Rattan & Woven Lighting

Rattan and woven shades don't block light — they perforate it. The gaps between the fibres throw pattern onto the ceiling and walls, so the fixture lights the room twice: once directly, once as shadow. It's the only material in lighting where the shadow is the point.

What's actually what

Rattan — a solid climbing palm stem, steamed and bent. Strong, holds its shape, the most durable of the group.

Cane — the outer bark of rattan, cut into thin strips and woven. What you see on webbed cabinet doors and open-weave shades.

Wicker — a weaving technique, not a material. Wicker can be rattan, willow, reed or synthetic.

Bamboo — hollow grass. Light, distinctive ridged nodes, less bendable than rattan.

Seagrass, jute and abaca — twisted natural fibres. Softer, more textural, and the least uniform in colour.

Open weave or tight weave

This decides everything about the light.

Open weave throws strong pattern and lets a lot of light through — dramatic, and glare-prone if the bulb sits at eye level.

Tight weave diffuses more and patterns less. Softer, more forgiving, better over a dining table where people look across at it.

Either way, the bulb matters: a clear filament bulb makes sharp, defined shadows; a frosted bulb softens them into a wash. Both are legitimate — decide which effect you want before buying the bulb.

Dry heated houses

Natural fibre is hygroscopic — it holds moisture and moves with it. In a Canadian house in January, indoor humidity often drops below 25%, and rattan can become brittle over several seasons of that.

Two practical notes. Keep woven fixtures away from forced-air vents and radiators, where the drying is fastest. And if a piece feels dry and brittle after a few winters, a very light wipe with a barely damp cloth once or twice a season helps considerably — light, not wet, since soaking causes its own problems.

Colour will change

Natural rattan lightens in direct sun and deepens in ambient light over years. That's normal. If you want it to stay exactly as it arrived, choose a stained or lacquered finish rather than raw.

What it pairs with

Rattan is the fastest way to add texture to a room that's all hard surfaces — glass, metal, painted drywall. It sits naturally with wood, with black metal for contrast, and with linen.

Bulb: 2700K. Warm light through natural fibre is the whole reason to buy one.

From a Canadian company that likes a fixture with texture.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between rattan, cane and wicker?

Rattan is the solid palm stem. Cane is its outer bark cut into strips for weaving. Wicker is a weaving technique, not a material — it can be made from any of them.

Does dry winter air damage rattan?

It can make it brittle over several seasons. Keep woven fixtures away from vents and radiators, and wipe lightly with a barely damp cloth once or twice a season.

Open weave or tight weave?

Open weave throws strong shadow pattern and more glare. Tight weave diffuses more and patterns less — better over a dining table.

Will the colour change?

Natural rattan lightens in direct sun and deepens over years in ambient light. Choose a stained or lacquered finish if you want it to stay put.

What bulb gives the best shadow pattern?

A clear filament bulb makes sharp, defined shadows. A frosted bulb softens them into a wash. Decide which effect you want first.