic rattan is made from a robust artificial material, which lasts much longer than natural alternatives. This makes it an excellent choice for outdoor garden furniture.
Natural rattan weave tends to degrade over time, but synthetic rattan doesn't suffer the same fate. Chances are that synthetic rattan will even outlast your typical wooden garden furniture.
Most quality rattan garden furniture will also have an aluminium frame that the rattan is placed over. Combining an aluminium frame and a robust synthetic rattan material adds to the furniture's durability. It's also considerably lightweight and non-corrosive too!
Comfortable
Everybody wants comfortable garden furniture. Comfort in garden furniture is essential for alfresco dining, hosting outdoor parties, or basking in the sun.
Traditionally, natural rattan had a bad reputation for being uncomfortable (especially without any cushions). Fortunately, synthetic rattan garden furniture doesn't have this problem. Most furniture sets nowadays come with comfy cushions (check whether they are UV and weatherproof).
Depending on the style of the furniture set, some may also come with wingback or high-back chairs that support the neck and shoulders. You could choose a rattan garden furniture set with reclining chairs for ultimate comfort! Never has rattan garden furniture been so comfy.
The Bali 6-seat round is excellent for comfort and alfresco dining with high-back chairs.
Consider the Flamingo 6-seat round set with reclining chairs for that extra comfort!
Some sets also come with an adjustable height table, allowing you to change the table height according to your needs. The Miami grande corner dining set is an excellent rattan garden furniture choice with a height-adjustable table.
Low maintenance
Cleaning garden furniture can be a dirty job nobody likes to do! Fortunately, synthetic rattan garden furniture makes cleaning a whole lot easier. The low maintenance to clean and care for your rattan furniture is another excellent benefit.
All you need to do to clean synthetic rattan furniture is use warm soapy water. You may need a soft brush and a vacuum cleaner to remove the muck between the weave strands. But otherwise, it's that simple.
Stains can also be easily cleaned using soapy water and some elbow grease! Bleaching and power washing are definite no no's if you want to keep your rattan garden furniture in good condition, as it weakens the material and can cause cracks.
Even if a small strand of the rattan needs repairing, it can be easy to fix. You only need epoxy resin to cover the affected area and sculpt to match the rattan design. Then leave it for a couple of days; it should look as good as new!
Find out some more tips on cleaning and maintaining rattan garden furniture.
UV-resistant and weatherproof
We already covered durability, but rattan furniture's UV-resistance and weatherproofing properties is another good reason to choose rattan. Unlike natural rattan, which is not weatherproof, synthetic rattan is specially designed for the outdoors. That means you can leave it outside in the typical British weather and not worry about the effects of rain. And the material won't split in the hot weather either.
But that's not all. Finding somewhere to store your garden furniture over winter can be problematic. With synthetic rattan weave, you don't need to worry about this, as it can cope fine with the cold winter months, provided you put a cover over it.
Alternatively, consider moving your rattan garden furniture inside. With the stylish design, you can use your garden furniture throughout the year, and it won't look out of place in the conservatory, kitchen, or indoor garden!
However, while synthetic rattan is UV-resistant, it doesn't mean it is UV-proof. Leaving synthetic rattan furniture in direct sunlight for an extended period can cause the colours to fade. Consider this when choosing a location in the garden so there is some shade during part of the day.
Stylish design
Our last reason why you should consider rattan garden furniture is for its stylish designs. Whether you choose natural or synthetic rattan, both provide a natural and rustic design that will blend well with any garden design.
Different colours of synthetic rattan are available, giving some flexibility in design choices. Some furniture sets come in a modern grey, while others may have a traditional natural weave colour for a more rustic feel.
The choice doesn't end there, though. Synthetic rattan garden furniture nowadays comes in a variety of style choices. You can buy rattan garden furniture for dining sets, bistro and duo sets, or even sofa and corner sets. Whether you have a small or large garden, you can benefit from rattan furniture.
Here is a selection of different rattan furniture styles:
- - Bistro set – Flamingo bistro set
- - Sofa set - Harbo 5-piece sofa dining set
- - Corner set – Sandringham high dining corner set
Some rattan garden furniture sets now come with a firepit, so you can continue to enjoy using your garden furniture even well into the evening.
Both the Malmo corner firepit set and the Sarasota mini modular with firepit are stylish and comfy rattan garden furniture choices that come with a firepit.
There are many great reasons why you should have rattan garden furniture. We hope the 5 reasons above will help you decide if rattan garden furniture is the right choice for you. With so many different styles available, there is something to suit every taste.