The enduring power of rattan: Why this Scandi design staple is this year’s hottest interior trend

When it comes to this season’s interior trends, one thing is clear: rattan is still the go-to material. Over the past few years, the tactile favourite has slowly transformed into a Scandinavian household staple, regularly infusing our furniture pieces. Once minimalism became the go-to aesthetic, rattan quickly became the vibrant material to put on your radar. Besides catering for all of our sleek Japandi needs, rattan wonderfully blends in among our muted interiors.

“I think a lot of people really value the possibilities with rattan,” ponders Erica Larsson, owner of fourth generation Swedish family business Larsson Korgmakare. “Many invest in rattan furniture, either by browsing auctions or just exploring the attic of a relative.” Founded in 1903, the Stockholm-based Larsson interiors brand quickly cemented its nation-wide reputation as one of the leading furniture manufacturers, creating modern yet functional wicker pieces. And if you also tend to mix them up, rattan refers to the palm wood plant while wicker is a weaving technique.

Besides creating original designs from scratch, the company opted for restoration and upcycling way ahead of their time, regularly breathing new life into Josef Frank and Carl Malmsten classics. Larsson notes a renewed interest in rattan, possibly fuelled by an emerging, more conscious generation of customers. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in younger customers, they’re eager to get hold of older rattan pieces. If needed, we upcycle the item a bit, and then they’ve got a beautiful piece of furniture in great quality.”

Larsson isn’t the only one noticing a spike in interest. Louise Andreasen, CEO of Danish furniture manufacturer Sika-Design, sees a similar tendency, spearheaded by sustainability. For more than 70 years, the third generation family business has produced rattan and wickerwork, making it one of the oldest manufacturers of its kind in the region. “Our customers really want to make more sustainable choices. They value longevity of the material, opting for items that last for many years, both in terms of design and durability,” says Andreasen.

The question is: what makes rattan so attractive to work with in the first place? Unlike bamboo wood, another interior-lover favourite, rattan merges solid composure with flexibility. Largely sourced in Southeast Asian rainforests, rattan is a vine-like plant naturally growing in rainforests. For manufacturers, it is one of the preferred materials to work with. “Regenerating the span of five to seven years, rattan is considered one of the most sustainable choices for furniture manufacturing”, Andreasen explains. “Once it’s been steamed and warmed up for fifteen minutes, it’s fully bendable, which is appreciated by designers.” Durable qualities aside, rattan generates clean air, absorbing CO2 and producing 35 per cent more oxygen than trees.

As for the future of rattan, Andersen believes that it will become an exclusivity, pointing at already increased difficulty to supply the tremendous demand. Larsson highlights production, particularly noting a bustling crossover tendency between interiors and fashion. “I think we’re already seeing a bit of a shapeshift. This season, we saw Jean-Paul Gaultier send braided rattan creations down the runway. I think we’ll see more of that and hopefully more harvested rattan for local production,” she says.

Evidently, rattan ticks quite a few boxes. Pulsating with innovation, it suggests a more sustainable take on furniture design and consumption, with a natural play on minimalism. If local production becomes reality, best believe that rattan will reign supreme for a long time yet.