Shopping for Wicker Furniture

Wicker furniture is on sale on the internet, in specialist stores, garden centres, high street shops, and for lovers of the more traditional look, antique or second hand shops are worth a browse.

The Internet

There isn’t a more convenient way to discover what is on offer than browsing the internet. You will find quite literally hundreds of outlets around the country offering large and small ranges of furniture at all prices.

They offer the opportunity to gauge what kind of furniture appeals to you, will fit into your home and… not bust the budget.

While you do get the opportunity to send for catalogues and see swatches of materials, it is still a good idea to go and see for yourself what is on offer - which many sites invite you to do.
 
Garden Centres

Every spring garden centres bloom with colourful garden furniture. Many offer ranges of cane, rattan or wicker furniture. They give the opportunity to see for yourself what is on offer, and what you can afford. Some will use conservatories as a way of showing off the furniture, which is a good way to imagine for yourself what the furniture will look like in your home.

Chain Stores

These come in all varities from the large DIY sheds to high street names known to everyone. They often have a large choice on offer and perhaps the opportunity to mix-and-match. The DIY stores especially will often have discounted certain lines to attract customers in.

Secondhand Shops, Auctions and Sales

Wicker and cane furniture has been popular for many years, so the kind of outlet that handles home clearances, or trades in second hand goods could well be a good source of cheaper furniture. Be sure to inspect the furniture carefully before buying. If it has been around for several years it may have become damaged.

Auctions are always a favourite when bargain hunting. But do ensure that you inspect anything you want to buy very carefully before purchasing it. Go along on the viewing day, and if the pieces you are interested in are difficult to get to, ask a member of staff to help. Also set yourself a budget, it is so easy to get carried away with the excitement of bidding.

Specialist Shops

Some businesses sell nothing other than wicker and rattan furniture. They will not only be an excellent source of products but will also know a great deal about the product.

They will be able to advise on care, where the product is best used and exactly what materials they are made of.

Some Thoughts on Buying

If you want second-hand furniture give it a good check over before buying. Rattan or wicker can deteriorate over the years so be careful of what you are buying. On the other hand some of it was made so well in the past that it will still have a great deal of life in it.

If you see something that seems cheap (when buying new or second hand) it could be that the quality just isn’t there. Again, give it a thorough examination and compare it against other more expensive brands.

Things to look for:

• How sturdy is the frame?

• How good is the weaved part of the furniture, is it robust enough to stand up to wear and tear? and

• Ensure that the furniture has been well made. Check that joints fit well and are secure, and that the weaving of the wicker isn’t loose as this could lead to problems as the furniture wears.

You want your wicker furniture to last for many years, so investing as much as you can afford from the outset is a good idea.