The Studio by Nandita Manwani

The Return of Rattan: Why Your Wardrobe (and Your Home) Wants Cane Back

rattan shutter partition
Rattan shutters aren’t just a style statement—they’re a cultural return. A small rebellion against flat-pack, modular fatigue. A reminder that textures matter. That furniture can feel as good as it looks. And in an age where everything’s algorithm-generated and factory-made, choosing something that’s hand-woven, naturally grown, and beautifully imperfect… feels like a luxury in itself.

It’s 2025, and your grandparents’ furniture just became cooler than your modular flat pack bookshelf. Yes, I am talking about the humble, creaky, once-dismissed rattan and cane furniture that’s now storming back into homes with all the grace of a well-aged classic and the flair of a design-literate Instagram influencer.
Once relegated to the dusty corners of the storeroom or mistaken for relics of an outdated aesthetic, rattan and cane are now at the heart of modern interior styling. Especially when it comes to wardrobes, these airy, tactile textures have become both a nostalgic nod and a bold design choice.

A Brief History of Rattan: From Pickle Storage to Pinterest

Ask anyone over 50 and they’ll recall the unmistakable feel of cane chairs, or the rattan-front cabinet that housed decades-old pickle jars and rationed snacks. For a while, such pieces became outdated—pushed aside by sleek, glossy modular furniture with names that sounded like IKEA pseudonyms.
But design is always cyclical. What was once “outdated” is now “vintage”, and what was “basic” is now “bespoke”.
Rattan and Cane are the darlings of this revival—not just because they look good, but because they feel good. Their tactile texture, airy weave, and eco-cred make them irresistible in an era craving warmth, sustainability, and a little soul in our spaces.

The Rattan Renaissance: What’s in the Market Today?

With popularity comes options—and confusion. Today, the market is flooded with:
– Raw rattan rolls – pure, natural, and perfect for DIY projects.
– Synthetic rattan – weather-resistant, low maintenance, but a bit too ‘plastic’ for purists.
– Rattan-textured laminates – all the visual appeal, none of the soul (or breathability).
The offerings multiply weekly. It’s like a new fashion drop—except it’s for your wardrobes.

So, Which Should You Choose for Your Home?

– If you want authenticity: Go for natural cane or rattan webbing. It brings texture, breathability, and depth.
– If you’re afraid of maintenance: Sandwich the Cane Webbing in Glass. Though the Shutter weight will still need to be handled.
– If you want drama without effort: Consider textured laminates or synthetic cane for the visual effect without the upkeep.
**Here’s a Design Tip: Mix and match! Use real cane for a statement wardrobe or headboard and go faux for secondary cabinets.**

Where Cane and Rattan Work Best

– Wardrobe Shutters: A dream combo of style and airflow—especially in warm, humid climates.
– Room Dividers & Screens: Light filters through them like magic.
– Kitchen Cabinets: Not all the Kitchen shutters. Think rattan-front pantries with warm lighting.
– Vanity Units: One can bring a spa-like vibe with cane-front drawers.
– Headboards: Though this will sag with time, but it accentuates the warm fulfilling theme right into the Bedroom

What NOT to Do with Rattan

– Avoid untreated cane in wet areas.
– Don’t overstretch the weave.
– No cheap staples or flimsy frames – Teak or Sheesham is the Gold Standard
– Say no to synthetic if you crave authenticity.
– Don’t rattan-ify everything.

The Final Word: Nature’s Comeback Kid

Rattan shutters aren’t just a style statement—they’re a cultural return. A small rebellion against flat-pack, modular fatigue. A reminder that textures matter. That furniture can feel as good as it looks.
And in an age where everything’s algorithm-generated and factory-made, choosing something that’s hand-woven, naturally grown, and beautifully imperfect… feels like a luxury in itself.
So whether you’re renovating your home or just replacing that boring wardrobe shutter, consider rattan—not just for its looks, but for the story it brings with it.

Signing Off
Nandita
Nandita Manwani is a Practicing Interior Designer in Bangalore and is the Founder of The Studio by Nandita Manwani

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

Interior Design,Interior Costs in Bangalore,Interior Decorators in Bangalore,Interior design best practices in Bangalore

The 5 Most Googled Questions on Interior Design

Google sends us a monthly report on what posts on this blog get the most attention and readership. Over the

Interior Designers in Bangalore, Light Fittings Bangalore

Shopping at Chickpet & City Market Bangalore for Lighting for Home Interiors

Found my way to Chikpet/ City Market today after many many years. All this while I have been doing my

Interior Designer,interior designer in bangalore

The Interior Designer Called Pinterest

Over the last few months, I have had several conversations with customers about Pinterest. The most interesting one was with

Interior Design Best Practices, Interior Design Theme, Interior designer value, role of an interior designer

Exploring the Interplay: Furniture Design versus Space Design versus Interior Design

“Design Furniture – You create Convenience, Design a Space – You create Comfort, Design a Home – You create Culture.”

Best Interior Design Companies in Bangalore, Home Interior Designers, Home Interior Photographs Bangalore

More Photographs – Home Interiors Bangalore

The Bar Unit was the show stopper in this project. This is one of our initial projects in the year
Future Interior Designers,Interior Designers,Internship

Future Interior Designers – Join our Internship Program in Bangalore starting Jan 2021

We are shaking off the Covid stupor and launching our Internship program for 2021. Interested 3rd year Interior Design Students
An interior Designers perspective, Interior design, Interior Design Trends

Pandemic & Perspective – The Interior Design Challenge

The Pandemic is forcing Interior Designers to think differently. The doubling up of the home as an office is inducing

Living Room Interior Design

Some Photographs of my Home Interior Project at Mantri Serenity – Kanakapura Road Bangalore

This one was keeping me busy over the last 3 months, so apologies for not being too active on the

Interior designer bangalore

I AM

The idea for this post came when, during a design discussion, the lady of the house said “I AM a
Interior design, Sliding Door Wardrobe, Sliding Wardrobe Design, Sliding Wardrobes, Sliding Wardrobes Bangalore

Sliding Wardrobes – “Do it right the first time”

Sliding door wardrobes seem to be the in thing nowadays especially because they help save valuable space in small rooms
Modular Kitchen

Stainless Steel Kitchen or a Regular Modular Kitchen in Wood? Which Should YOU Choose for Your New Home

Stainless steel kitchens are gaining popularity in Indian homes, known for their durability, hygiene, and modern aesthetic. While traditionally seen
Home Interior Photographs, Home Interior Photographs Bangalore, Interior Design Photographs, Interior Designers in JP Nagar, Modular Kitchen Photographs

More Photographs – Elita JP Nagar & Brigade Gateway Malleswaram

Some project photos of our Interior Design work way back in 2010
Home Interior Work Project Pictures

Some pictures of Interior work done at Salarpuria Greenage

Some pictures that my client sent me last week of an interior project I did at Salarpuria Greenage nearly 3

Home Interior Designers, Sliding Door Wardrobe

The DIY Interior Designer Series Bangalore: Home Interior Design Best Practices Revisited

This blog is now over 7 years old and over these years a lot of what I have written about

Apartment interiors, Home Interiors Bangalore, Interior Decorators in Bangalore, Interior designer bangalore, Interior Designers in Bangalore, Top Interior Designer in Bangalore, Top Interior Designers in Bangalore, Turnkey home interiors

Tips and tricks to convert your rental home into a place of your own

Home Interiors and Decorators   This one is for readers who have or are in the process of renting out

Interior design best practices in Bangalore, Interior design versus modular furniture, Interior Designers in Bangalore, Modular Kitchen, Sliding Wardrobes Bangalore, Woodwork in Bangalore

Cutting Corners to make you a Pigeon Hole

How Interior Vendors cut corners to deliver on unrealistic budgets of customers. Practices in the Interior Design Industry that you
Interior Designers in KANAKAPURA ROAD, Purva Highland Interior Pictures. Economy Interiors

A few photographs of the Eco Package (Budget Interiors) executed recently at Purva Highlands Kanakapura Road, Bangalore

I wrote about the Eco range of interiors for 2/ 3 BHK apartments sometime back. Here are a few photographs

Interior design, Interior Design Theme

Residential Interior Design Themes – Simplified

Designing a home based on a theme aligns the space to what the theme fundamentally represents – things such as

Indiawood Exhibition

Feedback from IndiaWood 2012 Exhibition Bangalore

Folks ….some quick notes from the IndiaWood Exhibition (http://indiawood.com/) that concluded in Bangalore last month. Some interesting findings that you

Related Articles

Scroll to Top
Thank you icon

Thanks for your Interest

We will get back to you on this shortly