The Revival of Rattan Furniture in India
- Rajvardhan Agarwal
- Apr 6, 2022
- 3 min read
What would a picture of your ancestral house look like?
Courtyards…
Thatched Roofs…
Carved wooden columns…
Hand-woven rattan furniture…
We guessed it right, didn’t we?
That’s because these architectural features are native to India’s residential designs from the 20th century. These buildings were designed in consideration of the local climate, material availability, technique, and craftsmanship which made them sustainable.
The concepts of sustainability in architecture and home decor have gained impetus in the recent past due to global climate change issues. Hence, many of these design elements and materials are making a comeback in contemporary residential architecture.
Everything Basic About Rattan
Rattan is a climbing vine found predominantly in the forests of Asia, China, Malaysia, Asia, and the Philippines. The exterior bark of the rattan vine is used for caning products and the inner strands are used for weaving wicker furniture. Rattan adorns a light golden hue and provides a tropical vibe.
But rattan furniture has been in the limelight for quite some time now. Originating in Egypt, rattan made its way to India through Western countries and soon became a people’s favorite. After a period of extravagant Victorian-style decor, the 1960s and 1970s witnessed the upsurge of a natural decor style with rattan as its key element.
Rattan is often confused with wicker because of their identical appearance but they are drastically opposite in technicality. While rattan is a tropical stem used to make furniture, wicker is a technique used to create rattan furniture. All furniture made with the wicker technique is not built with rattan. Bamboo and other synthetic fibers materials are used to make furniture in a wicker style.
Rattan Furniture for Home Interiors
Rattan is an earthy material that resembles wood and bamboo. Its relatability to nature adds a recreational and relaxing character to the space. The versatility of Rattan makes it suitable to be shaped like tables, chairs, buckets, sofas, trolleys, partition screens, and shelves.
Rattan furniture being sleek and compact blends well with contemporary and minimalist interior design styles. You can accentuate rattan furniture pieces with throws, cushions, rugs, and other home accessories to create a cozy and fresh ambiance within the space.
We suggest you use wood and jute in combination with rattan to create a natural home ambiance. The use of metallic home accessories and vintage furniture get along well with rattan furniture.
Because of its outdoorsy look, rattan furniture looks good with nautical or maritime home decor themes. If you are a plant-lover and have multiple of them at your home, rattan furniture would compliment it beautifully.
Contemporary designers have discovered the versatility of rattan to be colorful by being painted or stained. Adding a coat of paint to rattan furniture can be a way to renovate or upgrade your home interiors on a budget. You can even spray-paint rattan with splashy, vibrant colors to make it suitable for other interior design styles.
Advantages of Rattan Furniture
Rattan is preferred for making furniture because of its versatility and malleability. It can be easily curved, bent, and woven together. Hence, it is an excellent material for indoor and outdoor furniture-making. Rattan furniture is sturdy, durable, and lightweight that can be moved around effortlessly.
Rattan can withstand extreme temperatures, humidity, and pest attacks. Since rattan is extensively available in nature, it is a sustainable and cost-effective furniture material. It adds a touch of nature to the home interiors by depicting warmth and comfort.
Disadvantages of Rattan Furniture
Rattan furniture is hand-woven and hence it can loosen over time. So, you need to employ skilled labor with good construction and weaving skills to make the furniture piece. Rattan is a rustic natural material, it can therefore be uncomfortable for sitting over long periods of time.
Final Thoughts
While using rattan furniture outdoors, it is essential to treat it with a lacquer coat. This will help it to soak up water and stand strong in harsh environmental conditions. To protect the surface of the rattan from cracks and dryness, brush the surface rattan with boiled linseed oil. You can wipe it off later and let the furniture piece rest to keep it in good shape.
Rattan is a sustainable furniture material that fits into contemporary home interiors like a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. The extensive use of rattan furniture is redefining the home decor industry by making a space look sophisticated yet simple.
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