Is Rattan Furniture Waterproof? What Water Does to Natural Rattan and How to Protect It

A rattan armchair left on an open terrace through one rainy season tells you the answer quickly. By the end it has grey patches, a seat that sags and a musty smell that will not air out. So is rattan furniture waterproof? No. Rattan is a plant fibre, and like every plant fibre it takes in water. What it can be is well protected, and that comes down to how it was finished, where it is placed and how it is cared for. This guide covers all three, plus where each piece belongs.

Is Rattan Furniture Waterproof

Rattan is not a wood but the stem of a climbing palm. There are roughly 600 species of rattan palm, most of them in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, and around a fifth are used for furniture, baskets and cane.

Rattan Furniture 

That same stem is full of tiny channels that once carried water up the living plant. Cut, dried and woven, it still behaves like a plant: it soaks up moisture from rain, spills and damp air, then gives it back as it dries. A lacquer or varnish finish slows that exchange down a great deal, but it never stops it completely. That is why finished rattan furniture is sold as water resistant, and never as waterproof.

What Water Does to Rattan Furniture

Rattan is strong and flexible when dry. Repeated wetting changes that in three ways.

Swelling and Loose Weaving

Wet rattan swells, then shrinks again as it dries. Over many cycles the weave loosens, bindings slip and joints that were wrapped tight start to move. Seats sag first, because they carry the most weight.

Mould and Dark Stains

Moisture trapped in the fibre and in the gaps of the weave lets mould grow. It shows as grey or black spots and a musty smell, and once it is deep in the cane it is hard to remove completely.

Cracking When It Dries Out Too Fast

The opposite problem appears in strong sun or very dry air. Rattan that loses too much moisture becomes brittle and splits along the stem. A wet chair dried quickly in full sun can crack in a single afternoon.

How Rattan Furniture Is Protected at the Factory

Most of the protection a piece will ever have is applied before it leaves the workshop. The cane is dried carefully so it does not warp later, sanded smooth and then sealed with thin coats of clear lacquer or varnish. Cut ends, where the open channels in the stem are exposed, get extra attention because that is where water enters fastest. Knowing what is rattan furniture made of shows why this finish matters so much: there is no sealed surface underneath it, only plant fibre. A good factory finish is even, with no drips or bare patches, and feels smooth rather than sticky. A piece finished this way shrugs off a spilled drink or a humid week in a way an unfinished piece never will.

How to Protect Rattan Furniture at Home

Keep It Indoors or Under a Solid Roof

Rattan belongs in rooms, enclosed sunrooms and on verandas or porches with a proper roof, out of reach of rain. Keep it away from heaters, air conditioning vents and hours of direct afternoon sun.

Wipe Spills Straight Away and Dry Wet Pieces in the Shade

Blot spills with a dry cloth before they soak in. If a piece gets properly wet, stand it in a shaded, airy spot to dry slowly. Sun and hair dryers dry the surface faster than the core and cause cracking.

Oil the Cane Once a Year and Fit Pads Under the Legs

A light coat of boiled linseed oil or a furniture conditioning oil once a year keeps the fibres supple and helps the finish do its job. Rubber or felt pads under the legs keep the cut ends off wet floors, which matters because the feet are the first part of a rattan chair to rot.

Balance the Air in Very Damp or Very Dry Rooms

In damp climates a dehumidifier in the room stops mould before it starts. In heated or air conditioned rooms that dry the air out, a light misting of the cane now and then, wiped dry afterwards, keeps it from turning brittle.

Where Rattan Furniture Belongs

A simple rule works for most homes and businesses. Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, hotel lobbies and guest rooms all suit rattan, and its warmth and texture stand out there. Enclosed sunrooms and covered verandas are fine as long as rain cannot blow in.

Natural Rattan Furniture

Open terraces, gardens, pool decks and restaurant patios are not, however good the finish. Coastal and tropical locations with high humidity are the hardest on rattan, so covered spaces there need a well finished piece and regular airing. Retail and hospitality buyers comparing rattan furniture manufacturers should say plainly where the pieces will live, because it changes the finish and the packing.

Caring for Rattan Furniture After It Gets Wet

If a piece is caught in the rain or a drink goes over it, act the same day. Blot the surface, tip the piece so water runs out of the weave and stand it somewhere shaded with air moving around it. Do not cover it while it is damp, because a cover traps moisture and starts mould. Once it is fully dry, which can take two or three days for a soaked seat, check the bindings and joints and look closely at the weave for dark spots. Small mould patches come off with a soft brush and mild soap, followed by a barely damp cloth and another drying. A fresh coat of clear lacquer restores a finish that has gone dull or patchy.

Conclusion

So is rattan furniture waterproof? No, and no finish will make it so. Rattan is a plant fibre that swells, loosens, grows mould and cracks when water and sun get to it. What keeps it looking good for years is a proper factory finish, a place indoors or under a solid roof, slow drying in the shade when it does get wet, a coat of oil once a year and pads under the legs. Treat it as water resistant rather than waterproof and it will repay the care.

Artex Nam An is a Vietnamese handicraft manufacturer weaving rattan, bamboo, seagrass and water hyacinth furniture and home decor for retailers and hospitality buyers worldwide, through its own factories and over 30 local facilities in the craft villages. See the range on our furniture page, or tell us where the furniture will be used and your target quantity and we will recommend the material and finish before we quote.

Read more: What Is the Best Quality Rattan Furniture? Five Checks That Matter