Learning the difference between Rattan and Cane

When spoken of, Rattan and Cane are often confused for another. While Rattan is a climbing palm, cane is the thinner material that results from the process of stripping the rattan plant.

In terms of design, both the materials are used to create the furniture that we see today. The difference is that both these materials are processed through different parts of the plant.

What is Rattan?

Rattan is a material that grows like a tree but eventually vines back down to the ground and coils around the ground. Rattan is native to number of regions such as Africa, Asia, South East Asia and Australia.

 Resembling the bamboo, it is used for extreme durability and light weight qualities. It is one the fastest growing natural materials regenerating every 5-7 years.

 

The plant is debarked and sanded down to the glossy surface you typically see it to be. From there it can be polished, stained and lacquered as desired.

Rattan is known to be a very good material for making baskets, furniture, trays and even mats. The reason is that the natural rattan material will accept paints and stains like many other kinds of natural woods, which makes it very versatile. 

The inner core of the rattan is also split and can be used to weave wicker home décor products. This is where it can get confusing as many people see wicker as a kind of material but wicker is really a weave. 

What is Cane?

 
Cane is more delicate than rattan and is found by peeling the skin of the vine. Cane is also a fantastic material to be used for outdoor furniture as well. The very low porosity rate means it can repel liquids and can therefore can easily repel  spillage, which makes it a great furniture material. In terms of strength, cane is generally  stronger than rattan, thus it is most commonly used for binding purposes.
   
 Cane is also used in combination with rattan materials so as to highlight it beautifully. Unlike rattan which is most commonly treated and painted, cane is left in its natural state.  

Some different kinds of Cane Webbing

 

While Cane is traditionally woven into web patterns and applied to furniture,  Rattan is weaved to create furniture pieces.

The natural fiber has also made it's way to into our homes offering us with practical, lightweight and organic furniture pieces. They have eco-friendly properties and offer us an airy and timeless feeling.

What we find interesting about Cane and Rattan furniture is that it can be used with a variety of interior designs due to it's versatility, such as Scandinavian, Mid-Century Modern, Farmhouse and Boho.