Get the Rattan effect style

You love the rattan look. You adore the rattan effect. But as you’ll find out when you search Google for ‘real rattan’, it’s made from jungle palms and doesn’t withstand the UK weather at all well. The damp makes it swell. It rots. It goes mouldy. The sum’s UV rays make it fade and crack. It deteriorates in no time, ultimately leaving you with an ugly mess.

So how can you get the rattan effect without all the hassle, expense, and disappointment? It’s a faux rattan thing, and it’s actually really beautiful. Here’s what you need to know about our stunning rattan-look garden furniture.

What is the Rattan effect?

The rattan effect is all about weaving. The tough, incredibly strong fibres from the palm are either woven as they are, or dyed then woven, to create a beautiful effect. Sometimes it’s patterned, other times it’s plain, but the look is always open, airy, fresh, and stylish.

Rattan is made from special types of jungle palm. The name ‘rattan’ actually describes around 600 species of climbing palms in the subfamily Calamoideae. It’s most often found in closed canopy old-growth tropical forests across South East Asia, tropical Asia, and Africa. It has been used for weaving since Ancient Egyptian times, maybe even longer. You can read the full rattan story here on our blog. It’s fascinating!

About resin rattan

So what about the man-made alternative to rattan? Resin rattan is also called resin wicker, PE rattan, plastic rattan, or synthetic rattan. It’s an artificial material made from the really strong, high-performance polymer called polyethylene, also called PE, or a high-density polyethylene, also called HDPE. It’s one of the most popular materials for making modern outdoor wicker furniture, with high strength and great durability.

Quality outdoor resin wicker furniture lasts for years and years when you care for it, which is an easy job. It won’t fade and the frames, usually made from strong aluminium, are tailor-made for survival in the great outdoors. There’s no need to bring it indoors, even in extreme weather.

The man-made resin version of rattan isn’t porous so it doesn’t crack or swell in the wet. It doesn’t break or scratch, even in freezing conditions. The best quality material contains UCV inhibitors, so it doesn’t fade or go brittle with prolonged exposure to sunlight either.

It’s 100% waterproof and doesn’t stain, so stays looking good for years. Moss doesn’t like to gather on it. Dirt and even bird poop simply slides off with a damp cloth and soapy water. And the best stuff is recyclable, coming with good environmental credentials.

The resin rattan look

Think real rattan and you get the picture. Some of our rattan style garden furniture is made in a rich, deep brown resin, which complements gardens really well. Other items are made from a paler resin rattan, calm and cool. It’s a great idea when pale coloured real rattan furniture will start to look tatty in no time.

We focus on greys for much of our beautiful faux rattan garden furniture, an on-trend colour scheme that never clashes. And some of it is multi-toned, giving you an outstanding natural look full of interest and variety.

Take a tour of our wonderful rattan garden furniture collection, including a load of classic and modern choices, all specially chosen to survive the British weather in all its variety. When rattan effect looks this good, why struggle with the real thing?