Archive - August, 2010

Pros and Cons of Rattan Furniture Use

August 7, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

There’s a common misconception that rattan and wicker furniture are one and the same. Rattan is a type of plant. Wicker is the way in which plants are woven into furniture. Wicker can consist of rattan and other plants like bamboo, reed, rush, core and willow. One thing they have in common though is that they are both great materials for furniture. Let’s look at some similarities, differences and pros and cons of rattan furniture use against wicker furniture.

We can study the pros and cons of rattan garden furniture use first. Rattan grows in tropical forests of the Far East. 70% of the rattan population is found in Indonesia, Borneo, Sulawesi and Sumbawa islands. The rest are found in the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It’s shaped like a pole with a diameter of one to three inches. If you let them, rattan can grow up to a hundred feet in length and is one of the strongest types of vine-like stems on the planet. They are actually palms, not trees.

Rattan has a solid core unlike the hallow bamboo pole, making it more durable and harder to break. Rattan doesn’t warp like typical wood and is quite ideal for furniture making. The long stems of rattan are cut into shorter lengths and then molded into the shape you want. These make up the frames of the furniture. You can peel the outer skin of the rattan pole and use it to wrap the joints of interconnected rattan stems. You will rarely have to use nails to construct rattan furniture, unlike wooden furniture.

There are disadvantages to rattan or wicker if left out doors on a permanent basis. Weather can take its toll on rattan or wicker furniture. After a year or two, it can become dried out and brittle. It will also eventually fade in color. Most rattan and wicker furniture are painted or varnished. Paint may start to chip off from being wet in the rain or exposed to too much sunlight and heat. Even with its disadvantages, many people still love the way rattan or wicker look. Using rattan or wicker indoors is like bringing in the outdoors to your living room. You can use them in dining rooms, bedrooms and in your office.

Ensure you protect your rattan set with a patio furniture cover

August 1, 2010 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

For many people the outdoor area of their home is their pride and enjoy and an area to be enjoyed to the hilt. As such, these people like to ensure that their patio space or similar is decorated and furnished well, reflecting their own personalities.  With such a mindset, the actual decorating can provide as much enjoyment as the using of it! These days there are so many different shades, patterns, textures and design styles of furniture and their accessories that it can take an age to design the perfect space.

With the above in mind it can often be easier to simply buy a garden furniture set in a style such as rattan. In this way, a uniform look is created, should that be what is desired. Although it can be tempting to choose some of the cheaper models on the market, it is better to opt for higher quality versions of rattan garden furniture sets as they tend to have more longevity. You can usually get an idea of the level of quality by checking how tight the weave is.

However a big problem is the weather. People expend significant sums of money to make the patio looks fabulous with a rattan garden set but forget to protect it from the climate. If possible, store more delicate items such as cushions indoors when not in use. This will prevent them from becoming saturated during rain and having all sorts of permanent odors. You can also protect the furniture frames by purchasing a patio furniture cover for each item. The initial cost will pay for itself be alleviating the need to buy another furniture set sooner than expected because of weather-induced damage. Don’t be mistaken into thinking that just because a fabric is marketed as all weather rattan garden furniture, that it is completely immune to damage.

Once you have borne the above in mind, embark on the fun part of choosing colours that fit into your space. Just remember to consider the colours and furniture that already exist. You don’t want to buy a whole new furniture set, only to realise that is just doesn’t work aesthetically once you place it on your garden patio. That would just be an avoidable waste of precious money. Also don’t forget to protect each valuable item with a patio furniture cover.

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