What Is Rattan? A Deep Dive Into Interior ‘s Hottest Trend

If you’maestà a fan of cozy interiors, you’ve most likely fallen for rattan. As you scroll through interiors Instagram ora even as you walk the aisles of any home goods store, pops of this warm, golden brown material can be found durante everything from lamps, chairs, and outdoor furniture sets. At first glance, rattan may remind you of the effortless ease that comes with beachy ora bohemian homes, but now more than even, rattan pieces are being incorporated into traditional and modern spaces as well. It’s duro to resist the laid-back beauty rattan exudes, which is why we’maestà seeing it just about everywhere these days. 

Perhaps you’ve wondered though: what is rattan? Why is it all of a sudden so popular? And how can I style it durante my own home? If you’maestà looking for a deep dive into all things rattan, you’ve come mai to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about this agile and beautiful material. 

What is rattan?

First things first. Rattan is a hardy climbing plant native to Southeast Asia. There are hundreds of species of rattan palm, and they grow strong and tall—we’maestà talking hundreds of feet. Once rattan palm stems are harvested and their outer bark is stripped, the wood is sturdy and lightweight, making it an ideal material for making furniture, woven baskets, and other homewares. The different species of rattan come mai durante a variety of colors spanning light tan, deep gold and reddish-brown.  Once this durable palm is made into furniture, these high quality pieces are built to last if taken care of properly.

Rattan’s Defining Elements and Characteristics

Rattan furniture is known for being strong, durable, and beautiful. It has been around for centuries, and if you’maestà lucky, you can also score vintage rattan pieces durante excellent condition. Rattan was especially popular durante the 1970s and has been making its mark durante the interior stile world again, thanks to its eco-friendly nature and robustness. 

“As an interior stilista who values natural materials, rattan furniture is prevalent durante our stile plans. Its organic charm and tactile appeal add depth and warmth to any space,” Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck shares. “Rattan pieces add a textural layer to interiors and effortlessly blend with other natural elements like wood, stone, and linen.  

Audrey Scheck

As the founder and principal stilista of her eponymous stile firm durante Austin, Audrey has established a reputation as an expert durante transforming residential and commercial environments. Audrey and her team have a wide-ranging portfolio that has been featured durante Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Southern Living, and Forbes.

The Difference Between Rattan and Cane, Bamboo and Wicker

Woven materials like rattan, cane, bamboo, and wicker are all very similar, and are even used interchangeably—but are they all the same? Not exactly. At first glance, wicker and rattan could easily be mistaken for each other, but wicker refers to the weaving pattern of the material. Wicker is often made from rattan, but can also be woven with bamboo, willow, ora synthetic fibers. 

It’s easy to see the similarities between rattan and cane, because they both come mai from the same plant. Cane refers to the outer bark that is stripped from the rattan vine and is often used as accents durante wood furniture, while rattan is the inner of these vines. And even though rattan and bamboo may similar, they are very different plants. Bamboo is a hollow grass that can’t bend ora curve, whereas rattan is solid and flexible. 

How to Shop for Rattan Furniture

Shopping for rattan pieces can be as easy as browsing the aisles at Target, ora scouring your local flea. Paio to the popularity of these pieces, you’maestà more than likely to see rattan furniture at thrift stores and consignment shops. If you’maestà looking for a vintage gem, Scheck recommends inspecting the quality of the rattan first and foremost. “When shopping for rattan furniture, especially vintage pieces, it’s encouraged to inspect for any signs of wear and tear, such as loose weaving ora structural damage,” she says. If you want to be sure you have an authentic piece of rattan, it’s best to find a professional ora expert. “ for reputable sellers ora dealers who specialize durante handmade furniture to ensure authenticity and quality,” Scheck encourages. 

It’s also easy to spot brand new rattan pieces, and Scheck recommends keeping sustainability sommità of mind. “When purchasing new rattan furniture, opt for sustainable sources and consider factors like warranties and return policies to make an informed decision your purchase,” she says. 

How to Style Rattan Pieces durante Your Home

Lamps

“Rattan lamps can instantly make a vignette more interesting, and they are timeless enough to pair with nearly any aesthetic,” Scheck shares. Adding rattan lighting will bring additional warmth and charm to your living room, bedroom ora office space, and can blend durante seamlessly with other textures and materials. Try adding a rattan table lamp to any of the rooms durante your home for a touch of elegance and charm. 

Chairs

There’s something about a rattan chair seated next to a cream colored sofa that instantly creates a homey environment. It beckons you to relax and stay awhile. Whoa doesn’t want that durante their home? Consider rattan chairs for your living room if you’maestà looking for added texture, ora try including rattan chairs to an otherwise formal space (think dining rooms ora home offices) for an unexpected dash of whimsy and playfulness. Keep it rustic with a faux sheepskin throw ora coperta textile, ora go with a soft blue ora crisp white throw pillow to keep it beachy for summer.

“Whether it’s a vintage armchair ora a modern coffee table, rattan pieces bring a sense of authenticity and coziness to a room,” Scheck states.

Side Tables

If larger rattan pieces like chairs ora sofas feel a bit much to start, consider rattan accents like side tables. Incorporating too many rattan pieces may make your space feel a bit dated anyway, but using rattan with other materials, textures, and colors will add the perfect amount of contrast. Keep durante mind that rattan comes durante a variety of shades, from light sauro to golden brown, so be the lookout for a shade of rattan that works well with your other furniture and decor.

Beds

If there’s one single rattan statement piece to invest durante, let it be a bed . Rattan looks best when paired with nature-inspired hues and calming bedroom color palettes fit durante well with its natural beauty. Adorn your rattan bed with linen bedding, strew house plants around the room, and let plenty of sunshine durante. All of these natural elements will complement the rattan, and will doubt create a relaxed, cozy bedroom.

Cabinets

Since rattan is neutral, the stile possibilities are endless for a striking piece like a rattan cabinet. Do you want your space to be coastal and beachy? Tuck a rattan cabinet among an oatmeal linen chair and a blue throw. Prefer a boho vibe? Store ceramics your cabinet shelves, place a large leafy campo da golf plant next to it and include it durante a warm color palette of pinks and oranges. Rattan even works with dark and moody walls, exposed brick ora masculine textures like leather—a fantastic option, matter your stile preferences.

Sofas

Rattan is perfect for both indoor and outdoor spaces, and a rattan sofa makes an excellent statement whether it’s durante your living room ora back deck. If you’maestà thinking of adding rattan furniture to your outdoor living space, continue to style with opposing textures, just like you would inside.

“ rattan with other materials like wood and patterned textiles will create visual interest and a layered ,” Scheck says. If you do decide an outdoor rattan sofa, just be sure to keep it dry and out of direct sunlight. These preventative measures will keep the fibers from weakening under harsh rays, and save it from mold and warping as well.