Wicker furniture has been around for millennia and is synonymous with flexibility, comfort, and elegance. It is thought that wicker has become so popular due to the simplicity of the material; indeed, wicker material can be woven into a variety of styles and designs. Wicker material also gained favor because it was seen as being clean and natural. Its continued use to this day is most likely due to its versatility in being used as outdoor furniture. As more and more people are opting for a more elaborate patio, wicker furniture has been chosen because it is lightweight and evokes feelings of summer.

To achieve a magnificent look and texture, different wicker materials are woven together. Therefore, the word “wicker” does not necessarily denote any specific type of material, but rather a style of using materials, in this case in a weave, to create an object.

Rattan, cane, reed, and bamboo are the main materials used in creating wicker furniture, with rattan being the most popular material. The term reed denotes swamp grasses similar to straw. Cane, on the other hand, is actually the stem of rattan trees on the larger end of the spectrum; furniture made of so-called “natural wicker”, or furniture that is to be stained, usually utilizes cane. Rattan is a solid vine. Finally, bamboo is a large tropical grass with a hollow stem that can sometimes grow to more than 100 feet.

There are many different types of wicker furniture to satisfy everyone’s needs and desires; the different types vary on how they feel and look and what kind of weather conditions they can withstand. There is natural wicker, made from rattan, which is stained and a coat of varnish or lacquer is added as a sealant; in this way, the durability of the wicker furniture is increased. Though sealant is currently used on this type of furniture, it should not be exposed to the rain. In general, the nature of the rattan vine renders furniture made of this material strong, yet flexible and comfortable.

Then there is loom wicker furniture, which uses natural fibers that are spun very tightly together; the claim is that this gives it a smooth feel, elegant look and a better finish. This type of wicker furniture lasts quite long and is very weather resistant; it should not be left outside in the rain, however. Loom wicker strands are often reinforced with aluminum or stainless steel cores; the wicker is also dipped in a resin emulsion to create a flexible, moisture resistant coat. Both loom wicker and natural wicker allows for natural cooling under the sun because of the open weave that does not retain heat.

Vinyl wicker is another type of outdoor wicker patio furniture; this is the “all weather wicker” patio furniture, as it is designed to be left outside constantly, no matter what the weather conditions. Vinyl wicker, besides being made of vinyl that does not rot, also contains powder-coated aluminum frames that do not rust. As an extra bonus, there are UV inhibitors that prevent the color of the furniture from changing due to prolonged sun exposure. Also on the positive side, this type of furniture is easily taken care of; a mild detergent and a soft brush will do. Do some searching for discounted vinyl wicker patio furniture and add a vinyl wicker patio set to your outdoor space for an affordable price.

Finally, there is a new type of synthetic wicker that is used in resin wicker patio furniture; the material woven together in this type of furniture usually consists of stainless-steel wires coated with resin and polyester, draped over aluminum frames. It looks like real wicker, but can withstand pretty much all weather conditions, and so can be left outside constantly.

All of these types of wicker patio furniture can come in different styles and colors; choose a classic shade of brown or tan or some elegant white wicker patio furniture. While prices for wicker patio furniture can become quite high, discount wicker patio furniture is an affordable option, as is buying wholesale wicker patio furniture. Flip through gardening or decorating magazines for wicker ideas, styles and prices; indeed, Better Homes and Gardens wicker patio furniture is a popular choice. Obviously, because of people’s growing interest in spending time outdoors, the selection of wicker patio furniture has increased in range from simple chairs to wicker patio sets of different types, including wicker patio dining sets. To keep it simple, though, around your plain patio table, wicker chairs make the perfect addition.