Do-it-yourself wicker furniture: the benefits of creating

Recently, furniture made from natural materials has become increasingly popular. It is beautiful, environmentally friendly, has a special warmth, is durable, does not cause allergic reactions, and creates a special atmosphere of coziness and comfort. Wicker products occupy a special place in the furniture market. But furniture made independently is considered a special chic and source of pride.

It is beautiful, environmentally friendly, has a special warmth, is durable, does not cause allergic reactions, and creates a special atmosphere of coziness and comfort.

The benefits of making furniture with your own hands

Made with your own hands, such furniture has advantages and certain disadvantages. Among the undeniable advantages:

• light weight, allowing you to move it to any place in the room or area of ​​the site;
• does not require special care: it looks elegant and fresh, if you periodically wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge, this simple procedure protects the product from cracking;
• fits perfectly into any interior, adding lightness and sophistication;
• environmentally friendly, not emitting substances harmful to health into the surrounding atmosphere;
• when weaving is done correctly, it is durable and strong;
• complete freedom of imagination for home craftsmen;
• will significantly save the family budget;
• the opportunity to acquire skills that allow you to organize your own small profitable business.

Made with your own hands, such furniture has advantages and certain disadvantages.
Despite the undoubted advantages of wicker furniture, there are also disadvantages that must be taken into account:

• afraid of high humidity: cannot be left outdoors in bad weather;
• At the same time, the scorching sun will also not do any good: the furniture will dry out, warp, and lose its appearance, which will lead to a reduction in service life.

Light weight, allowing you to move it to any place in the room or area of ​​the site.

Operational features and rules for caring for wicker chairs

Careful operation and proper care will ensure a long service life of such furniture.

If you decide to choose a wicker model for your home, then it is wise to listen to the advice of experts.

• It is allowed to use the products in the temperature range from 5 to 40 °C and humidity from 70 to 90%.
• Wicker items protect from prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Contact with organic solvents is not allowed, since the surface is usually coated with a protective varnish.
• Hot cups and plates can leave unsightly marks on the surface.
• When installing outdoors, you should take care of creating a canopy that will protect the furniture from the scorching sun and unexpected rain.

Clean the product using a vacuum cleaner, brush or dry cloth made of cloth, flannel, or velvet. Abrasive products are not suitable for these purposes. Contamination in the form of lipstick and wine can be treated with a swab dipped in a solution of ethyl alcohol. Fat is removed using talc; it is advisable to carry out the procedure in the shortest possible time. Sprinkle the powder on the contaminated area and leave to absorb. If a single treatment does not give the desired result, it can be repeated several times with a new portion of talc.

The chewing gum is exposed to an ice cube and it is removed without any residue.

Linseed oil will help restore the cracked structure of rattan. It is slightly heated and applied to the damaged area until it stops being absorbed. Then wipe the product with a cloth, rubbing in any remaining product. After a day it can be used again.

If the chair is woven from wicker, you will have to remove the damage and repeat the weaving again.

To preserve the appearance, once a month the surface is treated with polish.

The web of cracks can be masked by treating with beeswax.

An unpleasant squeak occurs if the furniture is dry. You can fix the problem by covering the chair with a slightly damp cloth. In the future, it is necessary to ensure that the humidity level in the room is maintained, since excessive dryness is also harmful for such products.

Excessive yellowness will be removed by a salt solution, and stain will help restore the original color. The surface is first sanded with fine-grain sandpaper and the resulting dust is removed. Finally, a layer of colorless varnish is applied.

Deciding on design and construction

Structurally, wicker furniture can be:

• frameless,
• frame.

Fits perfectly into any interior, adding lightness and sophistication.

For a frameless structure, it is enough to use sticks. They perform the function of hard ribs. The difference between frame products is the presence of a metal base; steel rods are used for it. The weaving seems to be “attached” to them. Wooden poles provide stability and rigidity to the wooden structure.

Does not require special care: it looks elegant and fresh if you periodically wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge.

If home craftsmen are taking their first steps in weaving furniture, they should not take on complex products: it will be extremely difficult for an inexperienced craftsman to complete them, which will lead to numerous mistakes and disappointments; you need to start with the simplest ones, which give you the opportunity to master the necessary skills.

In order for the product to be of high quality and durable, you need to properly prepare the raw materials.

The furniture has several types of weaving:

Environmentally friendly, does not emit substances harmful to health into the surrounding atmosphere.

Wicker furniture in the living room of different styles and trends

Is it appropriate to use wicker furniture in a city apartment or house? This question often arises among people who want to change their interior, because products woven from rattan, jute, bamboo or sesal are very beautiful. However, concerns arise due to the prevailing opinion that they are suitable either for a summer house, or only for a few certain interior styles. In fact, wicker furniture really fits perfectly into the styles of romanticism, Provence, country, colonial, and ethnic, but this does not mean that it has no place in other interiors.

Set of wicker furniture for the living room with soft seats

The range of wicker furniture offered on the market is quite wide, so you can choose one item or set that suits any modern style, and this will be a good solution. Wicker furniture is strong, lightweight, easy to care for, elegant and durable. Properly selected, it will make a modern interior design more comfortable without disturbing the stylishness of the currently fashionable laconic design.

A wicker ottoman decorates the living room

Eco style

Modern wicker furniture made from natural materials goes well with natural colors and an abundance of plants, does not clutter the interior and meets current requirements for functionality, so it fits perfectly into an eco-interior. It is noteworthy that wicker poufs, sofas and armchairs are produced in such an unusual design that with their help you can create an ultra-modern interior, while using practically no items made from artificial materials.

Hanging wicker chair in an eco-style living room interior

High tech

Wicker furniture in the interior is perfectly combined with the most modern materials and futuristic designs. Sometimes she herself looks so unusual that the room with her resembles an illustration for a science fiction story.

Wicker living room furniture with classic elements and decorations

Minimalism

One of the most modern trends in interior design is the use of wicker tables, poufs, and armchairs in minimalist style interiors.

It is noteworthy that now furniture whose shape is close to ovoid or spherical is especially fashionable. Devoid of any frills, but with smooth soft shapes, cozy and comfortable wicker poufs, tables and armchairs are a real find for a minimalist interior.

Wicker furniture in the living room is complemented by a bookcase

It is noteworthy that wicker furniture can be not only natural or close to natural shades - it can be painted in the most incredible colors. Such painted items become ideal accents against the background of decoration and other furniture in soothing colors.

Cozy and compact wicker chair

Pop Art

It would seem that this bright style, in which priority is given to glass and plastic, gloss and shine, does not accept “braids”. In fact, painted wicker furniture pieces are quite organically woven into it, especially if, in addition to catchy colors, they have an original shape.

A large glass dining table can be diversified with wicker chairs with a backrest

Loft

Rattan or jute furniture ideally softens some of the roughness of loft interiors and creates an effective contrast with rough brick or concrete walls. Wicker items in a warm shade or decorated with ornaments look very good in loft interiors.

The tea corner is decorated with two wicker chairs and a coffee table.

Contemporary

One of the most convenient and comfortable interior styles is perfect for using wicker chairs, chairs, tables, sofas and any other furniture.

Luxurious and comfortable wicker furniture in the interior of the living room of a private house

Necessary materials

To make furniture from wicker you will need materials. It is worth noting that they can be different, and many are exotic and inaccessible to us: banana leaves, bamboo, water hyacinth, seaweed. But most of the furniture is made from rattan, willow twigs, bird cherry vines, alder, raspberry, and hazel.

Experts say that it is possible to harvest raw materials in the spring.

IMPORTANT! If you decide to use a vine, willow and bird cherry, which are particularly flexible and plastic, are best suited. Bird cherry is especially good in this regard.

When weaving correctly, it is durable and strong.

Excellent decorative elements are colored pillows and blankets of various colors.

Business registration

If you plan to work independently at home, you don’t need to register this business at first. But if you are interested in wicker weaving as a business, you need to officially register the enterprise.

To do this, you should register an individual entrepreneur or LLC. The choice of organizational and legal form largely depends on the planned scale of production. Also, be sure to obtain a permit from the fire department since you will be working with flammable materials.

Preparation of raw materials for robots

In order for the product to be of high quality and durable, you need to properly prepare the raw materials. Most often these are willow twigs.

1. For weaving, you can harvest material that is collected from living trees in the absence of buds; the most suitable time for harvesting is late autumn. You need to make it before the first frost - such raw materials are easy to clean and store dry.
2. Experts say that you can prepare raw materials in the spring, but you need to remember that you need to cut the rods before the buds begin to swell; if you are late, green leaves will appear on the new furniture.
3. You need to cut the branches at forty degrees - pruning will not harm the tree, and in a year or two new branches will appear.
4. You need to conduct a kind of flexibility test. The cut branch must be bent: if it does not break, then the raw material is suitable for the job. Thin vine used for fine binding of products is considered to be of high quality.
5. Thicker branches are used to make the frame.

The opportunity to acquire skills that allow you to organize your own small profitable business.

Required Tools

To weave furniture from wicker, you don’t need many tools, but you should have:

• knives and pruners;
• tape measure and measuring tape;
• various templates.

Afraid of high humidity: should not be left outdoors in bad weather.

We must not forget about the armrests, which, however, are made at the request of the master, but serve as an additional element to strengthen the entire structure.

This is the required minimum; with the help of such a set of tools you can weave simple and small-sized products.

The difference between frame products is the presence of a metal base; steel rods are used for it.

Expert advice

• Check the quality of the rods in advance. The easiest way is to wrap it around your finger; it doesn’t break, which means it’s of high quality;
• Do not use material with branches;
• The inside of the rod has no color. If dark or brown, do not apply;
• Don't make straight cuts;
• For the foundation, take thick twigs that were prepared in winter, and for decoration, branches from the spring;
• Prepare the material carefully: clear leaves, get rid of bark, sort by size and purpose;
• If you don’t want to tinker with blanks, buy a ready-made one in the store. But don't forget to check the quality.

Manufacturing process: technology and manufacturing nuances

In order not to lose interest in weaving furniture and not to spoil a large amount of material, you should not immediately “swing” at large and quite complex products - a sofa or a table. It’s better to start with the simplest “braids”, for example, a chair. It consists of several elements: a lower bench, a seat, a backrest, and armrests. To work, you will need willow sticks with a diameter of up to 30 mm and thin willow twigs.

Wooden poles provide stability and rigidity to the wooden structure.

The beginning of the work is the manufacture of the frame.

ADVICE. When working on a chair, you will need curved parts. To bend the rods, you need to soak them, and when they become soft, remove any irregularities and bend them on a prepared template and let them dry.

You need to cut the branches at forty degrees - pruning will not harm the tree, and in a year or two new branches will appear.

The beginning of the work is the manufacture of the frame. If a craftsman is taking his first steps in weaving furniture, it is better to use the frame of an old chair made of metal or wood to make the work easier.

You need to conduct a kind of flexibility test.

When working on a chair, you will need curved parts.

ATTENTION! We must not forget about the armrests, which, however, are made at the request of the master, but serve as an additional element to strengthen the entire structure.

But most of the furniture is made from rattan, willow twigs, bird cherry vines, alder, raspberry, and hazel.

The procedure for making a chair.

1. We make the frame. The frame itself is made of thick, durable sticks and a piece of plywood, which is used as a seat. One pair of sticks will act as the front legs; it should be 15-20 cm shorter than the second.
2. The legs are connected with self-tapping screws, the seat is nailed down.
3. Also, the curved elements of the chair back and armrests are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws.
4. The frame is wrapped with willow ribbons and can be secured with glue for strength.
5. The frame is braided using single weaving.

Bird cherry is especially good in this regard.

It’s better to start with the simplest “braids”, for example, a chair.

If desired, the resulting chair is treated with stain.

To make furniture from wicker you will need materials.

Chair made of wicker

Weaving a chair will require a little time and perseverance. The sequence of actions will be as follows:

1. Soak the vine until it becomes flexible and elastic for at least 2 hours.
2. Take the finished frame of the future chair, clean it and sand it.
3. Stretch the vine rods separately along the back and along the seat. The rods must be positioned strictly parallel to each other.
4. Use clamps to keep the wicker frame from moving while you work.
5. Attach the new rods at right angles to the ones laid on the seat and back.
6. Start weaving along the finished frame, maintaining the same tension on the rod while working.
7. Hide the outermost rod and secure it inside the base.
8. Check the work for strength. Now the finished chair can be painted and varnished.

Weaving a chair is carried out in several stages.

The final stage is decoration

High-quality wicker furniture practically does not need decoration: it is good in itself. If you want to add an element of creativity and “revive” it with bright colors, you can use willow ribbons in weaving, including dyed ones; they will be organically combined in the ornament of the product. Excellent decorative elements are colored pillows and blankets of various colors.

If home craftsmen are taking their first steps in weaving furniture, they should not take on complex products.

Thicker branches are used to make the frame.

Financial calculations

To set up a home business, you will have to spend a certain amount.

Main expenses:

• Taxes;
• Renting a retail outlet or promoting a website on the Internet;
• Transportation costs for finished products.

You can cut costs if you reach an agreement with stores and sell your products. As a result, you can save on renting a retail outlet and transporting products.

For example, in one day you make 2 tables for 6 thousand rubles. For the sale of products, you will pay the store 20% of its cost, as well as 6% tax for conducting business activities. For a month it will be approximately 35 thousand rubles. This is your net income.