Garden Furniture – What is Poly Rattan?

If you’re looking to buy garden furniture, then there are several materials for you to consider, each with its own pros and cons.  One of the possibilities is poly rattan. 

Not everyone is all that familiar with it, so in this article, we’re going to explain what exactly poly rattan is and why you might want garden furniture made from it.

First Thing’s First – What’s Rattan?

Before we start talking about poly rattan, it might help to know what rattan itself is first.  It’s a variety (or, to be more specific, several different varieties) of palms that mainly grow in Southeast Asia. 

They’re used extensively for making wicker furniture and baskets, and they’re great for this purpose for several reasons.  Their wood is light and flexible, meaning it can be quite easily made into many different styles. 

It’s also easy to paint and dye, meaning that it can be made into all kinds of different colours, too.  It’s also fairly durable, meaning that it’s long-lasting and suitable to use outdoors. 

All of this makes it a great choice for garden furniture including chairs, tables, footstools, and more.

So, What’s Poly Rattan?

You might have been able to guess this from the name, but poly rattan is a synthetic substitute for rattan.  It is a kind of plastic that is designed to look like rattan but is actually more durable while also being cheaper. 

In fact, if you’re looking at rattan furniture in Europe, then what you’re looking at is probably poly rattan rather than the genuine article. 

That extra durability means that it resists weather very well and, as long as you take care of it, poly rattan garden furniture can last for years. 

Nevertheless, it’s best to keep it covered during the winter.  It’s also lighter than real rattan, making it more convenient to move around. 

Additionally, since it’s made of plastic, not wood, insects have no interest in it and will leave it alone – something that can’t be said for furniture made from real rattan. 

This means you can leave it in your garden without any worries.

Final Thoughts

There you have it – an explanation of what poly rattan is and how it’s different from real rattan. 

It’s a great material to consider if you’re looking to buy garden furniture, and chairs, tables and more made of poly rattan are cheap and abundant. 

Ida Oliveira
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