Wicker armchairs: timeless garden furniture

What are wicker armchairs?

Wicker garden armchairs are part of the furniture that never goes out of fashion. In recent years, there has been a great comeback of furniture and furnishings made from wicker or other woody fibres such as rattan. Wicker furniture is distinguished by its natural beauty and has returned to furnish outdoor spaces in a vintage style.

Specifically, wicker armchairs combined with garden sofas are the must-haves for this summer, perfect to suit every style, with a slightly romantic flavour and customised with colourful cushions in various fabrics especially for outdoors.

Starting with the characteristics of wicker and the advantages of this material, we suggest some models on sale, at different prices, to make your garden modern and impeccable this summer.

What is wicker?

Wicker is a woody fibre obtained from a specific variety of willow tree that grows in western Asia and Europe. Wicker is produced from the young branches of this tree and processed to create baskets and other furnishings. Once the branches have been cleaned of their leaves, they are sorted according to size and calibre and gathered into bundles. After this process, they are left to dry standing in a cool, ventilated room not exposed to direct sunlight. Both decorticated wicker, with a brownish hue and a rustic style, and wicker with a white-grey bark can be obtained.

As a material for making garden furniture, baskets and cradles for babies, wicker has a long history. But with the advent of plastic materials, the production and use of wicker has declined dramatically. Hence, it is a favoured material for making armchairs, coffee tables and sofas, which in recent times has been re-proposed in many modern solutions.

What is the difference between rattan and wicker?

Garden furniture on the market made from natural materials is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, natural materials such as wicker, rattan, and other textile or mineral fibres are the focus of attention of Made-in-Italy companies for a constant enhancement of the land and the environment. But is there a difference between rattan and wicker?

There is:

• wicker is a textile fibre made from the branches of a variety of willow tree;
• rattan is a name commonly used to refer to certain palm species when their wood is used for objects and other furnishings.

The main characteristic of rattan is that it does not splinter, is mould-resistant and very durable.

Wicker garden armchairs: our suggestions

Wicker armchairs or outdoor wicker armchairs are the perfect garden furniture to decorate outdoor environments. Modern, designer models are ideal for decorating terraces, balconies and gardens in modern vintage style with a touch of romance.

A modern design proposal is the high-backed armchair. It takes the shape of the classic wicker armchair but revisited in metal and woven rope materials.

White wicker armchairs are made from bark-covered wicker, a valuable and hard-to-find material. There are garden lounge chairs in white wicker shades such as the Emma Cross Varaschin wicker armchair.

Another wicker woven armchair model is the Lounge Cut Potocco armchair. The legs are made of painted aluminium, while the seat is hand-woven with cord and the seat and headrest cushions are upholstered in various outdoor fabrics.

Wicker garden chairs: care and maintenance

Although wicker and rattan are natural materials that are very resistant to outdoor agents, they require careful care and maintenance to be used year after year. Wicker chairs along with other furniture are usually placed outdoors and are subject to erosion by weathering and sunlight, which can fade or darken over time.

To protect wicker furniture, it is best to keep it covered in cold weather under canopies or gazebos, but even in summer it is advisable not to leave it in the open air all the time, especially in rainy weather. Water can stagnate in the cushions and ruin the wicker.

When, on the other hand, the wicker armchairs and other furnishings that decorate our garden have a ‘certain age’, they need to be renewed and restored.

But how do we renovate wicker and how do we restore a wicker armchair? First of all, it is necessary to check if there is any damage or breakage to the armchair. In this case, experts must be consulted. For dents and chips, there are do-it-yourself remedies.

To remove imperfections, just sand gently with sandpaper, which will remove the layer of varnish and the colour of the wicker will be duller. If you notice any grooves, fill them in with wood filler and use sandpaper to remove the excess.

As for the rattan, if it has become dry and cracked, you can use linseed oil with the help of a soft cloth and let it dry thoroughly.

The last step is the finishing for both wicker and rattan. It consists of varnishing, which can be natural or coloured. There are specific varnishes on the market, which can also be found in pastel colours and are water-based.