All about Rattan Furniture

Rattan furniture is made from rattan only, but Wicker is the technique used to create the furniture using a variety of pliable plant materials.

The term Wicker is used to describe:

· The technique of making these woven products

· The generic name for the materials used in the manufacture

· The actual furniture once produced

A variety of materials can also be used in the production process when making wicker furniture. These can include rattan, water hyacinth, bamboo, straw, willow, rush and many more.

Natural wicker is well known for its strength and durability, as well as the high level of beauty and comfort that an expert crafts person can create. Different parts of the plant can be used in manufacture, such as the cores of cane or rattan stalks, or even whole thicknesses of plants, as with willow switches. Other popular materials include water hyacinth and bamboo. Natural wicker furniture will require maintenance.

Wicker is light yet sturdy, making it suitable for furniture on a veranda or in an alfresco area.

Water hyacinth furniture is Eco-friendly. Water hyacinth can be invasive in its habitat and can clog up water systems. When these water systems were cleared in the past, the plant was just dumped. Now Water Hyacinth is being used to make furniture that only requires a basic timber frame.