Wonderful Ways to Mesh Woven Furniture With Your Style
Weave some wicker or sea grass furniture into a modern or contemporary room to create a feeling of relaxed luxury
My design style tends to lean toward the beautifully odd, gently worn and subtly masculine. I'm not very Shabby Chic, but I'd fall in love with an old, chipped wicker footstool at the drop of the hat. Woven furniture doesn't have to remind you of Grandma's house — classic woven materials that have been around for centuries can be used in a thoroughly modern way. Sea grass chairs around a farmhouse table, a sleek bar with rattan and chrome stools, and wicker storage boxes at the base of a plush bed all have a relaxed luxury about them. These natural materials ground a space by taking the edge off formal furniture and inviting you to stay awhile.
Darker woven pieces create an exotic plantation feel — think India Hicks' home in the Bahamas. Paired with cream-colored cushions, these woven wingbacks are relaxed but elegant. Placing two side by side, as shown, works because of the size of the room and the bright white color scheme. In a smaller space, or one with deeper tones, a dark woven chair would still work but should stand alone when paired with an upholstered ottoman.
Use a generous amount of wicker to create a bohemian eclectic space like this one. Brightly patterned cushions, tablecloths and pillows on vintage woven pieces create an interesting, fun and inviting space. Textiles can also help disguise and protect damaged woven furniture — vintage wicker has a tendency to snap, so you might have a great chair with pieces missing here or there; adding textiles solves that problem nicely.
Woven Pieces as Mainstays
If you find a woven piece you love, use it as a mainstay. Today’s woven forms are scaled to work well with modern sofas and other pieces, but make sure your vintage pieces are large enough to work in your home too. A great rule of thumb is to measure a woven piece against an upholstered piece. Don’t skimp on the size.
The large scale of the sea grass wingback chair in this room perfectly complements the deep sofa. A boldly patterned seat cushion and throw pillow help this chair fit into the contemporary eclectic living space.
Tip: Sea grass chairs tend to be more comfortable than wicker for long-term lounging, since sea grass has a better flex and softer weave than wicker.
If you find a woven piece you love, use it as a mainstay. Today’s woven forms are scaled to work well with modern sofas and other pieces, but make sure your vintage pieces are large enough to work in your home too. A great rule of thumb is to measure a woven piece against an upholstered piece. Don’t skimp on the size.
The large scale of the sea grass wingback chair in this room perfectly complements the deep sofa. A boldly patterned seat cushion and throw pillow help this chair fit into the contemporary eclectic living space.
Tip: Sea grass chairs tend to be more comfortable than wicker for long-term lounging, since sea grass has a better flex and softer weave than wicker.
Swap out a few of your regular dining chairs with two (or more!) woven pieces to evoke a countryside feel in a transitional space. More streamlined woven furniture can keep your dining space formal but not stuffy. Mixing in a few woven chairs with more flair would work well with the raw metals and woods of an industrial-style space.
Woven Pieces as Accents
Add woven pieces to your living room by using them as occasional pieces, like ottomans, drink tables and benches. Outdoor faux rattan works beautifully for indoor occasional pieces — the sturdy material is great for busy family rooms and easily withstands spilled drinks and popcorn. Outdoor woven furniture can be taken outside and hosed off in a flash, but it still looks sophisticated.
This fantastic round woven ottoman is perfectly scaled for the sectional and adds a tropical island touch without feeling thematic.
Add woven pieces to your living room by using them as occasional pieces, like ottomans, drink tables and benches. Outdoor faux rattan works beautifully for indoor occasional pieces — the sturdy material is great for busy family rooms and easily withstands spilled drinks and popcorn. Outdoor woven furniture can be taken outside and hosed off in a flash, but it still looks sophisticated.
This fantastic round woven ottoman is perfectly scaled for the sectional and adds a tropical island touch without feeling thematic.
You can also add small doses of woven pieces, like the end-of-the-bed woven chest shown here. Vintage rattan pieces are often finished with leather buckles, brass enclosures and other details. If you find something you love, but it's the wrong color, simply prime and paint it.
Tip: When you're buying vintage pieces, make sure the wraps around the legs and ends are still intact and not unwinding. Wraps can be redone, but it's an expensive process. Buy pieces with as little cracking in the wicker as possible — wicker is a grass, so it does snap as the years go by.
Tip: When you're buying vintage pieces, make sure the wraps around the legs and ends are still intact and not unwinding. Wraps can be redone, but it's an expensive process. Buy pieces with as little cracking in the wicker as possible — wicker is a grass, so it does snap as the years go by.
Weathered wicker accents look beautiful in almost any setting. In a modern setting, something like a large sun-bleached basket can add a touch of romance without feeling too cliché. This vintage wicker table is the perfect style counterpoint to the two modern beds in this lovely space.
Tip: Make sure your woven furniture (whether vintage or new) is strong and flexible enough to work how you need it to. It wouldn't be a good idea to use a Victorian-era stool in a children's playroom, for example. Modern and faux wicker work better in high-use settings.
Tip: Make sure your woven furniture (whether vintage or new) is strong and flexible enough to work how you need it to. It wouldn't be a good idea to use a Victorian-era stool in a children's playroom, for example. Modern and faux wicker work better in high-use settings.
Wicker headboards — common to Victorian homes — are unbelievably beautiful as modern painted pieces. The intricate handiwork that went into curling the grasses and creating the "beads" and fantastical shapes doesn't exist today. Giving an antique or vintage wicker headboard a new life with spray paint will create a one-of-a-kind statement piece.
Remember, as long as you pair your vintage woven pieces with more modern furnishings, accessories and textiles, the space they inhabit will always feel fresh.
Remember, as long as you pair your vintage woven pieces with more modern furnishings, accessories and textiles, the space they inhabit will always feel fresh.
Woven pieces work in all styles if you get the mix right. For contemporary settings, like the one shown, woven stools can balance out sharp angles and add color to clean spaces. The newer woven pieces in this room were made with up-to-date techniques and materials that can stand up to the challenges of daily life.
Tip: You get what you pay for. If you are looking for woven pieces that will last, buy from companies that have great reviews. Check the warranty (if applicable) and return policy for merchandise that frays or breaks. Check the underside of woven pieces to ensure that the bracing construction is solid — this is imperative for chairs.