Rattan Is Having a Major Moment—Here’s How to Bring It Home

Nothing comes close to the look and feel of handmade objects. There’s an energy exchange between the material and the maker that yields an emotional response both visually (in the way it attracts the eye) and physically (in how it transforms a room). Rattan wicker is certainly one of those crafts that have always inspired me. I’m especially drawn to vintage rattan furniture and décor for their ability to infuse soul into a space. Their natural woven texture always adds much-needed juxtaposition against the slicker, smoother surfaces in a room—and that tension is so crucial in design.

You can see this throughout Athena’s homes from the rattan floor lamp in her Brooklyn living room to the sculptural vintage rattan chair in her Amagansett home (and you’ve probably noticed the rattan lampshades and stools scattered throughout both too!), it’s clear this humble material is treasured by the multi-disciplinary designer.

If you’re feeling inspired to bring this ancient beauty home, here are four tips to get you started on your rattan journey:

Mix and Match

Swap out old lampshades for the rattan variety to add texture, materiality, and warmth to a space. You can find inexpensive shades on Etsy, Chairish, and even eBay and it’s usually very simple to change the shade. Just be sure to take down all of the measurements along with the style of shade you’re looking for before you start the search—is it a clip-on shade or can the new shade just sit on top? If it’s vintage, always ask for more photos if the images don’t show how it attaches to the lamp.

Take the Alice in Wonderland Approach

Experiment with scale and proportions by affixing small rattan shades to large lamp bases and vice versa. This fusion creates a fun visual exploration for the eye not to mention depth, character, and a ton of personality.

Don’t Be Afraid of Heights

Play with varying heights and verticality to bring dimension and visual interest to your space. Take the rattan lamp on Athena’s Amagansett kitchen counter—this breaks up the clean lines of the marble shelving behind it while its woven finish brings touchable texture to the slicker surfaces. Another option is to bring in a large statement piece of furniture like Athena’s sculptural rattan chair in the Amagansett living room to juxtapose the low Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa. This high/low mix lets your eyes do the talking as you flit from one piece to the next, letting your natural curious nature lead the way.

Infuse Old With New

In my experience, vintage pieces always inject a sense of depth and an unspoken language that cannot be replicated and it doesn’t have to cost you either. The beauty of rattan, aside from its natural texture and color, is the price. You can usually source both vintage and new rattan furniture, stools, and rattan lampshades for a very reasonable price on Facebook Marketplace and Etsy—as always, the treasure hunt is worth it!

Above all, let your eye lead the way, experiment, play, and find joy in tracking down pieces that excite you to personalize your home. And since we love that process too, we sniffed out a few rattan pieces online to get you started—happy shopping!