Since we have been adding conservatories to our homes Rattan Conservatory Sets have become a popular choice to fill them, but how has Rattan Furniture become so popular?
Fashion is always changing and the same can be said for our Rattan Conservatory Sets. Wicker furniture dates back well before the Victorian era and has now made a huge come back on a bigger and better scale, and is more widely used than ever before. With cleanliness playing a big part in our every day life, what better furniture too use in our conservatory?
If you thought that your Rattan Conservatory Sets are quite a recent invention then, like me, you are wrong. The history of wicker furniture starts with the Egyptians – the idea of using reed and swamp grasses comes from the ancient Egyptian’s where they seem to have been the first to have used it to make furniture and baskets.
The popularity of the Rattan Conservatory Sets that you are thinking of buying or already have bought has been around since the Victorian era.
Like us these days, we are obsessed with clean living and it seems the Victorians had the same idea. Rattan Furniture is more hygienic than upholstered furniture as it collects less dust and with today’s allergens that can only be a good thing. To begin with the Victorian’s used the furniture for outside entertaining but they decided to start bringing it in as the different styles made it more than just outside furniture.
The term ‘Wicker’ is a process of weaving and not the material that your furniture is made from. The Egyptian’s found reeds that were growing by the river Nile and as these were very strong they started to be used to make furniture which became very popular throughout their kingdom.
It wasn’t long before items made by the Egyptians became popular with the Roman’s who then started to make there own style of furniture. By the 16th and 17th centuries wicker furniture was popular in Europe and when it eventually arrived in Southeast Asia and they discovered Rattan, which is more versatile reed.
The name Rattan comes from many varieties of climbing palms that come from the tropical areas of Africa and Asia and is probably one of the hardest of hard woods around. The palms can grow hundreds of metres long and the process of using the palms begins. The skin from the palm is stripped so this can be used as the weaving material and the bits that are left can be used in other furniture making. The frame was made from thicker stalks which where heated up and bent into the required shape and when it dried it holds its shape.
In the early 1900’s Rattan Furniture became less popular but by the 60’s and 70’s popularity began to grow again. The use of a synthetic material allowed more everyday furniture to be made again and this in turn raised the popularity of the furniture. Today’s Rattan Conservatory Sets are made from a Synthetic Rattan that is woven round steel or aluminium tubular frames. This helps reduce the weight and the cost of the furniture and also allows the design of a wide variety of styles which people want in their house or garden.
The Rattan is made from a synthetic material made from a mixture of plastic materials of organic origin and some materials that come from minerals. The mixture can be moulded at high temperatures which make it weatherproof and versatile. Colours are also added at this point for a natural look and a textured print makes it feel natural.
With today’s Rattan Conservatory Sets they are sleek, modern and versatile, so it has no restrictions so eating indoors or outdoors just depends on the weather.
Shopping online is still a rapidly growing business. More and more people are entering their card details online and purchasing goods through various website. Most products can now be purchased online such as gifts, foods, furniture, pharmaceuticals and even houses.
Prices are often cheaper online as the companies don’t have the over heads that physical stores do. But how do you know and trust the company that you are handing your personal details over too when you can’t meet them or visit their shop? Banks and online payments systems are very secure now a days. They are constantly changing their policy and are up to date with the development of online fraud.
But you also want to check the company itself, make sure the goods will be shipped in good time, the product that you purchased correct and that the company itself will be responsible when handing your goods and personal information.
There are few things to look out for online website to make you feel more confident when purchasing.
Ask yourself things such as does the site look trustworthy, is there clear delivery and terms and conditions information? Are contact details easy to find on the site, is there a phone number, email and physical address? Read through customer comments sections if they are available, they could be faked but can help with an overall view of the company. Is the payment information clear, what cards are accepted and how you place an order, or what you are to do if unhappy with the items. If you ever feel unsure you can always call the company and place your order over the phone, speak to the person on the other end and see if you feel confident with them.
Online stores such as www.armiga.co.uk have a very clear and informative site, all information is available and contact details are clear.