A rocking chair at first glance creates a feeling of comfort and real home comfort. There are many varieties of rocking chairs, the main defining criterion of which is the material: wood, vine, metal, rattan. In this article, we will talk in detail about how to choose the right chair from the rattan and what to pay special attention to.
Ratan characteristics
Wicker furniture has always been moderately popular and was considered a symbol of prosperity and comfort. This is one of the most ancient inventions of man - wicker products were created long before forging or woodcarving was founded.
Today in the interiors of city apartments and country houses you can find pretty rotary wicker chairs. The natural wood texture combined with lace wicker elements creates a very interesting effect that many modern designers actively use, making original and exquisite interiors at the same time. Ranhead shock chairs are able to make an atmosphere exclusive and luxurious, not at all overloading it with pompous details.
Fashion for wicker rattan furniture found a “second wind” not so long ago in Europe, when a tropical palmas-liana was brought there from Southeast Asia. This is a very long plant, the stem of which can reach 300 m. Ratan wood has unique characteristics - very porous, elastic and several times stronger than ordinary wood. It is ideal for weaving strong and durable furniture.
Most designers agree that rotational furniture is much stronger and more reliable than furniture from the vine. Moreover, the structure of the willow vine itself is not as elastic as that of a rattan, so the Rotan chairs (photo) are much more elegant and accurate. Under the influence of steam, porous vine wood can take the most incredible forms to the joy of furniture designers.
An important factor in favor of Ratang is that it steadily tolerates temperature and humidity changes, which is extremely relevant for the climatic conditions of the middle strip.
Natural rattan
Natural rattan can be of two types: purified and uncleaned. The purified rattan is a vine with which the bark was removed, and its smooth stem has an equal diameter along the entire length. Furniture made of such material looks very aesthetically pleasing and neat, differs in durability, and the creak is almost inaudible.
The structure of the unpeeled rattan is most reminiscent of a bamboo with a filled core. It is not such elegant products as in the first case, but their cost is much lower. Such furniture is usually covered with dark paint or varnish so that the cortex defects are not so noticeable. To the touch, the surface will be slightly tuberous and rough, the presence of shallow holes may be possible, but in some cases, such identity plays only in favor of the overall interior of the room. Such chairs are even smaller, since the bark plays the role of the buffer and takes part of the load, but the density of the bark makes the material less elastic.
Artificial rattan
Modern technologies have long allowed to create artificial fabric, wood and even stones, so why not make artificial rattan? This material repeats the structure of natural vines as much as possible, but made of synthetic components. Artificial rattan can be made on the basis of cellulose, a nylon reinforced thread, hardened rubber or plastic. The price of a rotan chapel depends on this.
Non -naturalness in the case of a rattan can be considered as an advantage, since from synthetic material you can make structures of any size and complexity, endowing them with the necessary characteristics.
By the way, artificial rattan costs almost 2 times more expensive than natural, but its price is justified by the advantages of the material:
- not afraid of moisture (can be left in the garden in the rain);
- withstands a large weight;
- does not burn out in the sun;
- saving of natural resources;
- made from fully processed materials;
- it is very easy to care for such furniture;
- long service life;
- artificial rattan can be of any color or texture.
It is because of these characteristics that artificial rattan furniture is so popular in restaurants, cafes and other public institutions. Despite the impressive cost, it will last much longer than natural and retain its original appearance.
Unlimited design capabilities of using artificial rattan allow it to freely combine it with other materials, for example, glass, stone, fabrics and even ceramics. This allows you to create real works of art and fundamentally change traditional ideas about wicker furniture. Imagine a luxurious rocking chair made of artificial rattan with marble inserts or soft comfortable fabric armrests-such a design has gone far from the current stereotype about the “grandmother's chair”.
Features of choice
Having dealt with the varieties of the rattan, you can start choosing a chair. If you are limited in funds, it is better to give preference to furniture made of natural Rang, unpeeled from bark.
Having determined the price range for yourself, you should compare the features of the interior in which the chair will be placed. If you want to buy it for a garden or an open veranda, you should give preference to artificial rattan products, since the natural will quickly burn out under ultraviolet and deteriorate from moisture.
For closed rooms, any kinds are suitable, but here you need to take into account the situation, the “mood” of the room, the color scheme. If you want to bring goodness and comfort to the interior, a chair with a high back of dark rattan will help you. For “light” rooms with large windows and light details, it is better to purchase neat wicker products without unnecessary pile of decorative elements.
You should also take into account the weight of a person who will sit on an armchair. Natural rattan can withstand weight up to 120 kg, artificial - up to 200 and higher (order chairs). Since the rocking chair is by no means static furniture, the height and weight of a person play a significant role in choosing a product.
The porous structure of the stalks of the rattan allows the furniture to “breathe”, slightly sitting under the weight of the seated one. It is thanks to this factor that the material has a unique amortization ability.
Ranning rocking chairs have one very important feature-when swaying, they creak quietly. And if in the case of wooden chairs or products from a vine, this may mean marriage (defect), then for a rattan this phenomenon is completely natural. If, after several weeks of regular use, the creak did not stop or remained heard only in some parts of the product, this may mean production marriage. In the early days, the chair will make characteristic sounds, “getting used to” the load from weight and rolling. The varnish can also give light creaks, but this is a temporary phenomenon.
Before buying a rocking chair from a rattan, you should definitely check the product for defects, chips, small cracks, the quality of weaving (so that all the elements sit tightly and are evenly located). If, during a cursory examination, you found gaps in weaving, such a chair will last much less than the due date.
Feel free to sit down in a chair and sway in it for a minute or two to evaluate the level of comfort and balancing. It is very important that the design is simultaneously stiff and comfortable, and also knows how to keep equilibrium well when swinging - it should not deviate or turn over.
The main points that should be paid to when choosing a rotan rocking chair:
- The seat should not be too soft (sagging under the weight of the body) or too hard (it will be impossible to relax and relax on it). It should be elastic and harsh, but no more.
- A well -assembled chair, even with strong rocking, will not deviate or lose balance.
- Make sure that the height of the back, width and height of the armrests are as comfortable as possible for your growth. Hands, neck and back when sitting on an armchair should rest, and not be constrained. The main task of the rocking chair is to relax the whole body.
- Check the integrity of weaving and joints.
- If you suffer from swelling of the legs or work on mobile work associated with walking, it is recommended to purchase a rocking chair with a special foot stand. Such a product contributes to the rapid removal of swelling and relaxation of the legs.
Choosing the right rocking chair today is not difficult-an incredible set of models of any price category and with different characteristics is presented on the market. All you need is to correctly compile a list of requirements for the future chair.
