Strategists Unveil Tips for Elegantly Incorporating Rattan into Home Decor
Chilling with Chic: The Rise and Imminent Reign of Rattan Decor
There's some serious vibes when it comes to rattan decor – it'll make y'all feel like you've booked a swanky, tropical vacation, all without even needing a passport. This stuff is the ultimate home makeover, delivering an instant escape to warmer climates and chillier moods. "Rattan adds an immediate sense of relaxation to a room," says ace interior designer, Summer Thornton. Curious about its history and how it's takin' over homes in 2025? Let's dive in!
From Palm Vine to Porch Swings: The Origins of Rattan
Rattan's roots trace back to the climbing palm vine, originally native to the tropical regions of Asia, Australia, and Africa. Back in the day, it was a luxurious import only affordable to the wealthiest homeowners in the U.S. A game-changer came with the Wakefield Rattan Company (later Heywood-Wakefield) in the late 19th century, pumping out rattan furniture at a mass scale. Rattan mania really hit its stride in the 1950s when it was ubiquitous in American homes, thanks to stylish designers like Tony Duquette and Billy Baldwin. Taste buds change, y'all, and in the 70s, rattan became synonymous with the bohemian counterculture. But that was just a blip on the radar, cause it's back with a bang in 2025!
Rattan, Baby, One More Time: Its Return in 2025
If you were to attend Maison & Objet – the home decor equivalent of Paris Fashion Week – in 2025, you'd notice one clear trend: rattan's back with a vengeance. Upholstered armchairs, ottomans, side tables, bar carts, lighting, and decorative accessories were showcased brand after brand. Said goodbye to the days when rattan was confined solely to back patios and screened-in porches – now it's gracing every room in the house.
The resurgence of rattan can likely be attributed to Cult Icon Atelier Vime's iconic 'Medici' pedestal and vase, along with the worshipped status of British firm Soane, whose designer, Lulu Lytle, penned a book on the subject (Rattan: A World of Elegance and Charm). Wish I'd scored a pair of Soane's skirted rattan side tables for a steal at a consignment shop – I've been regretting that loss ever since!
Rattan: The Secret Weapon for a Coastal Crib Vibe
Beyond Patios: Rattan in Modern Interiors
To nail the perfect blend of vintage charm and contemporary cool, the key is balancin' rattan with classic interior furnishings. A big, plush, upholstered sofa in a classic silhouette or a sleek, modern dining table creates the perfect backdrop for rattan pieces. Ariel Okin, a top-notch interior designer, has nailed this tension effortlessly, layering her suburban Westchester, NY family room with rattan, addin' durability and laidback functionality to match the chill vibes.
Rattan adds a whole lotta warmth, since it's a natural material with plenty of texture. So, it's great for adding some coziness to a space that might be feelin' too spare or too cold. "Rattan is fantastic when added to a room that feels too sparse or too cold, since it offers a bit of levity and comfort," says Okin.
Textural Game Strong: Playin' with Rattan
Take a moment to consider the relationship between materials. Pairing rattan – fashioned from rattan poles or woven thinner strips of rattan cane – with smooth, bentwood chairs simply feels cohesive without goin' overboard. "Too much rattan can feel outdated but the perfect amount creates a beautiful, organic contrast and adds an effortless sense of ease to the overall design," says Marina Hanisch, another ace interior designer.
Rattan might remind y'all of bamboo, but they ain't the same thing. Bamboo is a hollow grass, while rattan is a climbing palm vine.
Small Bites of Rattan: Accents to Liven up a Space
Whether you're after a full-on tropical vibe or just want to dial down a room's formality a notch, a hint of rattan goes a long way. Just a few well-placed pieces can breathe new life into a room.
Summer Thornton switched out traditional fabric lampshades for woven rattan varieties in this Chicago living room, "Rattan provides a great material contrast to more traditional upholstery or wood pieces," says Thornton. And her advice for successfully blending styles? "Keep your rattan natural in color for a timeless, more elevated look."
Enough Already: Stop Stacking Rattan!
"To make rattan feel fresh today, it's all about balancing its natural texture with clean, bold elements," says Amanda Reynal, a go-to interior designer. She did just that in this resort-style living room she designed for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach, Florida. Aqua blues and Kelly Greens set the seaside tone, while the Lee Jofa x Lily Pulitzer grasscloth wallcovering drove the tropical aesthetic home. Rattan appears just in the stool and card table, but complementary materials like raffia, caning, and jute helped anchor the room with a neutral foundation.
So, there y'all have it – the highlights of the rattan comeback story of 2025, straight from the Maison & Objet catwalk, and other trend-setting sources. If you're feelin' inspired to embrace the rattan lifestyle, gather up your rattan pieces, old and new, and watch your home transform into a tropical escape right before your eyes!
- Contemporary homes in 2025 are adorning their rooms with rattan decor, as seen at Maison & Objet – a renowned home decor event, following the lead of brands like Atelier Vime and Soane.
- With its historical roots traceable to the climbing palm vine, rattan has surfaced once again as a coveted decorative trend in modern interiors, offering a seamless blend of vintage charm and contemporary cool.
- Rattan, a versatile and textured material, can play a significant role in warming up and adding comfort to spaces that might feel too sparse or too cold according to top interior designer, Ariel Okin.
- Interior designers like Marina Hanisch suggest that the key to incorporating rattan effectively lies in achieving an organic contrast and ensuring that it doesn't overshadow other design elements.
- Rattan can serve as an accent in small doses and help liven up a space, as shown by Summer Thornton who swapped traditional fabric lampshades with woven rattan varieties to create a timeless and more elevated look in a Chicago living room.
