Ex-Display and Clearance Rattan Garden Furniture: A Buyer's Guide

Rattan sets carry a big markup when new, which is exactly why they turn up so often on the ex-display and clearance market. A set that has sat in a garden centre display or been used for a single showroom season is usually in good shape, and the price drop can be steep. If you are happy to buy last year's colourway rather than the newest one, you can furnish a patio for a fraction of the new cost. Start with the rattan furniture listings and work out which style actually suits your space before you get pulled in by a headline discount.

The main types, and who they suit

Most rattan sets fall into three shapes. Knowing which one fits your garden saves you buying something that swallows the whole patio.

• Corner sets. An L-shaped sofa arrangement built around a low table, usually with a stool or two that tuck underneath. Good for lounging and for gardens where you want a fixed seating zone. They are big, so measure the corner they are going in before you commit.
• Dining sets. A table with chairs, sometimes six or eight seats, built for actually eating outside. Some come with a glass or polywood top and a parasol hole. These take up a defined footprint and work well on a patio or decking.
• Sofa sets. A two or three-seater sofa with matching armchairs and a coffee table. More flexible than a corner set because you can move the pieces around. A sensible choice if you rearrange the garden or bring cushions in and out a lot.

If you are still deciding, browse the wider garden furniture category too, since a metal or wood set might suit a small garden better than a bulky corner unit.

Synthetic all-weather rattan versus natural

This is the one thing to get right. Natural rattan is a woven palm fibre and it belongs indoors or under permanent cover. Leave it out in a British winter and it splits, goes mouldy and unravels. Almost everything sold as garden rattan today is synthetic, meaning a PE or resin weave over an aluminium or steel frame. That is what you want for outdoor use.

When you read a clearance listing, check for the words all-weather, PE rattan or resin weave. Aluminium frames are the pick because they will not rust, though they cost a little more. Steel frames are fine if they are properly powder-coated, but a chip in the coating can start rusting, so look closely at any ex-display piece that has been handled a lot. Run your hand along the weave in the photos or in person and check for flat, brittle strands, which is a sign of cheaper flat-weave rattan that cracks in cold weather. Round-strand weave tends to last longer.

Cushions and covers

Cushions are where an ex-display set can let you down, so treat them as a separate item. Showroom cushions may be faded on the side that faced the window, and outdoor display cushions can hold damp. Check the covers zip off for washing, and ask whether the foam is quick-dry reticulated foam or standard foam. Quick-dry foam drains and breathes, which matters if the set lives outside.

Even all-weather rattan lasts far longer with a cover over it. The frame copes with weather, but a fitted cover keeps rain out of the cushions, stops leaf stain and cuts down on the green algae film that builds up over winter. A cover is a cheap bit of insurance on a set you bought at a discount. Buy one sized for your exact shape, since a loose cover flaps and lets water pool.

Winter care

Synthetic rattan does not have to come indoors, but a bit of end-of-season care pays off.

• Bring cushions inside or into a dry shed or garage. This is the single biggest thing you can do. Damp cushions are what ruin a set.
• Give the weave a wipe with warm soapy water and a soft brush before you cover it, so you are not sealing dirt in for months.
• Lift the furniture off wet grass or bare soil onto slabs or feet if you can, so the frame is not stood in a puddle all winter.
• If you have the room, store the whole set under cover. A dry set will look new for years longer than one left exposed.

Buying ex-display at the end of the season

Timing is everything with garden furniture. Retailers and garden centres clear stock hard from late August into autumn, because they do not want to store bulky sets over winter. That is when ex-display and clearance rattan is cheapest, and it is also when you have the least competition from other buyers who have already furnished their gardens for the summer.

A few practical checks before you buy:

• Count the pieces. Ex-display sets sometimes lose a stool or a cushion along the way. Confirm exactly what is included.
• Check the frame joints. Give it a gentle rock. A set that has been climbed on in a showroom can loosen at the joints.
• Look at the underside and the back. Display pieces get their best face pointed at the customer. The wear is usually round the back.
• Ask about collection. Corner and dining sets are heavy and awkward. Work out how you are getting it home before you agree a price.

Because ex-display.co.uk links you straight to the seller, you can ask these questions directly rather than guessing from a stock photo. Buying at end of season, from a clear listing, on a synthetic all-weather frame with the cushions checked, is how you end up with a set that looks like it cost twice what you paid. Have a look through the current garden listings and see what is being cleared near you.