Rattan Sunroom Furniture
It is certainly the case in Europe that when people think about sunroom furniture they think about cane or wicker, but what about rattan? Many people will not have heard of it but it's a very common material to build sunroom furniture with. So what is it, what can I buy made of rattan and how much is it likely to cost?
What is rattan?
Rattan is a very strong natural material which is similar in appearance to bamboo. It is so strong that is is often used as scaffolding in Asia. Like bamboo and cane it is easily split and can be woven to form platted sheets used as the backs of chairs and settees. It is a durable material, but like cane may peel or split although this is very dependent on the level of construction quality. Rattan withstands the raised UV light levels that are common in sunrooms and also is able to withstand the higher than normal humidity levels. It is for these reasons that it is one of the most common materials used to make sunroom furniture.
What sunroom furniture is made of rattan?
Almost anything! Complete suits of seating and tables (so typically one or two chairs, a settee and a table) plus occasional tables, entertainment stands and even the odd bar. Now there's an idea...
Rattan furniture can be varnished or lacquered to make it more durable to wear and can be made to have a high standard of appearance. It also doesn't just have to be used in the sunroom it could equally find a place in the living room or even the bedroom.
How much is rattan sunroom furniture likely to cost?
Some typical example prices of rattan sunroom furniture as of September 2006 although of course the actual price will depend hugely on what you are after, when you want to buy it and whether it is bought as a single item or part of a set. The purpose of these prices is to give you an idea of how much to roughly budget for when looking at the total cost of building and furnishing your sunroom.
- Chairs - These can range from $200-700 for individual rattan sunroom chairs.
- Sofa/Settee - These can range from $750-1000 typically.
- End tables - Depending on the size a sunroom end table can be between $275-500. Larger ones can cost more.
- Coffee table - Around $350-500 again depending on size.
- Dining sets - Here you usually get a table, and at least two chairs. For example I found a sunroom dining set of a table, 2 end chairs and 6 side chairs for about $2200.
- Complete sets - Here you can buy everything* you need to furnish your sunroom in one package, all matching. Typically it will comprise of a coffee table, an end table, a sofa and one or two chairs. Some sets also may include an ottoman and a love seat. I found such a set for about $2600
* Well maybe not everything you need, but a very good starter pack.
Expect up to 6 weeks for delivery, depending on stock.
Rattan conclusions
Rattan is a very versatile and popular material that can be used to make high quality sunroom furniture that is resistant to the strong light and high humidity environment of a sunroom.