How to Use Wicker in Winter

Filed under: Your Home, Projects, Furniture

Don't toss your wicker furniture into the storage shed just yet. Find a place for these outdoor pieces all year long.

Wicker furniture is well-known for its use outdoors. Many assume that it's only acceptable indoors if you live somewhere tropical. But wicker wasn't developed by islanders -- it was the Egyptians who created it. They used reeds and grasses that grew in abundance alongside the Nile River. The wicker craze then moved on to Italy, China and Africa before making its way onto American soil.

It seems a bit wasteful to have a set of furniture that is used for only a few months, then stored away for the rest of the year. What if you could reuse some of your wicker pieces inside all year long?


But how, you ask. Well, there are a few changes you can make to your existing wicker. I also have some tips for buying newer pieces that will help them work year-round.

What you can do with existing wicker furniture:

Paint it. A little spray paint goes a long way. Let's say you have white wicker chairs but you want to bring them inside to accent your living room sofa, which happens to be dark brown. White wicker might not be very complementary, but after a can or two of burnt sienna or rust spray paint, you've got yourself brand new set of chairs.


Recover it. The greatest part of wicker is the removable, easy-to-cover cushions. Often times, wicker comes with just one simple seat cushion -- making for a very easy DIY project for anyone to do. You can change the cushion cover as the season changes by making removable cushion covers -- with Velcro or zippers. This way, you can remove the "winter" seat covers to expose your summery print. As you can see above, Audrey of Boongoggle got an old wicker piece on Craigslist, painted it and added a new cushion for a whole new look.

Use it piecemeal. An entire grouping of wicker furniture screams summer, but take one piece away and place it among wood, metal and glass furniture and it works. Whether a chair, table or sofa, placing one piece in an eclectic grouping will bring some fun texture and interest to a predicable space.

When buying new wicker:


Choose darker colors. Wicker comes in many different colors -- the lighter colors and whites being the most popular choices for patio furniture. However, if you plan on reusing your wicker indoors during the winter season, selecting a darker shade might make the seasonal transition indoors a bit easier. You don't have to go ultra-dark, but steer clear of whites and creams, which tend to bring to mind summer breezes.
Opt for clean lines. Victorian-style ornate wicker is still popular, but it's harder to match indoors with other styles. Selecting wicker that has sleek, simple lines and less detail might help it blend better with your existing furniture. For example, the wicker-look rocker, above right, from Home Decorator's Collection might be a better option than the one on the left.

Check out ShelterPop's recommendations for modern wicker or brush up on how to clean outdoor furniture with a guide from DIYLife .

 

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