How to Choose Your Rattan Furniture

When choosing between synthetic or natural rattan, it is important to note that synthetic rattan possesses a host of properties that make it a more practical choice than it's natural counterpart. At Bridgman, our rattan furniture is expertly crafted using only the finest synthetic polyethylene weaves to ensure premium quality across our collections. Offering the same timeless aesthetic as natural rattan, our synthetic weaves are more durable and won’t fade under the sun’s UV rays to guarantee you better value for money as your set continues to look good year after year.

The style of rattan weave determines the aesthetics of a piece as well as the durability and comfort of your chosen furniture. Half round is a cheaper form of weave, while full round is the top-level choice. To provide you with true luxury, most of our outdoor furniture collections are crafted using a full round rattan weave for unmatched comfort, premium style and long-lasting durability with very little maintenance required to keep your furniture looking its best. For a more modern look, our Hampstead and Windsor Collections both use flat weaves to offer yet more choice when you pick your favourite rattan furniture.

It is also important to consider the tightness of the furniture’s rattan weave as a loose, unstable weave is the sign of bad quality that won't last. Our rattan furniture sets are quality checked by expert furniture makers to ensure every piece is perfection.

What's inside is just as important as what's out, and once again quality is key here at Bridgman. We use powder-coated aluminium frames in our furniture to ensure full protection from the elements and absolute rust-resistance when your furniture is left out in the rain, snow, or frost.

Since we introduced luxury rattan furniture to the UK in 2001, each piece of our rattan furniture is crafted to ensure elegance and durability for many years to come, from our largest rattan dining set down to our smallest footstool. Our 45 years of garden furniture expertise have led us to offer two high-quality, low-maintenance rattan ranges unified by strong synthetic rattan and powder-coated aluminium frames. Both have been created with quality, comfort and style in mind, while allowing you to choose between affordability and absolute premium. No matter which collection you fall in love with, you simply won't find luxury rattan like this anywhere else.

Make sure you are giving your new furniture enough room to be used comfortably by measuring the space you would like to put it and comparing this to the dimensions of the piece or set located on the technical details tab of the product page. Don't forget to ensure that there is enough space for you to move around the furniture when it is in use.

For smaller gardens, choose a beautiful rattan Balcony & Bistro Dining Set to create an intimate alfresco dining space that’s perfect for a romantic evening for two. You can also look for smart, stylish and space-saving flexible furniture like stackable chairs, bar stools and even loungers that can be stacked on top of each other and stored away when not in use.

It's equally important to consider which rattan furniture will fit into large gardens. As you have the benefit of space, a small set can look silly so we suggest picking a large rattan dining or lounging set (or both if you have the room).

Before you buy, ensure you know where your new rattan furniture will be positioned within your garden.

• On your patio
  Patios are the natural choice for outdoor furniture. Many of our rattan pieces come with glides on the chair and table legs to prevent scratches on your paving slabs. Adjustable feet have also been incorporated into several chairs and dining tables to stabilise the furniture on uneven decking - visit your nearest showroom or book a virtual consultation with one of our Furniture Experts to find out more about these features.
• In a summer house or orangery
  

  If you choose to place your rattan furniture inside, you won't have to worry about maintaining as much. We recommend selecting lighter, more modern rattan pieces to complement your home and create a calm indoor environment.

• In a shaded area or in direct sunlight
  It is important to remember that you don’t need to position your furniture in a shaded area out of the sun as our synthetic rattan furniture has been designed to withstand more than 2000 UV hours. If you choose to place your furniture in a brighter spot, you can enjoy the sun whenever you like or choose shade with the help of one of our premium Parasols.

If you're often out in the garden. whether hosting dinner parties or relaxing alone, investing in pieces from our more expensive All Seasons Collections will be the wisest choice to ensure durability and longevity. However, if you use your garden sparingly, our mid-market Mayfair Collection made from Wickerline Rattan may be a better fit for you and your lifestyle.

It's been over two decades since we introduced premium rattan furniture to the UK, and the trend is still going strong. To give you the gift of choice, we've created a range of collections to suit every style of garden. Consider the colour, cushions and overall style of each luxury rattan collection to choose the perfect pieces for your outdoor space.

Every Bridgman Rattan Furniture Collection can be left outside come rain or shine. However, we do we recommend using Furniture Covers during the winter for extra peace of mind against harsh weather and prevent dirt and debris from dirtying your set. It is also important to remember to remove any cushions and store inside or in a Cushion Box when not in use (especially if they aren't waterproof). For full care and cleaning instructions, take a look at our Garden Furniture Care Guide.