WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RATTAN AND WICKER?
You wouldn’t be alone in thinking that rattan and wicker are the same thing. It’s like “cat” and “feline,” or “pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream” and “my dinner” right? Not quite.
“The difference is that rattan is a material, whereas wicker is the style and method of weaving,” Zoe explains. “Wicker can be woven from rattan as well as many other natural or synthetic materials, which is where the confusion often lies.”
Got that? Using the terms “rattan” and “wicker” interchangeably is like using “potato” and “mashed” to mean the same thing. Potato (or rattan) is the material, where mashed (or wicker) is the technique. A wicker sofa like the Lucara, for example, could be made from synthetic rattan (like this particular style is), natural rattan, bamboo, cane, or any other suitable material and still qualify as wicker due to its construction.
Fun fact: While it surged in popularity during the 1970s, wicker is actually one of the oldest furniture-making techniques in history. Wicker furniture has been traced back to origins in Egypt, with a wicker chair found in King Tut’s tomb dating back more than 3,000 years. Talk about durable. 
NATURAL RATTAN VS. SYNTHETIC WICKER
When you pit the words “natural” and “synthetic” in an argument against each other, there are usually hardcore advocates gunning for either side. In the case of natural and synthetic wicker, however, both sides come out winners. They’re both beautiful and unique, it just depends on what your specific needs are.
Natural rattan is meant to be treated as an indoor material. If you take your natural rattan piece, such as the Daisy Lounge Chair, outside for a summer baby shower, you’ve got to bring it back inside after the last piece of cake is eaten.
HOW TO CLEAN AND CARE FOR RATTAN AND WICKER
Now that you know the differences between rattan, wicker, and synthetic wicker, it’s time to learn how to care for your choice of woven material. We spoke to our product-care experts here at Article to get some basic dos and don’ts when it comes to cleaning and caring for your pieces.
Don’t: Leave your natural rattan outside 24/7.
Do: Store your natural rattan inside after use.
While you may see photos of rattan furniture in an outdoor space, there’s (hopefully) more to these images than meets the eye.
As we mentioned, natural rattan pieces need to be taken inside after you’ve enjoyed your day in the sun or shade. You might be thinking that they’ll do fine in the warmth of the sunshine, but think about your own skin after a day soaking up those hot, hot rays. Natural rattan has minimal, if any, UV resistance so it will fade, dry out, and crack in sunny and hot conditions. This may also result in regretful sobbing on the part of the owner.
Speaking of moisture, natural rattan is porous — and boy, is it thirsty. This means it will soak up any dewiness when left in rainy or damp conditions, which leads to mildew and rotting. Neither are cute, so make sure you’re mainly using your natural-rattan pieces on a covered patio and storing them inside when you’re done.
Although resin or synthetic wicker is much more durable, it still deserves your love and respect. Ensure you’re covering it up when not in use, and following the general care instructions we outline in our outdoor furniture cleaning guide.
