Rattan Dreams

Rattan furniture and home decor is hot right now. At the Paris trade show we attended this past fall rattan was everywhere. From furniture to lighting to everything home decor. Rattan is having a big moment. For many of us the love of rattan has always been there, and rattan furnishings have been made for 100s of years. A major benefit of rattan being en vogue is that there are many great options available right now and we're jumping on that...darn I say...trend. 

It's no wonder rattan is so popular. Rattan is a wonderful material. It is renewable, sustainable and earth-friendly. Rattan furniture is lightweight and easy to move around the home. It is also moldable into different shapes and uses, including but not limited to tables, chairs, baskets and lighting. Rattan can be coloured, stained or painted easily too.

Rattan although light in weight, is very durable. A good quality rattan product can easily last decades, if not longer. And like many natural materials, rattan gains beauty and patina with age.

What is the difference between rattan and wicker? Rattan is an actual plant species with over 600 varieties. Whereas wicker is a general term referring to anything made from natural grass material, including rattan, seagrass and other leaves, branches or wood. The best quality rattan furniture is made from two specific types of rattan called Tohiti and Manau. 

If you are not in love with rattan after reading this but are still curious, try adding little bits of it at a time to your home and see how you feel. You too could quickly become a "basket-head" and head-over-heels for anything rattan.