Rattan and wicker are the two familiar terms in the furniture industry. Many customers are often confused on these terms and believe that rattan is the same as wicker and vice versa. The confusion is understandable because the differences between rattan and wicker are not readily evident, but rattan and wicker are indeed separate from one another. Or in another word, rattan is not wicker and wicker is not rattan.

The defining difference between the two is that rattan is a material whereas wicker is a style of weave. For example, there are many choices of garden furniture that use a wicker rattan weave. That simply means the physical material the furniture is composed of is rattan, and the weave style is wicker. Thus, “wicker rattan weave.”

To help you understand the differences even further, let’s look at a few definitions.

What is Rattan?

Rattan is a popular furniture material that grows in tropical regions located in Africa, Australia, and Asia. There are over 600 different species of Rattan. The strong and beautiful fibrous appearance makes this material a very great choice for indoor living space. Besides, rattan is flexible, durable, lightweight, and most importantly, attractive with its beautiful natural-brown color. These qualities have made rattan a very hot commodity for both businesses and consumers alike.

Furthermore, rattan is an eco-friendly material. Rattan grows over 2 centimeters per day. This means it grows up to 3 meters in only 6 months! Rattan can be harvested within two years, compared to some hardwoods such as teak, mahogany, and oak which take up to 20-30 years to grow. That is why rattan is an environmentally friendly and completely sustainable product! 

What is Wicker?

Wicker is a weaving technique that has been used for thousands of years. Though this technique has been around for thousands of years, it only became popular in the modern era with the Arts and Crafts Movement in the early 1900s. Wicker is traditionally made of woven fibers, but synthetic materials recently have been used to create wicker furniture.

What are rattan and wicker used for?

When it comes to natural rattan furniture, customers have fallen in love with the flexibility, beauty, and durability of the product. Rattan is easy to maintain and very affordable in price. Furthermore, the fact that natural rattan is perfect for indoor makes it a great choice to decorate your indoor living space including living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and many more. Furthermore, rattan can be used in any variety of designs. For example, rattan can be wrapped or weaved around furniture frames that range from modern, classical, contemporary, or vintage that will easily mix and match.

Wicker furniture can be made from various types of material, such as cane, straw, reeds, willows, and of course rattan. The quality of wicker furniture depends on what material is used to make it. Synthetic polyethylene rattan, also known as ‘PE rattan’ is commonly used for outdoor living space. It has the same look as the natural rattan and is woven in the same way. Its UV-resistant waive can withstand intense UV exposure and won’t fade made this material is best for outdoor such as patio, garden, terrace, etc. 

In terms of furniture design, wicker can be used to create stools, chairs, couches, benches, and much more. Just like Rattan, the wicker design is woven around a frame to create specific types of furniture.

Rattan and wicker are not the same

In conclusion, wicker and rattan are not the same. The similarities between rattan and wicker are they are both lightweight and less expensive compared with the wooden or metal furniture sets. Rattan is an excellent choice for an indoor living space that will bring a stylish vibe into your room. On the other hand, wicker furniture quality and function are dependent on its material. 

Indonesia is well known for its natural rattan furniture manufacturer. All of them produce high-quality and various natural rattan furniture styles. From vintage to modern style, from contemporary to industrial, nothing is impossible.

Asean Sourcing leads all operational duties until delivery of the product. We are here for your convenience and to help you to find the products you are looking for in Indonesia, the most attractive natural rattan furniture production area today.

Contact us today for more information. 

× How can I help you?