Wicker furniture has long been known as a versatile, relatively inexpensive design option. But today’s wicker is taking a giant step further with gorgeous, contemporary and even hard-edged styling.
Wicker products have been an established design element in furniture long before the material became trendy. The material used in wicker furniture varies a bit, but is based on natural fibers such as rattan that is woven into a sturdy support structure. The unique composition allows for not only pleasing designs, but a semi-rigid structure. The materials are eco-friendly and renewable, making them an ideal choice for conscientious buyers.
The first indications of wicker furniture being used appear in the records of the ancient Egyptians. The materials were light and available, and with the flexible nature of the wood, allowed for a great variety in styles. Murals found on tomb wall show pharaohs perched on wicker thrones, surrounded by court members seated in their own stylized settings.
Another record appears on the remaining wall painting of Pompeii, where wicker was quite prevalent in both home and business models. Images depict citizens of the ancient city lounging around sumptuous meals, enjoying the comfort of their settees and sturdiness of their tables.
While we might refer to it as wicker furniture, wicker is not the actual material used to create wicker furniture. Wicker furniture was given its name because of the famously woven pattern used to build the furniture itself using small strands, and has been used for centuries. Wicker furniture is actually made from multiple materials, which can be used within and outside of your home.
The materials used to create this woven pattern include multiple natural and synthetic materials. High quality outdoor wicker furnishings are built with fully welded aluminum frames, and HDPE synthetic materials or properly treated natural fibers. This is what gives outdoor wicker its durable reputation. While synthetic wicker provides the utmost durability, natural wicker offers a wider variety or styles of colors. Depending on your unique situation, one may be better suited than the other.
Whatever you’re looking for – patio, living room, bedroom or children’s room furnishings; traditional, modern, country or industrial; loosely or densely woven – there is wicker furniture out there to suit your taste and your lifestyle. You’ll find tables, chairs, ottomans, sofas, dressers, beds, cradles, bookcases, storage units, home accessories, and more.
Due to its weaving process, wicker furniture has a comfortable amount of flexibility and give. Its light weight makes it easy to move and to rearrange to your liking. At the same time, wicker is strong and durable. Some people find natural wicker scratchy to sit on; cushions are a quick solution to this problem.
The natural color of plant-based wicker is attractive shades of beige. It may also be painted in the hue of your choice. Resin wicker comes in earthy colors like sage green, honey and chocolate brown.
The secret to maintaining natural wicker is making sure excess water or natural debris (leaves and dirt) do not build up over time. Too much water can eventually lead to molding and rotting, even with the most resilient types of natural materials. It’s important to take a few minutes to clean your furniture every now and then, and make sure it’s located in an environment with plenty of air flow or sunlight, so that it can dry quickly.
You can clean natural and synthetic wicker with an all-purpose natural cleaner, that comes in an easy to use spray bottle. Just take a cloth, apply your cleaner, and wipe or spray down your furniture. Most wicker furniture is made very intricately, so if you have a type of chair or table that has more elaborate patterns, take extra time to clean these.
