ARTIFICIAL RATTAN FURNITURE - GARDEN LEISURE FURNITURE

Hello, dear friends! Today we’ll talk to you about artificial rattan weaving. Quite an interesting material that is perfect for making all kinds of furniture, various interior items and more.

Rattan makes excellent laundry baskets, country chairs, rocking chairs and much more. You can even make a hanging chair, which will look very advantageous in the area around the house, somewhere in the recreation area.

When planning to do this kind of weaving, you don’t have to undergo lengthy training or sign up for an expensive master class. For some, it’s enough to watch video tutorials and read visual instructions.

The idea is to make a furniture frame and weave around it using artificial rattan.

Difference between natural and artificial rattan

Many people are interested in the difference between natural and artificial rattan?

True rattan is a tropical vine that can be found in Africa, Australia and Asia. It is rightfully considered one of the most durable plants existing on our planet. If this vine is heated, it softens and becomes a very pliable material. When it returns to normal temperature, it hardens, and it’s worth looking for stronger material.

Rattan, which is made using synthetic materials, is practically indistinguishable from natural one. But thanks to innovations, it is less susceptible to external factors, such as temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, precipitation, etc. At the same time, furniture made from synthetic material is no worse in appearance than that which is woven using natural vines.

Artificial rattan is not inferior in quality to natural rattan, and in some ways it is superior.

Final processing

The final stage of processing wicker furniture includes identifying and/or eliminating defects. If necessary, the uneven distribution of the rods is corrected, the supports are leveled, sharp ends are cut off, and all irregularities are smoothed out with fine-grained abrasives.

Additional processing steps:

Bleaching. Treatment with lime, hydrogen peroxide or sulfuric gas is carried out at the request of the owner, bleached furniture is coated with transparent varnish or tinted.
Primer and painting. To color wicker products, aerosol sprays are used, applied to a clean, dry and, if possible, linseed vine in a thin, uniform layer. If necessary, the process is repeated; hard-to-reach areas of wicker furniture are painted using a thin brush.
Varnishing. Preference is given to water-based polyurethane varnishes, applied in 2-3 layers and reliably protecting wicker furniture from external influences.
Dry the painted product in a well-ventilated, shaded place.

To improve resistance to moisture, scratches and fading, wicker products can undergo additional processing. For example, soaking rattan in a solution of liquid glass, opening the flexible rods of the vine with wax compounds. But in general, protection from 1 layer of drying oil and 2-3 varnishes is considered sufficient. Proper care helps extend the life of wicker furniture. It involves cleaning from dust using a soft cloth, a vacuum brush or vacuum cleaner, using a damp blanket (furniture is covered with it for 12–24 hours) if the air is excessively dry, drying after getting wet.

Priming and paintingBleachingVacquering

Drying

What can be made from rattan

There are currently a great variety of interior items made from rattan. Here are some of them:

tables, all kinds of shapes;
armchairs, chairs, stools, poufs;
sofas, bed, cradles, chaise lounges;
cabinets, shelves, cupboards;
chests, baskets, bags;
cabinets, furniture sets, lampshades, etc.

These products have become so popular due to their properties that they are found literally everywhere.

Features of wicker furniture

The main quality of rattan wicker furniture is the ability to use this furniture under conditions of high humidity. Swimming pools, saunas, baths, the sea coast - in such places, rattan furniture is simply necessary. Such furniture also has some not very good features.

Fastenings, if they are not made very conscientiously, you should expect rapid breakdown of the furniture. Weaving also sometimes plays a bad role. If it is not dense enough, the material will soon sag, which will lead to damage and, as a consequence, breakage of the item.

Rattan tolerates high humidity well.

Style

Wicker exterior items made using artificial rattan are presented in numerous types. All products differ in size, shape, color and style in which they are made.

All designs in accordance with the device can be:

frameless, characterized by the absence of a basic structure, and to create such furniture, the most durable rattan, which has a significant thickness, is used;
sticks, in which strong and reliable sticks are used as the basis;
frame, otherwise called typesetting, and here tubes made of wood, metal or plastic are used to create the frame, and it is between them that rattan is woven.

Frame objects are the most reliable and durable, so even under significant mechanical loads and impacts they retain their original shape. The variety of furniture models is due to the use of different weaving technologies. The checkerboard technology is most often used, and you can implement the entire process even with your own hands in the absence of experience and specific skills, since the process is not considered complicated. Openwork weaving ensures a truly unique and unique result.

Items are produced in numerous colors and styles, but most often a set is chosen in one particular stylistic direction:

classics, which are considered always relevant, and in this case the designs are distinguished by unusual and intricate shapes, as well as light colors, and they fit into any exterior due to their versatility;
high-tech, and products in this style fit perfectly into modern summer cottages, where people constantly use various innovations and the latest inventions, and the color of the furniture is usually metallic;
modern, usually preferred by many young people, and it involves the use of various attractive interior items, so the furniture is distinguished by sophistication and originality, but has straight forms and high functionality.

The most relevant are wicker products that have an aluminum frame, which is their basis, since it guarantees a long service life of such furniture even with constant negative influences.

Kinds

Synthetic rattan is called polyrottan. This is an artificial tape that differs in length and width. Its production takes place using the extrusion method from rubber and polyethylene with various additives. In the last century, in the fifties, it was first created and then called hularo.

There are three types of rattan made from artificial materials:

Polyrattan rods. They are plastic and hard fibers made of polymer, their thickness is 2-4 mm.
Polyrattan stripes. A fiber shape that is flat and rectangular. The width is from 6 to 12 mm.
Imitation of tree bark. Fibers are semicircular in shape, available in thicknesses from 4 to 12 mm.

There are different types of artificial rattan.
Natural rattan is divided into four main types:

Manau. The most popular material. Furniture made from it is found everywhere.
Himalayan rattan. Originally from the Himalayas. This type is durable and resistant to temperature changes. The price is above average, but this is justified by its properties.
Cerotolobus. Not a very good material, weak in its properties and faded in color. But in this case, craftsmen use its leaves to make baskets, picture and photo frames, lamp shades, etc. Then these products are varnished.
"Devil's Rope" is a translation. The real name is Daemonorops. Demanded for both indoor and outdoor furniture. It has a yellowish color with a white tint. Often such furniture is not painted with anything.

Natural rattan comes in four varieties.

Sofa manufacturing technology

A master class of this process for beginners is presented step by step below. The procedure does not have any specific difficulties, so it can be performed even by people who do not have complex skills.

The following steps are performed in advance:

the material used for the work is selected, and most often artificial or natural rattan is purchased for this, since these elements are affordable and easy to use; it is important to check that the purchased rods do not have any defects, and if natural materials are purchased, it is advisable to sand them to ensure smooth surfaces; it is determined what dimensions and other parameters the future sofa will have; it is advisable to make a special diagram of the future structure according to which all work will be carried out; The weaving method is determined, and since a beginner acts as a master, standard single weaving, which does not require experience or special skills, will be optimal for him.

After completing all the preparatory steps, you can begin the actual process of creating a sofa.

Rattan

Required Tools

Seat frame

First, the frame is made. Some wicker furniture can be made without it, but not a sofa, since it will certainly be subject to quite significant loads during operation.

The frame can be made of wood or metal. It must completely match the shape and size of the future seat

It is important to use materials coated with special protective agents that prevent the process of corrosion or rotting. Self-tapping screws or other fasteners can be used to connect individual parts. The resulting frame is braided with selected rods, for which you can use different weaving technologies

Wooden frame

The frame is gradually braided with rattan

Legs and back

Either three or four legs can be selected. Their height can also be different, and for this purpose the height and other dimensions of the people who are the main users of the resulting sofa are assessed. Their optimal height is considered to be 40 cm. They are fixed to the seat using self-tapping screws, and the distance between them should be the same.

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To create the back, a metal rod or wooden stick is prepared. The length of this element should be slightly longer than the seat. It is fixed to the rear legs with self-tapping screws. The resulting structure is covered with wicker elements that are connected to each other securely and tightly.

Work is best done on a stand

Add rigidity

A sofa made of wicker elements must be reliable, for which in the process of its manufacture it is imperative to give it rigidity. To do this, follow these steps:

identical wooden sticks are attached with self-tapping screws between the side legs;
they must be at the same height;
to connect the rear legs, two sticks are also used, and they are fixed diagonally;
the rod of the selected material is rolled into an arc, after which it is fixed to the left side of the back, and its ends are attached to two legs, with the upper arc connected to the back;
the same work is done on the other side of the back;
another large rod is taken, which is also rolled into an arc;
its ends are fixed to the front legs with small nails, and the upper part is attached to the seat.

How to carry out work correctly

Particular attention should be paid to processing corners

Armrests

Assembly of the structure

At the end of the work, the structure is assembled. To do this, all elements are securely and firmly connected to each other using suitable fasteners.

If the fastenings are not very reliable, then it is possible to strengthen them with a high-quality adhesive solution. The completed structure is treated with special protective compounds, after which you can begin to decorate it.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of rattan furniture are known to many. This is probably why she has so many fans. The advantages include:

durability, some products last for more than ten years without problems;
non-fading color;
elasticity and flexibility;
environmental friendliness;
great shape and beauty.

Rattan products have many advantages.
The disadvantages of such furniture include:

instability to changing weather conditions;
high price;
tendency to dry out.

Only natural materials have disadvantages.
But when using artificial rattan, these disadvantages disappear.

History of creation

Surprisingly, the age of wicker furniture is estimated at thousands of years. Our ancestors learned to process vines dozens of centuries ago. At first, such furniture could be seen exclusively in the homes of the poor. It was considered an inexpensive and very accessible option for interior design. Subsequently, the beauty of rattan was appreciated by representatives of the nobility. Craftsmen and entire factories appeared to produce products from wicker and rattan.

In Russia, wicker furniture became popular thanks to Prince Golitsyn. Regularly visiting abroad, the prince appreciated the magnificent appearance of products made from wicker. Returning home, Golitsyn created an entire workshop on his estate.

How to weave artificial rattan furniture

Weaving products from this material is a fascinating activity. Even if this is production and not home-made, furniture is still made by hand. Most likely, this is the reason for the high cost of rattan furniture. And of course, at the price of the material itself. The main rules for making rattan furniture with your own hands:

The thinner the threads of the weaving material, the smaller the pattern and the more time spent. For bulky items, choose a larger material width.
Furniture seats are best made from semicircular rattan. One interesting thing: a thread 1 mm thick, properly woven, can support the weight of a large, adult person.
Make the right choice of frame. The more practical and durable it is, the more wear-resistant the furniture will be.

You should follow the recommendations when making wicker furniture.

Selection of furniture design and construction

If you decide to make home furniture from artificial rattan with your own hands, you must:

choose the model itself;
rattan weaving pattern;
draw a sketch to understand what your work will look like;
decide on the design;
calculate the amount of rattan itself for this product.

Furniture production takes place in several stages.
Using the Internet, you can find truly beautiful pieces of furniture. Some of them look like works of art. Everything is in your hands, use your imagination and create. Simple weaving, openwork, classic checkerboard, Various colors and their combinations. You have the opportunity to create a unique creation yourself.

Required materials and tools

Before you start weaving, make sure that you have all the tools and materials that you may need for this:

Knife. Use a knife sharp enough to cut the threads easily.
Soldering iron. It will be needed so that you can fasten the used rattan thread without leaving a trace.
Frame. If it is not metal, but wooden, it should be treated with an antiseptic before work.
Bobbins with rattan. Before purchasing material, calculate its quantity. Although rattan comes in different widths and lengths, bobbins are sold by weight.
Superglue and stapler for furniture. In order to hold the threads together, you will definitely need them.
Hammer and pliers. Without them, it will be difficult to both hammer in the staples and pull them out when necessary.

During the weaving process you will need a number of tools.

Manufacturing process

The process itself can be divided into stages:

Creating a sketch of future furniture. You can come up with a sketch yourself or look at blanks on the Internet.
Preparation of material for weaving. Based on what the furniture looks like, we select the desired color, width and footage of the reel.
Manufacturing and processing of the frame. The frames are made of wood or metal. Metal ones are more durable, so they are more popular. You can make a frame from an aluminum pipe using a pipe bender and welding. Then the frame is painted in the color of the purchased rattan so that the color scheme looks harmonious.
Weaving. At the beginning of work, the rattan is attached to the manufactured frame with staples. They are small and will be hidden by weaving in the future.

Important! The tension of the vertical posts should be maximum, this affects the operational properties of the piece of furniture. The seat is braided in two or three layers of rattan tape, this way its elasticity can be maintained.

The weaving pattern chosen by the craftsman can be completely different; they can be found online in large quantities. To prevent the ribbon from slipping when weaving, the end must be braided overlapping and secured with a soldering iron. It will be much easier to work with rattan strips if you periodically wipe them with vegetable oil.

Features of furniture decor

The variety of colors of artificial rattan is impressive. The products are braided with both single-color ribbon and contrasting threads. This greatly simplifies the selection of such furniture for the location of its future installation.

Furniture is decorated in various ways: pillows attached to the seat and back, blankets, inserts made of glass, ceramics or wood, many ways of decoration. It all depends on the owner’s imagination.

You can decorate furniture in different ways, for example, with pillows.

Weaving methods and patterns

To ensure that the finished furniture is not only durable, but also beautiful, various techniques are used. It can be either simple continuous weaving, which even beginners can handle, or decorative, with patterns and braids. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Solid

This type of weaving is used everywhere; it is this method that is chosen in the manufacture of load-bearing furniture elements: seats, sides, tabletops. Depending on the algorithm of actions, the following are distinguished:

A simple continuous weave with single strands continuously woven through a single post, layered in a spiral or twist. Minimum level of complexity, no need to track the pattern.
Layer weaving (several pieces of the same cross-section are thrown over one rack). The number of rods in this scheme must match the number of racks.
Checkered or square weaving, with two-color or one-color rods. When choosing this scheme, the number of base posts is a multiple of 4 - the first working rod braids 2 posts at once in a checkerboard pattern, the second repeats these movements. Next, the rods sequentially bend around 2 racks from the outside and from the inside, the second - vice versa. This weaving can be simple and layered, the pattern requires attention.
Rope weaving is chosen when it is necessary to strengthen individual strips or walls. When implementing this scheme, at least 2 rods of different lengths are used, bending around the base posts on both sides.

The opinion that all continuous circuits have a low level of complexity is erroneous. With rope weaving, the number of rods and the options for their orientation are not limited in any way, but when introducing colored blanks, the work becomes more complicated. But without mastering them, there is no point in starting more complex patterns.

Simple

Layer-by-layer

Checkers

Rope

Openwork

This weaving method is used to decorate furniture, giving it lightness and airiness. The openwork method requires perseverance and high concentration. This group includes open cell designs including:

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Diamond-shaped weaving, starting and ending with a rope. To implement this scheme, the first, second and third rods are deflected at an angle, the fourth is applied to the first base. After this, the racks are pulled together by the tops of the rods and reinforced with a rope scheme. Then the process is repeated.
Weaving with laying columns, reinforced horizontally with pigtails.
Checkerboard - alternating rods with different colors, textures and laying uniform intervals.
Weaving with the laying of symmetrical and asymmetrical rosettes, rings or spirals. When implementing these schemes, the bases of 3 rods are smoothly bent and fixed to different racks.
“Star of David” is a complex but impressive-looking openwork weaving, with a combination of several methods.

Special tapes are used to secure the rods. Individual rows are reinforced with a rope system of two rods. In addition to complexity, the disadvantage of openwork patterns is the loss of strength of wicker furniture.

For edge processing

To make the edge of the product look neat, it is finished with a bend. To do this, three, four or more strips are connected and simply intertwined. If it is necessary to lay durable decorative stands for furniture, the edges of the rods are bent into a pigtail. This is a rather complicated method. To make such a weaving of three rods, you need to place sticks under the first and second. Bend the workpieces to the right, after which the first rod goes around the second through an awl. Next, the same rod needs to be placed between the third and fourth, pressed with the third bent one.

This method is used for almost any furniture designs. But it’s not easy for beginners to hide the edges of the workpiece beautifully. Therefore, they are better suited to a simple bend with a crease, hiding the rods on the reverse side.

The general requirements of wicker furniture manufacturing technology include the need for uniform distribution of rods or strengthening of individual openwork patterns. If the density requirements are high, the workpieces are adjusted to each other with a wooden mallet; any defects are eliminated immediately. Whenever possible, joining or splicing of individual rods is done from the reverse side; to simplify the creasing process, measures are taken to increase the elasticity of the rods (wetting with water, pressing with fingers).

Bending

Where can you put wicker furniture?

This furniture is popular with many. It is also purchased for private households and various offices. It is especially in demand among cafe and restaurant owners. Lightweight, beautiful, does not require special care and is also durable. Summer areas, terraces, balconies in high-rise buildings, parks, garden plots and many other places. Rattan furniture is appropriate everywhere.

And rattan cocoon chairs are simply at the peak of popularity. They look like openwork cradles only for adults. Moreover, now they make hanging chairs of completely different shapes, it looks very unusual, and they are used for decorating interiors in various beauty salons.

Adults and children love wicker cocoon chairs.

Furniture made from rattan will be appropriate almost anywhere. The main thing is to choose the right color to successfully match the color scheme of the environment.

Garden furniture styles

Garden furniture should match the design style of the site.

For decoration in a classic style, wooden tables and chairs are more suitable, and if there is a lot of greenery, then it is better to use rougher models.
The country style is charmingly emphasized by bright chairs and fabric sun loungers. And the addition of Provence will be small wooden products made of white wood and fabric. Bright pillows on pieces of furniture will highlight the unusual and colorful Moorish style.
For modern styles, the strict lines of stone, plastic and metal are best suited, while modern will be more accepting of the curls of forged products and the graceful texture of wood.

Photos of garden furniture will show the variety of these items, help you select the required items and place them beautifully.