Weave garden furniture (also known as rattan or wicker) has a long and illustrious history. It first hit the shores of Britain and America in the Victorian era but dates back much further. Developed from the craft of basket weaving, weave or rattan is one of the oldest processes of furniture making. Used by the ancient Egyptians and the Romans, examples have even been found buried with Pharaoh’s belongings in tombs. The Romans, inspired by the Egyptians, integrated the craft of woven furniture into their culture and spread it across the Roman Empire.
This popularity continued throughout Europe and Asia during the following centuries. It was common to find wicker in Northern Europe around the 17th century and in the following century rattan was introduced to the West from Asia.
Weave garden furniture in the 21st century
In today’s market, weave or rattan is popular. It can be purchased made from natural rattan or synthetic rattan. But what is the difference? Natural rattan is very strong and durable and looks fantastic, adding a distinctive style to your outside space. Synthetic rattan has been developed to mimic the signature weave appearance and style of natural rattan, but is cheaper to build and has added strength and durable qualities. This is added over a high quality aluminium frame. If you’re a traditionalist you can opt for natural rattan, but synthetic rattan is also a great choice and can last for many years. While better for traditional gardens, modern gardens can still benefit from its stylish design.
The benefits of weave garden furniture
All types of garden furniture have their benefits and drawbacks and the perfect material for you will depend on many factors including budget, time and style. But there is a definite case worth putting forward for weave or rattan furniture.
It looks great
There is no doubt that rattan garden furniture looks stylish and can be a great addition to any outdoor space. There is a wide variety of weave furniture available to suit all styles and tastes, from traditional to ultra-modern, or small bistro sets to large dining sets.
Weatherproof
One of the key benefits of rattan garden furniture is its ability to handle everything the British weather can throw at it. Wind, rain or snow, weather conditions are no problem for rattan! Rattan may look delicate, but it’s stronger and more durable than it looks. It can be left out in the garden all year round and still look fantastic when summer comes around again. Oh, and did I mention that rattan is also UV-protected, so it won’t fade in the blistering sun.
Comfortable
If you like to spend a lot of time out in the garden then it is essential to have comfortable furniture to sit on. And if you have guests around to visit, you don’t want them to go home complaining of a stiff back, or sore behind! Well rattan outdoor furniture has you covered! One of the key benefits of weave is just how comfortable it is, shaped for lunch, dinner, or just lounging your days away. All items come with comfortable cushions too, so if comforts your thing, you’re onto a winner with rattan!
Lightweight
Weave or rattan garden furniture is lightweight, which means you can move it around your garden without breaking a sweat. This is an important factor as, unlike with cast iron or steel furniture, you can move rattan depending on the occasion. Both the tables and chairs are lightweight to move them. Want to have a dinner party in the middle of your lawn? You can with rattan. Oh, and it’s lightweight enough to not damage your lawn – a bonus!
Affordable
Price is right up there on most peoples’ list of priorities when buying garden furniture and rattan has you covered in that department. Sure, it is possible to splash out on rattan, with some pretty pricey items out there, but there is a wide range available to suit all budgets. If you decide to go with synthetic rattan, then you can make some real cost savings and the great news is, that it is even stronger and more durable than natural rattan. And looks great too!
So, there you have it. Weave has been around for a long time and good reason. It looks great, lasts for years, is low maintenance, is strong and durable, and won’t break the bank. There is a wide variety of styles and designs now on the market and with its growing popularity, this is set to continue. So, for your next purchase, rattan is worth a look! Browse our outdoor furniture collection to see the range of weave garden products we have available.