Want In On The Vintage Rattan Chair Trend? 3 Styling Tips (& 1 Mistake To Avoid)

Do you love the look of vintage rattan furniture but struggle to decorate with these items when you get them home? Rattan is such a unique and stylish material; sometimes finding a way to combine it with more modern pieces can be tricky, especially if you aren't going for a boho theme. While you may need to get creative when using items like a vintage rattan chair in your rooms, it can work with a variety of themes without falling into the predictable designs. Making a vintage seat fit your style and layout comes down to pairing it with other pieces that will balance and complement, offsetting the traditional Bohemian vibe they are usually associated with. Because rattan already brings dimension to your space, focus on colors, prints, patterns, and other materials to surround it with, allowing it to act as a visual statement while contributing to whatever theme you have chosen.

So, is rattan furniture and decor coming back in style? It seems so, with the big shift toward vintage pieces making a comeback in people's homes. It comes down to finding new and creative ways to design with it. For example, if you wanted to pull a cafe or French theme through, pick a simple vinyl or metal side table to keep next to your vintage rattan chair, or pair two seats with a natural wood table. If you like a coastal aesthetic but want to avoid being too cliché with your layout, try combining more floral elements and white hues with the rattan to bring a granny coastal style to your home!

You can incorporate the rattan trend in every room, but first, you may want to decide on your theme or aesthetic. This will allow you to pick complementary pieces that will help create the finished design rather than working around the rattan and ending up with a layout you didn't want. When aiming for a rustic interior, pick out various furnishings and accents that feature earthy, grounded hues. Terracotta, mustard, and browns or tans will create a modern twist on the Bohemian vibe, pulling away from cliches.

Should you want to try something a little more sophisticated, pick out a few minimalist designs to add around your rattan chair. These could be simple, understated tables or even a more modern sofa that builds a balance between the relaxed aesthetic of the rattan and the sleek finish of the other pieces. This will also give more of a French or cafe vibe. Smoother furniture is another good choice to intersperse with the woven fibers, combining a clean aesthetic with a pop of texture. Florals can offset the more rugged finish of the rattan, so you could lean into a more nostalgic granny core design by using floral wallpaper, throws, and accents.

You are not by any means relegated to sticking with earthy tones or natural hues. In fact, by adding a bold color and patterns, you can create a villa-inspired aesthetic that feels more "jungalow" or tropical. Pair a rug that features jewel tones or burnt orange and reds with your vintage rattan chair to create a unique contrast. Use fabric wall hangings to add more texture, which also invokes a cozy and inviting atmosphere. 

Decorating with faux animal pelts and rugs could also be another fun way to give your interior a more shabby chic or western theme while still including the rattan. You could use more faux fur blankets to cover the chair itself, helping to soften the normally stiff material a little and make it more comfortable. Making this particular vintage piece work is about finding unique ways to accent it by thinking outside the box and playing with different textiles and palettes.

When you think of more traditional rattan pieces, they are very sparse and rely on the woven pattern to create their unique texture. That said, these furnishings can be very uncomfortable, especially if you aren't using any cushions to cover the rattan seat. This can also create a more sterile or uninviting element within your rooms, so styling your vintage chairs to be more cozy is imperative to a cohesive design. 

If your chair comes without cushioning or upholstery, find a pillow or soft seat cover to add. Use this as a way to pull through similar color palettes or patterns in your space, picking fabric that helps the whole layout flow. Because you are adding this piece rather than having to work with what you've got, you can ensure there are complementary elements in the cushion and other materials around it. If your seat does come with cushioning, you can always reupholster it to make it match your existing color palette. 

There are things to avoid when it comes to decorating with rattan furniture. First of all, you don't want to overdo it, or your home will end up looking like an antique shop or just generally outdated. While one piece can be curated and even act as a statement piece, overloading any room with rattan can make it come across as cluttered. Don't group more than two or three pieces in a room because this could create too much texture without other elements to properly balance them. If you do decide to go heavy on the rattan furniture, be sure to balance this with plenty of other soft furnishings and sumptuous textures. Using different sizes of furniture will also help to keep your space from becoming too one-dimensional

Rattan can also hold onto a lot of dust and grime, which will make your space a pain to clean constantly. The many nooks and gaps in rattan furniture can quickly gather dust, so you'll want to keep on top of this with a hand vacuum to avoid the space becoming musty. Make sure to clean cane and rattan furniture regularly, and thrifted pieces may need a little extra TLC when you first get them.