Natural Rattan vs Synthetic Rattan: Understanding the Key Differences

Natural rattan and synthetic rattan share a look and almost nothing else. Natural rattan is an organic material made from the stems of a climbing palm, suited to indoor and fully covered use because moisture causes it to swell, split and rot. Synthetic rattan is a weatherproof woven plastic, usually high density polyethylene (HDPE), made specifically for outdoor furniture and woven over a rustproof aluminium frame. For a British garden, synthetic rattan is the correct choice, and this article explains the differences in material, weather performance, care and buying terms so the labels on product listings make sense.

What Natural Rattan Is

Natural rattan comes from the rattan palm, a climbing plant whose solid stems are harvested, steamed and bent into furniture frames, with the outer bark often used as the weaving cane. The result is light, strong and genuinely beautiful, with the small irregularities of a natural material, and it has furnished conservatories and sitting rooms for well over a century. That indoor life can be a long one, as well cared for natural pieces are often passed down through families, which says a lot about the material in the right setting.

Its limits are set by biology. Rattan is absorbent, so outdoor damp swells the fibres, sunlight dries and cracks them, and sustained moisture leads to mould and rot. Natural rattan belongs indoors, in a conservatory, or on a fully covered and dry veranda.

What Synthetic Rattan Is

Synthetic rattan is an engineered weave of plastic strands, extruded to mimic the look of natural cane and woven by hand or machine over a metal frame. Quality outdoor weave is HDPE that has been UV stabilised during manufacture, which is what prevents the fading and brittleness cheaper PVC weaves develop after a few summers, and the frame beneath a quality set is powder coated aluminium that can't rust.

The material was designed to solve exactly the problems natural rattan has outdoors. It doesn't absorb water, it endures year round UK weather, and its care amounts to an occasional wash. The weave brings a little comfort of its own too, flexing gently under you before the cushions are even on. At Chimes, our designs in the rattan garden furniture collection come with a guarantee, with our Stone Grey sets including a 4-year warranty and our Prestige Grey & Sandstone sets including a 5-year warranty. 

The Key Differences Side by Side

Reading the Labels When You Shop

Retail language blurs the two, which is where buyers get caught. Terms such as rattan effect, rattan style, PE rattan, resin weave and all weather rattan all describe synthetic weave, while genuine or natural rattan means the organic material. Two checks settle any listing: the weave should be stated as HDPE or PE and UV stabilised for outdoor use, and the frame should be stated as aluminium. A garden set described only as rattan, with no material specification, deserves a follow up question before it deserves your money. Price is a weaker clue than the label, since cheap PVC sets borrow the same product photography as quality HDPE ones, which is exactly why those two written checks matter.

The Weatherproof Weave, Curated

At Chimes, our rattan collections are synthetic weave on powder coated aluminium throughout, curated for year round UK gardens and backed by warranties of up to 5 years. Explore the collection online, or visit our Essex showroom to compare weaves and colourways in person. Bring a listing you're unsure about and we'll happily tell you what you're really looking at.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can natural rattan be used outside?

No, except in fully covered, dry spaces such as a conservatory or enclosed veranda. Natural rattan absorbs moisture, so rain and damp cause swelling, mould and rot, and direct sun dries and cracks the fibres.

Is synthetic rattan plastic?

Yes. Quality synthetic rattan is high density polyethylene, extruded into strands that mimic natural cane and UV stabilised so the colour and flexibility survive years of sunlight. It's engineered specifically for outdoor furniture.

How can you tell natural from synthetic rattan?

Natural rattan shows small organic irregularities, joins and a matt, fibrous texture, while synthetic strands are uniform in colour and profile. On a listing, terms such as PE, HDPE, resin weave or all weather rattan indicate synthetic.

Is natural rattan more expensive than synthetic?

Often, because it's a harvested and hand worked natural material, though prices overlap in practice. For outdoor use the comparison is academic, since natural rattan is unsuitable outside regardless of price.

Which is easier to clean, natural or synthetic rattan?

Synthetic rattan, comfortably. It can be washed with warm soapy water and rinsed, while natural rattan must be kept dry and is limited to dusting and careful spot cleaning to protect the fibres.