Native to Southeast Asia, rattan has been used in furniture making for centuries, and although it’s sometimes confused with cane or wicker, some key differences exist. Rattan is a type of tropical climbing plant (there are over 600 species of rattan palm), and it has long, slim, flexible stems that can be bent and shaped without breaking. Cane is the name of the rattan plant’s tough outer skin and has a smoother, glossier finish. This can be used for weaving chair seats, referred to as caning. Wicker is the process of weaving natural materials, including rattan, willow, and bamboo, and it’s one of the world’s oldest surviving crafts.

Ranging in colour from pale golden straw to deep, rich mahogany rattan furniture will add depth and texture to your interiors. Shedding its connotations of the elaborate rattan pieces of the Victorian era or the boho chic of the 60s and 70s, check out rattan’s modern revival and these quirky pieces to incorporate into your home.

Add subtle pieces of rattan furniture

Rattan furniture has been a mainstay in Oka’s collections since its launch in the 90s and is a material that they bill as “perpetually popular”. Given that, Oka has got rattan down to a fine art, including a full range of unusual rattan details like the handwoven Damu rattan stool (pictured), which is a riff on the brand’s iconic striped ceramic Rander stool. Replicating its barrel shape with curved sides and a flat top, it can be used as either a table or a seat. For more subtle touches of rattan, Oka also has the rattan Mandalay waste paper basket, coasters, and underplates.

Upgrade your garden with rattan furniture

While natural rattan is durable and naturally weather resistant, it can, over time, be prone to rot, so many rattan garden furniture sets on the market are made from synthetic rattan, known as PE or polyethylene rattan. Look for pieces with a straight weave rather than a diagonal; this tends to be stronger. Polyethylene rattan is entirely weather and UV-resistant, can handle high amounts of humidity, and isn’t susceptible to mould or mildew.

Dunelm has a great range of outdoor rattan garden furniture, from dining sets to corner sofas and egg chairs. The geometric Amazonia rope corner set (pictured) is made from steel and rattan with comfy seating and a glass coffee table top.

Go for quirky shapes

East London-based A Toko stocks beautiful, sustainably created furniture crafted mainly out of rattan, teak, and recycled plastic. It was born from a love and appreciation of Indonesia’s rich culture and skilled artisanry. A Toko’s particular rattan is sustainably sourced from the farmers of Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo).

Their hand-made Kupu Kupu armchair, designed in collaboration with Cult Furniture, has a backrest that replicates the curves of a butterfly wing (kupu kupu means butterfly in Indonesian). Its frame features gentle, symmetrical curves and natural rattan latticework. It comes in a three-seater sofa as well as an armchair.

Give your rattan furniture a stylish update

Oliver Bonas has some brilliant, quirky rattan furniture in the store, like the rattan sage green double chest of drawers (pictured). Made from hardwood mindi (from the Melia azedarach tree), it has a woven rattan front with four short legs, curved edges, and six spacious drawers. A sage green metal top, wine-hued tassels, and small brass drawer pulls add colour and warmth to the piece.

The range is called the Kinship collection and also features a matching rattan wardrobe, bedside tables, a dressing table, and a single chest of drawers. For rattan cane with cut-out detailing, the Loha range features a chic rattan rocking chair with cream boucle upholstery and a matching faux sheepskin boucle storage stool.

Rattan makes the ideal garden furniture

Rattan furniture has an air of the exotic and makes an ideal material for a standout quirky piece. Nkuku’s hanging Nesari chair is handcrafted from durable woven rattan using the traditional steam-bending technique, where rattan is softened in a cylindrical steaming tube to make the fibres pliable enough to be bent into shape. It’s lightweight enough to be hung from a sturdy branch, beam, or load-bearing frame or hook to make the perfect alfresco reading spot.

Pair it with Nkuku’s Nesari rattan sofa, which has also been created with a steam-bending technique and joined with rawhide for added strength, and the rectangular Nesari coffee table with its simple slat design. Although rattan is hardy and durable as garden furniture, it’s recommended you bring it in during the winter months. When it comes to cleaning, use a soft-bristle brush to remove any dust and no harsh chemicals.

Step back to the 70s with a rattan chaise lounge

Rattan furniture has a retro feel, and this Habitat natural rattan two-seater sofa is perfect for 70s interiors, which have been gaining popularity in recent years. The Betal sofa is handwoven from 100% rattan but is easy to look after and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.

Vinterior is another option for a fine line in vintage rattan. From mid-century vintage rattan dressing tables with arched bamboo and cane to rattan peacock chairs (that can be used as a plant stand) to a highly decorative French rattan and bamboo chaise lounge circa 1920. 

Match floor lamps and uplighters

Pooky’s rattan pendant lighting comes in a range of shapes and sizes. For larger spaces, the globular Bellamy is pumpkin-shaped and casts a soft light through the weave. For a completely spherical lamp, there’s the natural rattan Hector ball pendant. The 80 cm wide woven Aphrodite has brass accents and is flat in shape, while the Albus pendant has a teardrop shape, wicker frame, and cast brass hat.

For a showstopper piece, there’s the Solaris chandelier in brass and rattan, which has nine wicker balls suspended from a hexagonal brass plate. You can arrange the wicker balls to whatever height works best for your space, which has a height of 120cm and a wingspan of 45cm. For a subtle addition of rattan in your lighting, pick a bedside rattan table lamp or shade or go with the Cornet, which is a combination of the two with a trumpet-shaped base and curved shade.

Invest in a classic rattan headboard

If you prefer classic rattan furniture, the French Bedroom Company has four beautiful rattan beds to choose from, and when it comes to deciding which is best for you, the brand says to keep these questions in mind: “Which size will work best for your space? Would you prefer to opt for the natural and tonal aesthetic of browns and yellows or, alternatively, choose beautifully painted rattan in the form of a white rattan bed frame? And what style are you trying to achieve in your bedroom?”.

Once you’ve determined the look and feel you’re going for, you could pick the Chateauneuf, a distressed and weathered handmade wooden French bed with a romantic rattan rustic finish, or the elegant hand-carved mahogany Normandy, whose frame has a lightly distressed pale stone colour and a gently curved footboard. They also make the Normandy with a low footboard and a French Grey painted rattan bed for a vintage feel.

Bring in rattan details with string lighting

Upgrade your summer garden lighting situation with a set of quirky rattan-effect lantern fairy lights from Lights4fun to create a cosy atmosphere for alfresco dining after the sun has set. Solar-powered (make sure you charge them in a sunny spot during the day), each of the 10 lights has a warm white LED. With nearly three meters of lights and a three-metre lead cable, you can string the lanterns through trees or along your fence.

To bring more light into the garden, you could line the borders, garden path, or outdoor dining area with rattan lanterns, which feature Lights4fun’s outdoor battery-powered TruGlow®candles, which have 1200 hours of illumination time and a six-hour timer for automatic illumination and a warm white glow with a colour temperature of 2700k.