Home Home Decor Ideas Rattan Furniture Inspiration That Proves It Will Never Go Out of Style By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is an Associate Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 3, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong Texture is in, and we couldn't be happier. Rattan has made its way back into interior design in ways that would make the Golden Girls gleam. This reinvigorated enthusiasm is even more proof that the grandmillennial style isn't going anywhere, but unlike grandma's screened-in porch, these designs are like a walk down memory lane meets modern style. But just because rattan is reinventing itself doesn't mean it's only meant for today's sleek and modern spaces. Pairing a piece of rattan furniture with the right complementary elements can actually establish a timeless tone while adding a laid-back air that can suit any style–coastal, shabby-chic, modern…you name it. Take it straight from the experts: We're sharing some of our favorite ways designers have used rattan in the pages of Southern Living. 01 of 20 Old-School Charm Carmel Brantley; Design: Ellen Kavanaugh; Styling: Matthew Gleason "I wanted the area to just seem collected with no specific style," says designer Ellen Kavanaugh, of her Wellington, Florida, ranch home's living room. A vintage Paul T. Frankl rattan chair and vibrant floral sofa ground the room in Old Florida whimsy. 02 of 20 A Spot to Curl Up Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong We called our 2019 Idea House on Crane Island, Florida, "the ultimate Southern dream home" based off spaces like this positively soothing screen porch area. The addition of a fireplace makes this outdoor den livable year-round, and a cozy rattan set is the perfect place to sink in. 03 of 20 Breezy, Beachy Kitchen Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller This Watercolor, Florida, home is a masterclass in neutral paint colors. In the kitchen, natural elements like rattan barstools and woven window coverings pair beautifully with green-gray cabinets and shiplap walls. 04 of 20 Sunroom Set Alison Gootee; Styling: Jenny O'Connor Throughout this 1931 Dallas home, cheery hues meet timeless style. Designers from beloved brand Madre used a beachy green fabric and rattan furniture to define this sunroom space in an open layout. 05 of 20 Happy Hour Peter Murdock; Styling: Liz Strong Designer Emily Painter brightened up a brown, tired Palm Beach, Florida, rental and turned it into a true island escape. "You can't come to Palm Beach without encountering rattan," she says. This rolling bar cart was a vintage find. 06 of 20 Daybed Dreams Dane Tashima; Styling: Page Mullins When New Orleans designer Grace Kaynor was entrusted with warming up the interior of a 100-year-old Pass Christian, Mississippi, pink beach cottage, she knew she wanted to honor the natural wood walls, floors, and ceilings. Those rich bones would need casually elegant furniture and décor. "We purchased a new rattan daybed with plans to re-cover its tufted mattress and add our own custom bolsters and accent pillows," says Kaynor. "The more polished embroidered fabric we chose gave the piece the über-custom look we desired." 07 of 20 Inviting Escape Laurey W. Glenn Editor in Chief Sid Evans turned a small, underused porch into the ideal spot to sip an afternoon cocktail or read a book. The 130-square-foot space couldn't fit a full dining table or sofa, so he chose four chairs with leather-wrapped rattan fretwork "that remind me of an old fishing camp" and arranged them in a conversation-friendly circle. 08 of 20 Sleep Tight Peter Murdock; Styling: Liz Strong "I wanted it to feel like a true tropical getaway," says designer Emily Painter of the guest bedroom in her remodeled Palm Beach, Florida, rental. There's no quicker way to set the scene for a seaside snooze than with a coat of coral paint (in Benjamin Moore's Salmon Peach) and a vintage rattan canopy bed. 09 of 20 A Clean Slate Alison Gootee; Styling: Jenny O'Connor In an otherwise bright and patterned Dallas home, the calming white and blue kitchen offers a soothing breather. "A kitchen creates its own clutter, so it's nice to keep the look clean," says designer Mia Brous. Rattan and plastic combine into an easy-to-wipe-down barstool that bumps up the texture in the room. 10 of 20 Keep The Good Stuff Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Frances Bailey "The rattan furniture is from my mom's collection of 'good stuff.' I redid the cushions in a Sunbrella fabric, so we're not dragging them in and out of the weather," says Haile McCollum, who revived a tired, old beach cottage in St. Teresa, Florida with her "white paint strategy" and a mix of vintage treasures like this set. 11 of 20 Sunny Seating Laurey W. Glenn Designer Sarah Bartholomew showed us how to master classic Georgian style with the design in this timeless home. In a living room that's otherwise on the dressier side, a pair of rattan club chairs next to a bay window create a sunroom-like moment. 12 of 20 A Warm Welcome Carmel Brantley; Styling: Matthew Gleason; Rug: Courtesy Heir Looms Vintage Rugs Designer Ellen Kavanaugh's Wellington, Florida, ranch-style home celebrates Old Florida charm in every corner, starting with the cozy entry. She defined the space with a clear cypress ceiling with a limewash finish, a gift from her father who owns Florida Cypress Wood Products. An ornate mirror and rattan bench provide a perfect blend of high-and-low that sets the tone for the entire house. 13 of 20 Sitting Pretty Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller In a neutral Watercolor, Florida, home that's full of design inspiration, one of our favorite spots is the sitting area off the main bedroom. A vintage rattan chair found on Etsy for a steal adds a bit of beachy whimsy to an otherwise feminine, elevated space. 14 of 20 A Stylish Setup Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Lydia Pursell A well-stocked (and stylish) bar cart is a sure sign of a good host. Because it's sturdy, rattan is a great material for a bar cart. Additions like wheels, bottle holders, and multiple shelves are practical and pretty. Now all you need is our editor-approved advice for styling your perfect bar cart. 15 of 20 Go All Out Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong Interior designer Andrew Howard decked his Cape Cod-style Jacksonville, Florida, home out in big doses of color and bold patterns, which isn't a secret in the guest room. A vintage rattan four-poster bed and side table are just quirky enough to play well with an exuberant wallpaper and ceiling paint color. 16 of 20 A Chic Place to Play Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong This playroom from our 2019 Idea House on Crane Island, Florida, isn't just meant for the kids. Game tables with acrylic tops can be used for working, playing, or dining. Botanical prints and rattan and bamboo chairs keep the look coastal. 17 of 20 A Collected Outdoor Space Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elizabeth Demos Accessories designer Winslett Watson didn't take any shortcuts when creating her family's dream farmhouse on Georgia's Vernon River, but that doesn't mean every aspect was a splurge. The bamboo and rattan pieces on the back porch were inherited from her great-aunt and reupholstered with hardy outdoor fabric, and she grabbed the table at a thrift sale for $10. "This is truly our 'den,' " Winslett says. "We live here, especially around the fireplace." 18 of 20 A Classic Sleeping Porch Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Our 2017 Idea House in Bald Head Island, North Carolina, is the ultimate dream beach house. And no Southern home on the water is complete without a sleeping porch, right? This one uses a fantastical combination of natural rattan furniture and bright colors. 19 of 20 Texas Sun Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Everything is bigger in Texas, including our biggest before and after of all time, the 2018 Idea House. "When it's too hot to be outside in Austin, people still want to be in sun-filled areas," says designer Meredith Ellis, who conceptualized this room to mimic being on vacation. "It's also the place where you can sit and have a drink after the kids are in bed." Dark rattan furniture and natural fabrics work to create that getaway vibe. 20 of 20 A Place to Wind Down Dane Tashima; Styling: Page Mullins This 100-year-old Pass Christian, Mississippi, beach cottage is full of spots to sit a spell. The best seat in the house just might be this rattan rocker, placed ever-so-conveniently next to the sideboard that serves as a bar. 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