The beauty of rattan furniture

Rattan furniture and cane rattan furniture are nothing new – they’ve been around longer than conservatories have. Yet today, chairs and sofas in rattan have never been more popular.

Old cruise liners used to line their decks in cane rattan furniture sourced from the tropical islands they visited. Today, we all want to add tropical flair to our homes, so tables, sofas and chairs in rattan and synthetic wicker are flying out of the stores. Sofas in rattan are particularly popular.

However, the more popular a product is, the more it costs. Even synthetic rattan furniture can be prohibitively expensive, and natural rattan furniture can cost thousands of pounds.

How can we sell quality cane rattan furniture at such low prices?

At 1st For Cane we sell a huge selection of rattan furniture, at prices well below those found elsewhere. Yet our cane rattan furniture is some of the finest on the market. So how do we do it?

Simply by dealing direct with a supplier who only stocks quality, craftsman made rattan furniture.

We are so confident that our products are the best, that we offer a 7 day trial on all our rattan furniture. If, after a week, you are not satisfied with your rattan furniture, we will give you your money back.

We sell a range of beautiful chairs in rattan, tables and sofas in rattan. Although natural rattan furniture can be used in the garden, it is not recommended for all weather use.

For this, we recommend you buy resin outdoor rattan furniture. This is made from a special synthetic product that looks and feels like natural cane rattan furniture, but withstands the wet and the cold without discolouring or cracking.

Synthetic rattan furniture is available in many styles and colours, and is almost indistinguishable from the genuine article.

Why are sofas and chairs in rattan so popular?

Chairs and sofas in rattan have been popular with designers for years. Originally, cane rattan furniture was used to add tropical flair to European homes, but today it is available in a range of modern, European styles.

The rattan and conservatory furniture we sell today reflect people’s tastes in general. Currently, the trend is for close woven cane rattan furniture in light, honey tones, and simple, boxy suites.

If you look at some of our previous season’s styles, you will see the trend was for chairs in rattan that were more openly woven – but everyone has their own favourite style and of course their own favourite chairs in rattan.

Where did rattan furniture originate?

All the chairs, tables, and sofas in rattan and synthetic weave that we sell today had their origins in the Victorian period, when tropical homes in the colonies were decked out with sofas and chairs in rattan, harvested from local palms.

The Victorians and Edwardians wanted to recreate this look at home in England, as well as grow the rare plants they found, and so began the age of conservatory building. Victorian conservatories and gardens were not complete without a suite of rattan garden furniture nestled amongst palm fronds.

How our natural rattan furniture is made

Natural Chairs in rattan start life as fibre harvested from tropical palms. Rattan has been used for centuries to make beautiful and durable furniture – today, 1st For Cane is continuing the tradition with its modern tables, chairs and sofas in rattan.

Natural rattan furniture is made either by weaving rattan and fixing it across a solid base, or by using a base of natural cane to which woven rattan is attached. The latter is called cane rattan furniture.

Natural rattan stems grow in long vines. These fibres are then harvested and woven into furniture. Staining etc is all part of the process.

Synthetic rattan furniture

The best rattan natural furniture is long lasting and doesn’t crack – both issues can occur in with chairs and sofas in rattan made from cheaper harvested sources. Of course, we source all our natural rattan from the highest grade possible, and only from sustainable supplies.

Synthetic rattan furniture is made from an artificial material that is spun out into long strips, similar to those used for natural cane rattan furniture. It may be flat or rounded, and can be coloured with different pigments.

1st For Cane – beautiful suites, chairs and sofas in rattan and cane

In our brochure, you will see a range of beautiful dining tables, conservatory suites and single unit chairs and sofas in rattan, in a range of colours, fabrics and styles. Rattan furniture in the latest styles and fabrics is available to order today, for free delivery.

We understand that everyone has different tastes, so we offer in a range of fabric colours to suit your décor. Many of our sofas in rattan are woven from natural wash banana rope, a natural fibre that withstands wear and tear.

For the dining area, our ‘Banquet’ range of dining chairs in rattan has sumptuous, high sides woven in cool, chic natural fibre.

Our chairs, tables and sofas in rattan are available in different finishes, and with a range of fabrics and leather to add your own personal touch to your cushions and accessories.

Something for everyone with our retro chic chairs in rattan and cane

Our retro style chairs in rattan bring up images of a bygone era. However, we have plenty of choice for the modernists, with minimalist close woven suites like the ‘Alderley’, which features corner sofas in banana leaf – something the Edwardians definitely never had!