Rattan Outdoor Furniture: Natural vs Synthetic, Styles & Buying Guide

Rattan outdoor furniture has been part of outdoor living for over a century. The material defined colonial verandas, mid-century sunrooms, and now contemporary hotel terraces across six continents. But the rattan category in 2026 is not one material. It is two: natural rattan cane harvested from palm plants, and synthetic PE rattan engineered to replicate the look while eliminating the weather limitations. Understanding the difference between them is the single most important decision when specifying rattan patio furniture for any project.

This guide covers what rattan actually is, how natural and synthetic versions compare on durability, weather resistance, and cost, which frame materials and weave patterns matter, and how to select the right rattan furniture for residential patios, hotel terraces, restaurants, and commercial environments.

Everything here comes from manufacturing rattan furniture as part of Woven+’s production range, backed by over 40 years of outdoor furniture experience in Indonesia. Performance claims are based on production data and material testing, not aggregated reviews. You can explore the full Woven+ rattan collection to see current products across dining, lounge, and bar categories.

What Is Rattan? Natural Cane vs Synthetic PE Rattan

Rattan is a climbing palm that grows in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, primarily Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The vine-like stems are harvested, stripped, and bent into furniture frames and woven surfaces. Natural rattan has been used in furniture making for centuries because the material is flexible enough to weave yet strong enough to bear weight once dried.

The problem is straightforward: natural rattan is an indoor material. It absorbs moisture, swells, cracks under direct UV exposure, and develops mould when left in damp conditions. None of those properties work for outdoor furniture that needs to perform in rain, sun, and humidity year after year.

That limitation created the market for synthetic rattan, also called PE rattan, resin rattan, or resin wicker. Synthetic rattan outdoor furniture uses polyethylene (PE) strands extruded to replicate the look, texture, and weave characteristics of natural rattan cane. The visual result is nearly identical. The performance is entirely different.

When you see wicker outdoor furniture or outdoor wicker patio furniture at a hotel pool deck or restaurant terrace, you are looking at synthetic PE rattan. Not natural cane.

Natural Rattan vs Synthetic Rattan: Full Comparison

This is the comparison that matters for anyone specifying rattan patio furniture for outdoor use. The two materials share an aesthetic. They share almost nothing else.

The takeaway is clear. Natural rattan is a beautiful indoor material. Synthetic PE rattan is what makes rattan outdoor furniture viable for actual outdoor conditions. Every rattan product in Woven+’s outdoor collection uses high-density PE rattan for this reason.

Weave Patterns and Their Impact on Design

The weave pattern is what gives rattan furniture its visual character. Two chairs made from identical PE rattan strands look completely different when woven in different patterns. The weave also affects structural properties like flexibility, airflow, and how the furniture feels to sit in.

Common Rattan Weave Patterns

Flat weave creates a smooth, tight surface with minimal gaps. It reads as modern and clean. Flat-woven wicker outdoor furniture works well in contemporary settings where a sleek profile is preferred.

Round weave uses cylindrical strands that create more visible texture and a traditional rattan look. This is the weave most people picture when they think of classic rattan furniture. It adds depth and shadow to the surface.

Open weave leaves deliberate gaps between strands, creating a lighter, airier appearance. Open-woven pieces are popular for lounge chairs and decorative screens where visual lightness matters more than full coverage.

Herringbone and twill patterns add geometric complexity to the weave surface. These patterns require more skilled labour and more material, which means a higher price point, but the visual payoff is significant for statement pieces.

Woven+’s rattan collection includes multiple weave patterns across product categories. The weave can be specified at the project level for commercial orders, giving architects and designers control over the exact visual texture.

Frame Materials: Aluminium and Teak

The PE rattan weave is the visible surface. The frame underneath is the structure. Frame material determines weight, corrosion resistance, strength, and how the furniture ages over time.

Powder-Coated Aluminium Frames

Aluminium is the standard frame material for commercial-grade rattan outdoor furniture. It is lightweight, naturally corrosion-resistant, and strong enough for hospitality use where furniture is moved daily and bears constant guest traffic. Powder coating adds a protective finish that resists chipping, scratching, and salt corrosion.

Woven+’s aluminium frames are salt-spray tested, confirming suitability for coastal hotels, pool decks, and marine environments where salt accelerates metal degradation. The light weight also means staff can rearrange outdoor dining layouts quickly, a practical advantage that adds up over hundreds of daily service cycles.

Teak Frames

Teak-framed rattan furniture combines the warmth of natural wood with the weather resistance of synthetic weave. Teak’s natural oil content provides inherent resistance to rain, humidity, and temperature changes without chemical treatment. Over time, exposed teak develops a silver-grey patina that many designers specify intentionally.

The combination of PE rattan weave on a teak frame creates a mixed-material piece that sits at the premium end of the market. For projects where a teak dining table anchors the outdoor space, rattan-on-teak chairs maintain a cohesive material story without making every piece solid wood.

Both frame types carry a 3-year commercial warranty from Woven+.

Rattan Outdoor Furniture Styles: Dining, Lounge & Bar

PE rattan adapts to virtually any furniture form. The weaving technique works at any scale, from compact bistro chairs to deep-seat modular sofas. That versatility is why rattan patio furniture dominates commercial outdoor projects that need a consistent design language across multiple zones.

Rattan Dining Furniture

Dining chairs are the highest-volume rattan product category. Woven PE rattan seats and backs provide comfort without requiring cushions, which simplifies maintenance in restaurants and hotels where cushions get wet, stained, or need washing after every service. For settings that do use cushions, Quick Dry foam options ensure water drains through rather than pooling.

Rattan dining chairs pair naturally with aluminium, teak, or stone dining tables. The woven texture contrasts with hard tabletop surfaces in a way that adds visual interest to the table setting. Woven+ offers rattan dining chairs in armchair and side chair configurations, stackable and stationary, across multiple weave patterns.

For dining table options that pair with rattan seating, see the teak dining table guide or explore the full Woven+ teak collection.

Lounge and Modular Seating

Rattan lounge furniture is where the material’s visual warmth has the most impact. Deep-seat sofas, corner modules, and club chairs in woven PE rattan create outdoor living spaces that feel inviting and layered. The woven surface adds texture that flat aluminium or solid resin furniture cannot replicate.

Modular configurations allow designers to build L-shapes, U-shapes, and freestanding arrangements from a common component set. For commercial outdoor furniture projects at hotels and resorts, modular rattan lounge systems are among the most frequently specified product types.

Bar and Counter Seating

Rattan barstools and counter stools bring the woven aesthetic to elevated dining and bar settings. The PE rattan seat provides grip and comfort at heights where hard-surface stools become uncomfortable during extended use. Counter-height and bar-height options cover rooftop bars, pool bars, and terraced dining areas.

Rattan Furniture for Commercial Environments

Commercial use places different demands on outdoor furniture than residential use. Hotels cycle through hundreds of guests per day. Restaurants clear and reset terraces between services. Pool decks see sunscreen, chlorinated water, and constant UV exposure simultaneously.

Resin patio furniture built from PE rattan handles these conditions because the material is engineered for them. The non-porous surface resists sunscreen and food stains. Chlorinated pool water doesn’t degrade the PE strands. Salt-spray tested aluminium frames handle coastal corrosion. And UV resistance rated at 4 to 4.5 out of 5 means the furniture retains its colour through years of full-sun exposure, not just a single season.

For commercial buyers, the total cost of ownership matters more than the unit price. Synthetic rattan’s near-zero maintenance cost, long replacement cycle, and warranty coverage make it one of the lowest total-cost options in the commercial outdoor furniture category.

Woven+ supplies rattan outdoor furniture to hotels, resorts, restaurants, and commercial developers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Browse reference projects to see installed commercial examples, or request material samples to evaluate the product before specifying.

Rattan Outdoor Furniture Maintenance

One of the reasons rattan outdoor furniture dominates commercial outdoor settings is maintenance simplicity. Compared to natural rattan (which requires oiling, sealing, and seasonal indoor storage) or untreated wood, synthetic PE rattan requires almost nothing.

Routine cleaning: Rinse with a garden hose or wipe down with a damp cloth and mild soap. PE rattan does not absorb dirt or moisture, so surface cleaning is all that’s needed in most cases.

Deeper cleaning: A soft brush with diluted soap handles stubborn marks from food, sunscreen, or bird droppings. Avoid abrasive cleaners or stiff wire brushes that could scratch the weave surface.

After rain: Synthetic rattan dries within minutes. There is no moisture absorption, no swelling, and no mould risk. Cushions in Quick Dry foam drain water through rather than holding it.

Year-round outdoor use: PE rattan can stay outside in all seasons. It does not crack in cold temperatures, warp in heat, or degrade from repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Covering furniture during extended periods of non-use is optional, not required.

Comparing rope and rattan care: Both materials share similar low-maintenance profiles. If you are evaluating woven materials, the rope outdoor furniture guide covers the same care considerations for polyester and polypropylene rope fibres.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can rattan furniture be left outside all year?

Synthetic PE rattan outdoor furniture can stay outside year-round in virtually any climate. The polyethylene strands are UV-stabilised, waterproof, and resistant to temperature extremes. Natural rattan cannot. It absorbs moisture, cracks in sun, and must be stored indoors during wet or cold seasons. If the furniture is labelled for outdoor use, it should be synthetic PE rattan, not natural cane.

What is better for outdoors, wicker or rattan?

In modern outdoor furniture, wicker and rattan refer to the same thing. Wicker describes the weaving technique. Rattan describes the material being woven. Outdoor wicker patio furniture is almost always made from synthetic PE rattan strands woven in a wicker pattern. The terms are used interchangeably in the market, and neither is better than the other because they describe different aspects of the same product.

What are the disadvantages of rattan furniture?

Natural rattan’s disadvantages are significant for outdoor use: it absorbs moisture, cracks under UV, develops mould, and requires regular maintenance. Synthetic PE rattan eliminates most of these issues but does have trade-offs. It is not biodegradable (though HDPE is recyclable). It cannot be repaired as easily as natural cane if a strand breaks. And lower-quality synthetic rattan from unverified manufacturers can look plastic and feel stiff. The quality of the PE strand, the tightness of the weave, and the UV stabilisation treatment all affect whether synthetic rattan furniture looks and feels premium or cheap.

How long does rattan outdoor furniture last?

High-quality synthetic PE rattan outdoor furniture lasts 5 to 10+ years in regular outdoor use, including full-sun, rain, and coastal environments. Woven+’s frames carry a 3-year commercial warranty. Lifespan depends on UV rating (4–4.5 out of 5 in Woven+’s range), frame material quality, and whether the furniture is used in a commercial or residential setting. Commercial environments with higher guest traffic may see faster cosmetic wear but the structural integrity holds.

Is synthetic rattan furniture waterproof?

Yes. PE rattan strands are non-porous and do not absorb water. Rain, pool splash, and cleaning water sit on the surface and evaporate or drip off within minutes. The material does not swell, warp, or develop mildew from water exposure. This is why synthetic rattan is the standard material for poolside and coastal furniture installations.