The best rattan garden furniture for summer 2025, recommended with expert advice

Telegraph

3 days ago

With summer here, however fleetingly, now is the time to look for the best rattan garden furniture. You'll want garden chairs on the patio, the barbecue going and a bottle of rosé chilling in an ice bucket.
Former Telegraph gardening writer Cinead McTernan is a rattan enthusiast. 'My modular corner sofa has absolutely transformed how much we use our outdoor space,' she says. 'I go for synthetic polyethylene rattan because it's so light and easy to look after. A quick blast with a pressure washer at the start of the season and you're ready to go.'
As Cinead suggests, synthetic rattan garden furniture is an ideal choice because it's usually more waterproof and sold with a long warranty. Cinead bought her set from Sweeek but there are great selections at Maze and Outsunny among others, ranging from uner £300 to over £2,000. You can find our full reviews of the best rattan garden furniture below, followed by answers to frequently asked questions. But if you're in a hurry, here's a quick look at our top five:
The best rattan garden furniture: At a glance
How to choose the best rattan furniture
There's an assumption that natural rattan is superior, Cinead says, but it's not weatherproof and is only really suitable for sunny days: 'Natural rattan does look more beautiful, but isn't as hard wearing and fades in the sunlight.'
PE rattan (polyethylene – also known as synthetic rattan or polyrattan) can shrug off rain, snow and, as long as you give it an occasional light scrub with soapy water, mould and algae.
'The properties of the polymer PE are in between a plastic and a wax,' says Peter Bridgman, founder of Bridgman furniture store, which specialises in rattan furniture. 'That gives it a very natural look and feel. It doesn't look plasticky and it also has no toxins.' For more detail, read the FAQs at the end of this feature.
How we chose the best rattan furniture
The experts, including The Telegraph's own gardening writer of more than 10 years, Cinead McTernan, were our guide to the quality and durability of rattan furniture, but we also took into consideration affordability, style and a range of uses from sun lounging to outdoor entertaining. All the furniture below is chosen from the respective retailers' most popular products, at a range of budgets.
Remember to check out our guides to the best patio heaters and fire pits, too. That way you can enjoy outdoor seating all year round.
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The best rattan garden furniture of 2025
1. Best Buy Rattan Garden Furniture: La Redoute Natural Rope Lounge Chair and Footstool Set
Bucking the trend for polyethylene, La Redoute's light and airy chair-and-footstool set is made of natural rope on a steel frame, with wooden legs. It's not totally weatherproof, more of an indoor-outdoor piece to sit on patios in the summer and in the conservatory or a sunny room in winter.
Key specifications
2. Best Value Rattan Furniture Set: Habitat 4 Seater Bamboo Effect Garden Sofa Set
£350
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Argos
Mid-century modern design (think Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs pad) is normally something you pay a Danish designer thousands of pounds for. Argos have managed it for under £500 with this bamboo-look table and chairs, although it'll need storing inside since the steel legs and polyester cushions won't be fully waterproof. It does need assembling, too — Argos say it requires two people. Argos also make some of the best solar garden lights to add twinkle to late nights al fresco.
Key specifications
3. Best Rattan Sofa: OKA Weybourne 3 Seater Sofa
Rattan furniture doesn't get much more high-end than OKA and this is the pick of their collection: a sofa big enough to seat you and a couple of friends for cocktails and inexpertly-barbecued sausages as the sun goes down. You'll need a reasonably sized outdoor space but, if you're an OKA customer, that's unlikely to be a problem.
Key specifications
4. Best Rattan Bistro Sofa: John Lewis Salsa 2-Seater Garden Sofa, Natural
£165
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John Lewis
Just right for balconies or small patios, this chic rattan-look sofa has the Royal Horticultural Society's stamp of approval. It uses 3mm round synthetic fibres for a more classic look than flat-woven furniture, and matching chairs are available as a set of two. For a bolder look, choose the burnt orange colourway.
Key specifications
5. Best Rattan Dining Set: Dunelm Santorini 4 Seater Conversation Set
Good old Dunelm usually know what will suit the average home and garden and they've hit the target with this dining set: big enough to serve a decent meal but small enough to fit in a sunny corner. The inclusion of two tables – one large, one small – makes this set a versatile pick.
Key specifications
6. Best Rattan Corner Sofa: DUSK Lisbon 2-Seater Garden Sofa
Better known for its bedding, DUSK has launched garden furniture for the first time, debuting with a collection of modular sofas, available in two or three seaters, corner sofas along with pouffes and coffee tables. Every option is available in natural (shown above) or grey. The PE weave rattan is durable while the polyester cushions are finished with a linen effect. It's great value garden furniture and this rattan sofa is cheaper than alternatives of similar quality.
Key specifications
7. Best Rattan Hanging Egg Chair: Cox & Cox Paxos Teardrop Hanging Snuggler
£397.50
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Cox & Cox
Telegraph garden-living expert Sarah Rodrigues loves Cox & Cox: 'Compared to some High Street brands, the prices are steep, but the timelessness of the pieces, combined with the attention to detail and construction, really does make them worth the investment. This year, I have my eye on the Paxos Teardrop Hanging Snuggler. I can just imagine being curled up in its cosy embrace with a book and an Aperol Spritz as the evenings get longer.' Technically, it's made from PE faux wicker, not faux rattan, but that shouldn't rule out this charming chair.
Key specifications
8. Best Cube Garden Furniture: Pebble 9 Piece Rattan Cube Garden Furniture Set
£429.99
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The Range
Can you stack rattan furniture? It's a common question for those worried about storage. This Pebble set, sold by The Range, is designed with that in mind. They've managed to fit four chairs, a table and four stools into a four-foot cube into an implausibly neat configuration, which becomes a generous family seating suite when the chairs and stools are slid out from under the table.
Key specifications
Assembly required: Yes
Materials: UV-resistant poly rattan over steel frame, glass tabletop, showerproof cushions with machine washable covers
Dimensions: H73 x W110 x D110cm (table), H84 x W52 x D52cm (chairs), H35 x W41 x D41cm (stools)
Delivery: Free delivery in 3 working days or longer
9. Best Outdoor Sofa: Nest Outdoor Sofa
'Right now the trend is for expanding your living space out into the garden,' says Stuart Isbister, who sells these gorgeous Danish-designed Cane-Line sofas. 'The outside becomes an extension of your interior design. Danish designers dominate the scene at the moment.' Although made of PE, the Cane-Line is hand-woven in Indonesia, the original home of rattan, and feels identical to the real thing while being completely weatherproof.
Key specifications
10. Best Rattan Moon Chair: Furniture Box Moon Chair
Moon chairs, otherwise known as Papasan chairs are perfect for creating a cosy reading nook in the corner of a garden. The tilted angle and thick, plush cushions means total relaxation.
This FurnitureBox Moon Chair is made from handwoven wood and rattan over a metal frame. On top sits thick, dark grey cushioning which is 10.5cm thick and more than a metre wide. It curves to your body and there's even room for a spoilt dog or cat in the space next to you.
Key specifications
11. Best Rattan Set for Sunbathing: Outsunny 5 Pcs Rattan Garden Furniture Set
Brits no longer need to head abroad to catch a tan (as long as we time it right - early and late summer now seem to be the best bet for sun). Just head out to the garden and relax on suitably laid back garden furniture (with sun cream, of course).
You'll struggle to find a rattan garden furniture set more versatile than this Outsunny set. It takes the shape of two seats with matching stools and a coffee table in the middle, but the stools can easily be used separately for extra seating. The frame is made from metal wrapped in rattan, for a solid structure, and the cushion covers are washable.
Key specifications
Assembly required: Yes
Materials: PE rattan, steel frames, glass tabletop, polyester cushion covers
Dimensions: H75 x W 67 x L71cm (armchairs), H40 x W51 x L67cm (footstools), H42 x W46 x L46cm (table)
Delivery: 30 day returns, free standard delivery
13. Best Outdoor Rattan Bar Set: Maze Rattan Winchester Six Seater Round Rattan Bar Set
£1,149
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Maze Living
Nothing says al fresco living like an outdoor bar and this set from Maze comes complete with an ice bucket in the middle of the table. It adds a bit of fun and luxury into entertaining, whether for a BBQ or evening drinks.
The set comes with one bar table, one ice bucket with a rattan lid and six bar chairs, all in the light wash Winchester rattan colouring. The bar stools all have foot rests for added comfort.
Key specifications
Materials: Polyethylene rattan, powder coated aluminium frames, clear tempered glass top and polyester cushions
Dimensions: H108cm x W47cm x D56cm (chairs), H109cm x D120cm (table)
Delivery: 14 day returns, free delivery in 7-10 days
14. Best Rattan Garden Storage: Pacific Bermuda Woven Large Garden Cushion Box
£549
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John Lewis
Where do you store all the cushions for your rattan furniture? You could get a plastic storage bin but this excellently built but lightweight storage holder is a better complement to your table and chairs.
It can be left outside all year round, although it's recommended to use an additional storage bag inside it to keep cushions dry. The pistons on either side take the weight of the lid, making it easy to open and close.
Key specifications
15. Best Weatherproof Rattan Garden Furniture: Bridgman Windsor Grey Square Dining Table
£2,038
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Price at
Bridgman
We love a rattan garden furniture set as much as anyone, but we can't help but sometimes think they look a bit samey. Our favourite thing about this set from Bridgman is that is provides the bare bones of a set. You can then either add Bridgman's waterproof cushions for an additional £319 or find your own cushions with a splash of colour.
Key specifications
16. Best Space-Saving Rattan Garden Furniture Set: Orlando Rattan Garden Vase Set
If storing your rattan furniture in the colder months is an issue, you might like this Rattan Garden Vase Set from Rattan Direct which all stacks directly on top of each other when not in use. The chairs stack by flipping one upside down and the table sits on top, creating a vase shape.
It also comes with a free outdoor cover, for an extra layer of protection. As if all of this wasn't convenient enough, the chairs come pre-assembled.
Key specifications
Rattan garden furniture FAQs
What is better: rattan or wicker?
Trick question. Rattan is the material, wicker is the method. Wicker (from the Old Norse word vika, 'to bend') is the way of forming pliable natural fibres like willow, reed, grass or bark into furniture. In Asia it's often done with the climbing palm rattan. Rattan wicker was so extensively imported in the 19th and 20th centuries from south-east Asia that we ended up using the word generically for woven furniture.
Is rattan furniture long-lasting?
Most is, but not all. Garden furniture entrepreneur Peter Bridgman says you should beware of cheaper furniture where the synthetic rattan strands have been nailed onto the frame: when the nails rust, they will become weak points.
Stuart Isbister, co-founder of outdoor furniture specialists The Worm That Turned, says there is another way to assess rattan furniture: look at the shape of the strands.
'Flat-woven products are lighter and cheaper, but they probably won't last as long as round weave. Flat weave will often sag in when you press your finger against it, particularly if it's hot, since plastic becomes malleable with heat, and in some cases brittle after a year or so.'
Is rattan furniture waterproof?
Natural rattan definitely isn't. Synthetic is, up to a point: metal parts can still rust and cushions can't usually be left outside. Some can, though, says Stuart Isbister: 'They can now be made from things like textilene, which is an outdoor furnishing fabric. They're a lot softer to the touch and they dry really quickly, so you can leave sofas outside without having to bring the cushions in.'
Can rattan garden furniture sit on grass?
It's not advised. Garden furniture tends to be heavy, which can weaken the grass beneath it and cause lasting damage. Mould and mildew from wet grass could also cause mould on the rattan, while moisture could cause rust on the metal frame.
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