Rattan Furniture

Rattan furniture gets used as a catch-all term, but there's real variation hiding behind it natural versus synthetic, indoor versus outdoor, genuinely durable versus something that'll look tired within a year. Before you buy, it's worth understanding what you're actually choosing between. At Rattan Garden Furniture Ltd, we get asked these basics constantly, so here's the honest breakdown.

What Rattan Actually Is

Rattan is a climbing palm, predominantly grown across Southeast Asia, harvested for its long, flexible stems. The skin and inner core can be woven into furniture, and it's been used this way for centuries it reached the West through trade during the expansion of the British Empire, became fashionably exotic among the Victorians, then had a genuine resurgence in the 1960s and 70s alongside bohemian interior styles.

That's natural rattan. What most people encounter today when buying "rattan furniture" for a garden is something different: synthetic rattan, engineered from polyethylene to look and feel like the real material, but built specifically to survive outdoors.

Natural Rattan Versus Synthetic Rattan

This is the distinction that actually matters when you're buying, more than colour or shape.

Natural rattan is genuinely beautiful, with an organic texture and visual warmth synthetic materials struggle to fully replicate. It's also comfortable, thanks to the natural flexibility of the fibres. But it isn't built for permanent outdoor exposure rain, UV, and frost degrade it over time, which is why natural rattan is generally better suited to indoor spaces like conservatories rather than an exposed garden or patio.

Synthetic rattan (also called PE rattan, resin wicker, or all-weather rattan) is engineered from polyethylene, specifically designed to handle rain, sun, and frost without cracking, fading, or becoming brittle. It's the material behind virtually all genuine outdoor rattan furniture sold today, including everything we stock at Rattan Garden Furniture Ltd.

A customer who'd inherited a natural rattan conservatory set from a relative asked us whether it would survive being moved onto her patio. We had to be honest it wouldn't hold up outdoors the way it had indoors, and she'd be better off keeping it inside and buying a separate synthetic rattan set for the garden. That's not us trying to sell more furniture; it's genuinely how the two materials perform differently.

Rattan Versus Wicker: A Common Confusion

These terms get used interchangeably, but they're not quite the same thing. Rattan is the material the actual palm-derived fibre or its synthetic equivalent. Wicker is the weaving technique used to turn that material into furniture. You can have wicker furniture made from rattan, willow, or synthetic fibres; rattan is specifically what the wicker is made from, not the weaving method itself.

What Actually Determines Quality in Synthetic Rattan Furniture

Not all synthetic rattan is built the same, and this is where a lot of buying mistakes happen.

UV resistance level. Cheaper synthetic rattan fades and becomes brittle faster under sustained sun exposure. Quality PE rattan is specifically UV-stabilised to resist this over multiple seasons.

Frame material. The rattan weave sits over a frame, almost always aluminium for quality outdoor furniture. Powder-coated aluminium resists rust properly; cheaper steel frames underneath a decent-looking weave can corrode within a few years, undermining the whole set.

Weave density and construction. A tightly woven, well-constructed weave holds its shape and looks refined for years. A loose or thin weave can snag, sag, or look cheap up close even if it photographs reasonably well online.

Genuine weatherproofing versus marketing claims. Every retailer says their furniture is "weatherproof." What actually matters is whether the rattan is properly UV-stabilised, the frame is genuinely rust-resistant, and cushions are rated for outdoor use rather than just water-resistant fabric over standard foam.

Where Rattan Furniture Actually Works Best

Synthetic rattan is built specifically for exposed outdoor areas garden dining sets, patios, and poolside seating that stay outside year-round. Natural rattan suits indoor or sheltered spaces, like conservatories, orangeries, or covered porches, where it won't face direct rain and prolonged UV exposure.

If you're furnishing both an indoor conservatory and an outdoor patio, it's worth treating them as genuinely separate purchases rather than assuming one material suits both spaces equally well.

Why Rattan Garden Furniture Ltd

We've spent over 30 years working specifically with synthetic PE rattan built for genuine outdoor use, not repurposed indoor furniture. Every set uses UV-stabilised rattan over powder-coated aluminium frames, backed by our 10-year all-weather guarantee. You can see and feel the difference between quality and budget synthetic rattan in person at our Essex showrooms, which is honestly the most reliable way to judge weave density and construction before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is rattan actually made from?

Natural rattan comes from a climbing palm grown in Southeast Asia. Synthetic rattan, used in most outdoor furniture, is engineered from polyethylene to replicate the look and feel of natural rattan.

Is rattan the same as wicker?

No, rattan is the material, while wicker is the weaving technique used to construct furniture. Wicker furniture can be made from rattan, willow, or synthetic fibres.

Can natural rattan furniture be used outdoors?

Not recommended for permanent outdoor exposure. Natural rattan degrades under sustained rain, UV, and frost, and is better suited to indoor or sheltered spaces like conservatories.

What is PE rattan?

PE (Polyethylene) rattan is synthetic rattan engineered specifically to withstand outdoor conditions year-round, resisting UV fading, cracking, and frost damage.

How do I know if synthetic rattan furniture is good quality?

Check the UV resistance level, frame material (powder-coated aluminium is best), weave density, and whether cushions are genuinely rated for outdoor use.

Does synthetic rattan furniture fade in the sun?

Quality UV-stabilised synthetic rattan resists fading over multiple seasons, though cheaper unstabilised versions can fade and become brittle faster.

Is natural or synthetic rattan more comfortable?

Both are generally considered comfortable due to the flexibility of the woven structure, though this varies by specific construction and cushioning.

How long does quality synthetic rattan furniture last?

With proper construction and reasonable care, quality synthetic rattan furniture typically lasts well over a decade outdoors.

Can I use the same rattan furniture indoors and outdoors?

Not interchangeably. Synthetic rattan is built for outdoor exposure, while natural rattan generally suits indoor or sheltered spaces better.

Does Rattan Garden Furniture Ltd sell natural or synthetic rattan?

We specialise in synthetic PE rattan, engineered specifically for genuine year-round outdoor use, backed by our 10-year all-weather guarantee.

Ready to see the difference quality synthetic rattan makes? Browse our full range at Rattan Garden Furniture Ltd, or visit our Essex showrooms to feel the weave and construction for yourself.