It’s rustic yet refined. It's natural and yet able to be woven into patterns both delicate and durable. We're talking about rattan—an old school material that's suddenly feeling very fresh. Lightweight and naturally bug-resistant, it's surprising strong, which is why it's been used in baskets for centuries. It's got a bohemian quality that brings some of the outside indoors and allows you to add some sculptural texture to familiar pieces in your home.

It can be woven in all sorts of patterns, from lightweight cane designs to more chunky styles. But it's clear that this isn't your grandparents' old wicker. Able to be bent and curved, rattan takes on many wonderful sinuous forms. From accent chairs and storage pieces to consoles and coffee tables, designers and interior brands are utilizing the material in new ways to take advantage of its adaptability. Turns out, the woven material shows interesting shadows when used in a lamp shade and that its natural opacity makes for an ideal way to stash speakers and other tech gear in a media cabinet. It might not be the first thing you gravitate towards when shopping for your place, but let us make the case for introducing some woven furniture into your interiors.