Much like your indoor space, your outdoor area has the potential to be an extension of your home. It's a great place to relax and gather on sunny days. It also adds to the glamour that completes the look of your home.
But compared to your indoor design, choosing the right furniture for your patio or balcony can be more challenging as you have to double-check the credibility and susceptibility of your outdoor furniture to elements that can affect its quality in the long run.
Looking for a comfortable outdoor sofa, garden table and chair set, or tea set for your minimal outdoor space? If you are in the market for new outdoor furniture, resin wicker is an excellent upgrade for your outdoor area.
What is Resin Wicker?
The term wicker does not describe a material but describes a weaving process. Wicker is typically made of rattan, bamboo, willow, or reed and is used to create natural and inviting furniture pieces with beautifully patterned details. Today, furniture manufacturers use synthetic materials to bring this fresh look outdoors while keeping the nostalgic feel of natural wicker material.
Resin wicker is a popular material used to make patio furniture. It is highly durable, fade-resistant, and easy to maintain. While traditional wicker made from bamboo or rattan is loved for indoor use with its natural charm and details, resin wicker brings an additional flavour to your outdoor area. This invites a warm and casual feel to the space while keeping a natural look that fits the outdoor settings. Resin wicker, or synthetic wicker, is made from high-density polyethylene resin, which can bear weather changes and last up to 15 years.
Natural Wicker vs. Man-made Wicker: Which is Better for Your Outdoor Furniture?
Natural wicker is undeniably refreshing to look at with its beautiful patterns and authentic colour. Using natural wicker indoors provides a seamless and airy feel to your space, which is perfect for various interior design themes. However, sophisticated furniture pieces made with natural wicker cannot hold up to extreme weather changes and are subject to fading over time when exposed to too much sunlight, making them unsuitable for outdoor use. On the other hand, resin wicker is made to resist fading due to sun exposure, making it ideal for outdoor use. It mimics how natural rattan is woven, but it can come in various colours. High-quality resin wickers are made from high-density polyethylene, while more affordable varieties are made from PVC.
For indoor use, natural rattan definitely wins with its natural charm. But if your number one priority is longevity or outdoor use, polyethylene wicker is a great choice.
What are the Advantages of Resin Wicker Furniture?
Polyethylene wicker, or all-weather wicker, works well for outdoor use. This material does not biodegrade as quickly as natural wicker, meaning it can last longer even when exposed to the outdoor elements. Synthetic wicker is also moisture-resistant and is usually treated with anti-UV light properties to resist fading as much as possible. It is also more flexible, making it less prone to breakage. While the natural variety gets brittle and develops cracks over time, resin wicker does not break easily and is quickly fixed when damaged.
One of the best features of resin wicker, or all-weather wicker, is the ease of maintenance. Compared to natural wicker, synthetic wicker requires less maintenance as you can clean it with the available cleaning materials in your home.
What are the Drawbacks of Resin Wicker Furniture?
Although furniture pieces made with resin wicker are generally sturdier than natural wicker, they may not be as visually appealing as the latter. Resin wicker mimics the weaved look of natural rattan furniture, but it doesn’t provide the same warmth natural materials provide.
How is Resin Wicker Outdoor Furniture Constructed?
Resin garden tables and chairs are growing in popularity due to their casual look and flexibility in style and function. Typically, resin wicker furniture has an aluminium framework covered with a powder coating to make it rust-proof. It is then filled with strips of synthetic material to copy a woven organic material to make it look like the real thing but with a more durable twist. Some wicker garden tables and chairs include cushioned seats that add more comfort and colour to the relatively tough resin wicker furniture. This also creates a good connection between your outdoor space and modern interior design.
Note: Powder coating is a painting process usually done to cars and appliances but is now done to metal furniture to create a smooth finish that retains its clean quality without rusting or flaking due to oxidation.
Aside from resin wicker, patio furniture can be created with plastic, outdoor fabric, wood, cast iron, or concrete. Resin and aluminium are two of the most popular and affordable choices for contemporary homes. For additional visual appeal and comfort, some synthetic rattan outdoor furniture has glass tabletops and coloured cushions.
What to Look for When Buying Resin Wicker Furniture
A good framework for resin wicker furniture is aluminium, since it is more resistant to rust than metal. We also recommend buying outdoor furniture that requires minimal assembly. This is not only because having one requires less effort when assembled, but because when a piece of furniture is almost completely assembled, it is less prone to breakage. When choosing your wicker material, opt for high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. Although relatively more expensive than other plastic materials, HDPE is a high-quality material that is made to last.
It's also important to choose furniture with legs to prevent the main body of your furniture from accumulating dirt or mud as the weather frequently changes outside. Opt for removable cushions so you can keep them inside during the rain and clean them regularly.
Buying outdoor furniture? Check out Megafurniture's collection of resin wicker garden tables and chairs that will surely bring your outdoor space to another level.