Natural Components, Complementing the Modern Home
Designing with organic and natural furniture and accessories like wicker or rattan furniture is all the rage now. As most people are cooped up inside their homes and collecting all the plants and succulents that they can, we are all experiencing that organic, eco-friendly vibe. And rattan furniture is not just for your patio anymore, it has become a trend for interior home decorating, as well!
Rattan is a naturally growing vine which can be found in tropical regions. Because it is one of the most durable materials, it is widely used to make outdoor furniture, place mats, rugs, and baskets. It is so flexible and can easily be painted, bent, woven, and formed into different shapes and patterns.
How do you use rattan in your rooms without looking too tropical? Unless you are designing your beach house, you can overuse rattan (or any material for that matter). So, let’s explore some ways on how we can use this beautiful natural texture into your home with just the right amount of tropical tenderness.
ACCESSORIZE
Most homes are now in the modern or contemporary design style and sometimes, the urban home feels almost too boxy or rigid. With natural touches, Rattan can give any room a gentler feel. Simple, small touches like a rattan basket or handwoven runner or place mats bring that freshness into your living room or dining room. And yes, plants can complement any natural highlight too!
Photo by Alexander Fife on Unsplash
Rattan placemats. Photo by the Author
Handwoven table runner and placemats add character to any place setting.
RUG IT OUT
Photo by Julien Lanoy on Unsplash
As Rattan is highly durable and flexible, it is also woven into rugs. There are tons designs, styles, sizes and colors to choose from. This can certainly refresh your living room or bedroom and even your foyer. It gives an inviting, rustic feeling. You can even turn up the laidback design with throw pillows or an accent fur rug. Perfect for those cool summer nights!
Photo by Sonnie Hiles on Unsplash
BIG ACCENTS
As much as you can use small, muted touches, you can also add bigger highlights into your space to create that tropical, summery presence like an armchair, coffee table, side table or even a sideboard. Just remember to choose a more subdued color as not to attract too much attention to your rattan or wicker piece; remember, complementing is key.
A cream colored accent chair refreshes any room
Photo by Valeriia Miller on Unsplash
Photo by Nathan Oakley on Unsplash
LIGHT IT UP!
How else can tropical homey vibes be felt than through quaint, rattan light fixtures! You can pair these with other rattan, handwoven or wicker textures for that overall comfy look. Choose large rattan pendants in sculptural interesting shapes or look for one with a more open woven pattern to spread light to the whole space. These natural rustic pendant lights can work well as a cluster or as a solo fixture.
The Biba Hanging Light is made up of hand dyed rattan woven on a durable steel frame. This light fixture certainly makes a great conversation piece.
A perfect example of how a solo sculptural light fixture can transform a room into an interesting space. Photo from homedesigning.com
Indeed, designing and decorating with rattan and other handwoven pieces can improve the visual interest in a monotonous space without adding too much attention. I love that the natural material offers texture and with the right piece, it can give that relaxed and cool character to any room.
Understanding the neutral undertones are important as well especially if the space you are decorating already has a lot of colorful furniture. It’s all about having the right mix, silhouette and feel.
If you love the rattan or handwoven look, but are unsure how much or how to utilize it in your own space, let’s chat and discover some new ways to complement your living spaces.