Rattan or Wicker? What’s the difference?

Rattan

Rattan and wicker are often used interchangeably, but they are actually not the same thing. While rattan refers to a specific material, wicker is a style of weaving. Specifically, rattan is a palm species that grows mainly in Southeast Asia. It is strong, flexible and durable, making it ideal for furniture construction.

Wicker

Wicker, on the other hand, refers to the weaving technique used to create furniture and accessories. It involves weaving together a variety of natural materials, such as rattan, bamboo and others, to create a sturdy and decorative pattern. This technique results in beautiful, intricate pieces which can resist wear and tear and are exceedingly lightweight- they’re very easy to manoeuvre around the house if you fancy a furniture reshuffle!

Therefore, when you see a piece of furniture labelled as "rattan wicker," it means that it is made with rattan and the woven sections are made using the wicker technique. You can shop our rattan furniture and accessories here. And if you’d like to know more about how to care for your rattan items, read our article “How to clean your rattan furniture and accessories”.