Wicker furniture creates a special sunny mood in the house. It is not only beautiful and elegant, but also durable and comfortable. Despite the apparent complexity, you can make such furniture yourself. The main thing is to know some of the features of weaving.

The most popular material for wicker furniture is willow.

Preparation of raw materials for work

The branches of many plants are used for weaving, but the most popular is willow. The thinner the core of the rod, the better the quality of the raw material. Rods with a thick core are also suitable for work. They are used to make the basis for large products. But for openwork and airy creations, it is best to choose a material with a thin “heart”. When harvesting, you should also pay attention to the width of the willow leaf. The narrower it is, the more elastic the vine will be and the more openwork the weaving will be.

Raw materials can be harvested from October until the onset of severe frosts, as well as in the spring. During this period, the rods are well cleaned.

Tools for weaving from willow: A - knife, B - pinch pin, C, D - splinter and work with it, D - flat planer, E - edge planer.

Before you start making furniture from willow, you should decide how it will be made. There are two types of wicker furniture: frameless and stick. The peculiarity of the first type is that ordinary sticks are used in the manufacturing process. In the finished structure they play the role of stiffeners. In products made by the second method, a supporting structure is constructed from sticks.

You can weave furniture in different ways. The main types are single, openwork and combined weaving. They allow you to create both integral surfaces and create patterns.

To fasten parts of wicker products, two types of joints are used: detachable and permanent. The first method will be convenient when you plan to disassemble the furniture, for example, for transportation. However, it should be noted that it is rarely used. The second type of connection is more popular. In this case, conventional fasteners (nails, glue) are used, which makes the finished structure more durable. Plus, this method is much easier to use, especially for a novice weaver.

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Frame making

You can make any thing from willow branches with your own hands. A small wicker sofa will always be appropriate as a country yard, and on the balcony in a city apartment. To make one like this necessary thing, you need to prepare. To work you will need:

1. Willow twigs.
2. Strong sticks with a diameter of 25-30 mm.
3. Sandpaper.
4. Hammer.
5. Sharp knife.
6. Secateurs or scissors for cutting twigs.
7. Roulette.
8. Self-tapping screws and small nails for fastening.
9. Hacksaw.
10. Glue.
11. Screwdriver.
12. Stain.
13. Foam rubber and fabric for draping the seat.

First you need to prepare the material. Remove the bark from sticks and twigs and leave them to dry. Before starting work, lightly sand the raw material to protect your hands from splinters.

Elements of wicker furniture frames: 1 – sub-brace, 2 – sub-brace, 3 – crosspiece, 4 – horseshoe-shaped leg, 5 – U-shaped leg, 6 – I-beam, 7 – I-beam with two longitudinal rods.

Making a sofa begins with creating a frame. For the future seat, 4 blanks are cut from prepared sticks: 2 x 600 mm and 2 x 400 mm. You need to fasten them together with self-tapping screws to form a rectangle.

To make the sofa more stable, it is better to install 3 legs in front and behind. For the front legs, cut blanks of a length that corresponds to the distance from the seat to the floor, for example, 400 mm. They should be attached with self-tapping screws to one side of the seat frame at an equal distance, in this case every 200 mm.

As for the rear legs, then the height of the backrest must be added to the height from the seat to the floor. For example, a height of 250 mm is selected. Then you should prepare 2 legs of 650 mm each, which will be fixed on the sides. It is better to make the leg that will be installed in the middle higher, for example, 750 mm. This will allow you to make the back with a beautiful curve. Attach the legs to the seat frame.

To decorate the backrest, you need to cut a blank that will be longer than the seat. Using self-tapping screws, secure it to the upper ends of the rear legs. The result will be a back in the form of an arc.

The frame needs to be stiffened. The same sticks that were used for the frame itself will act as stiffening ribs. Be sure to mount them at the same height. First, the lateral and middle legs are fastened together. To secure these stiffeners, it is necessary to attach 2 blanks along the length of the seat. The next step is to connect the outer legs with the middle back one. The blanks are attached diagonally. The edge that will be attached to the outer legs should be positioned at the level of the rib that fastens the back and front legs, and the other should be slightly below the seat.

Wicker furniture business can be called today a relevant niche for manufacturers in the domestic market. Wicker furniture is bought not only for furnishing country houses. Openwork wickerwork looks beautiful in cafes, saunas, ethnic restaurants or summer areas. Looks good wicker furniture to order and in apartments where there is a recreation area. Furniture woven from rattan or willow wicker is handmade, which is always in demand due to its originality and environmental friendliness.

Wicker furniture

Despite the fact that wicker furniture is characterized by high profitability and low cost, the niche of wicker products is actually empty and is filled with expensive imported products. Therefore, it makes sense to occupy this niche and start own production wicker furniture. Equipment and raw materials can be obtained easily, and it is only a matter of talent and desire.

Types of handmade meli

In terms of the materials used for its production, wicker furniture is divided into several categories:

Furniture made entirely from plant materials;
Furniture made from wood with decorative braiding;
Wicker furniture in combination with other elements. For its production, metal, plastic, plywood, soft elements for sitting, etc. are used;

Furniture weaving technique allows you to produce products such as:

Chairs and stools. These products are rigid and non-separable;
Armchairs, sofas, etc.;
Sun loungers, tables;
Whatnots
Wardrobes and chests of drawers

Materials for furniture production

Production of wicker furniture carried out from climbing plants, which have a dense and flexible structure. Wicker furniture is made from the following types of raw materials:

Willow raw materials. This is the general name of the material that is prepared from plants such as vine, willow, willow, willow, etc. Three-year-old rods are used to make the frame. For the weaving itself, an annual vine is used.
Pine, spruce and cedar roots. This raw material is harvested at logging sites.
Birch bark. This material is a layer of birch bark. It is used for weaving decorative components. This raw material is harvested in spring and summer, from trees that are intended for felling. Birch bark itself has a beautiful pinkish or yellowish-white hue that can be dyed. Birch bark combines beautifully with materials such as wicker or rattan.
Rattan. This raw material is prepared from palm shoots.
Bamboo. It is prepared from bamboo grass itself.
Linden bark. This is a raw material, which is a bast, which consists of ribbons. Each tape has a different width and is used for decorative weaving, as well as for connecting individual elements.

Training video on making wicker furniture

The most popular raw materials for weaving furniture today are willow and rattan. The full cycle of furniture manufacturing consists of the preparation of rods and their processing, which includes sanding and drying. However, you can use ready-made raw materials, which have already been cleared of bark and processed, in order to give the rods the desired size and shape. Ready-made material for the production of chairs, sofas and armchairs is also available for sale. This material is made from reed fiber or rattan bark. The raw materials are split into fibers, from which fabrics are woven on special machines. Finished canvases are sold in rolls.

The wicker furniture business has its advantages, among which the main factor is accessibility. You will be able to produce furniture both on an industrial scale and organize the production of wicker furniture to order. This will depend on the volume of sales and the number of employees.

Is this business worth doing?

According to statistical data from 2012, the production of wicker furniture in the domestic market exceeded the mark of 50 million rubles. It is also necessary to take into account many artisanal workshops that do not officially register their business, so real indicators will differ greatly from statistical ones. However, the trend of active development of this market is obvious. In just one year, from 2011 to 2012, the production of wicker furniture increased by 35 percent in monetary terms. The reasons for this growth include active growth country house construction, despite the fact that the owners of new houses do not purchase individual pieces of furniture, but entire sets. There is also a tendency to abandon plastic furniture, which until recently was considered the most comfortable country furniture. It is being replaced with much more comfortable, wear-resistant and, most importantly, environmentally friendly furniture.

In the wicker furniture market, Asian countries are traditionally the leaders. Russia does not occupy any place in this list, since domestic production of wicker furniture is only 35 percent, the rest is imported.

Wicker furniture business has undeniable competitive advantages. It is low cost of raw materials and a large number of work force, who is trained in weaving techniques. This business can be supplemented with machines, which, of course, reduce the quality of weaving, but increase production volumes. In addition, in many Asian countries the export of raw materials is prohibited, and strict restrictions are placed on the export of furniture. Therefore, in the domestic market, local raw materials are most often used.

The structure of the domestic wicker furniture market is as follows:

58 percent – ​​rattan furniture
31 percent - furniture made of wicker;
7 percent – ​​bamboo furniture;
4 percent - furniture from other raw materials.

Industry prospects

The wicker furniture market has prospects. The development trend of this industry looks like this:

Replacement of imported raw materials with domestic ones.
Reducing imports. Since 2012, Indonesia has banned the export of rattan raw materials. This factor has reduced the production of wicker furniture by manufacturers in other countries that do not have their own raw material base. Therefore, many workshops, especially in China, began to produce furniture from bamboo or an artificial substitute. European manufacturers began to specialize in the production of furniture made of wood with decorative braiding.
Application of machines for serial production of wicker furniture.
Monitoring market trends. Domestic manufacturers can quickly respond to changes in consumer demand.
Development of a new design of wicker furniture. Domestic manufacturers have this opportunity, and it will allow consumers to understand that custom-made wicker furniture is only good for the street or for the garden. Abroad, wicker furniture has long been popular, as it is recognized as the most environmentally friendly and comfortable. Some sets of wicker furniture from well-known manufacturers cost as much as luxury furniture sets. On Russian market This direction is just beginning to develop. According to experts, the wicker furniture market is growing by 30 percent every year.

Equipment for making wicker furniture

Production of wicker furniture used hand tool or machines. It depends on the complexity of the weaving. The weaver works at a stable table, which has drawers for tools. Tools for the production of furniture from curling raw materials include:

Hand saws
Tool for sharpening ribbons - shmol
Strugi;
Steel plates for straightening or bending rods - female chisels;
Steel plate in the form of a cone for leveling wicker rows - iser
Chisels, drills, drills and screwdrivers
Knives, etc.

If we talk about automated production, then at the moment it exists. You can work on prototype looms. For natural materials, such machines turned out to be unjustified in terms of quality. A simple fabric woven on a machine is subject to deformation after stitching. In order for the fabric to fit tightly around the frame, it must be woven by hand. So take advantage and get started your own furniture weaving business in order to occupy this empty niche in time.

The fashion for light and beautiful pieces of furniture made of wicker or rattan is experiencing a new rise. Surely you want to diversify your interior with something special. Do-it-yourself wicker chairs, tables or chairs are what you need.

Features of wicker furniture

Story wicker furniture dates back thousands of years. Archaeologists often find it all over the world. Weaving from wicker and others natural materials plant origin was common in populated areas located near bodies of water. The proximity of suitable raw materials in large quantities contributed to the fact that people made most of the products used in everyday life on their own.

Wicker furniture was used more often in the homes of the poor, as the cheapest and most accessible option. But quite quickly wealthy people and representatives of the nobility appreciated its beauty, functionality and possibilities of use in the interior. Since then, not only single craftsmen, but also entire artels, and subsequently factories, have been engaged in weaving. There are even special schools of wicker weaving.

Prince Golitsyn brought the fashion for wicker furniture to Russia. Often traveling abroad, he appreciated the properties of wicker products and created an entire workshop for their production on his estate.

Wicker furniture can be a real work of art

Nowadays wicker furniture is very popular. Making it becomes a favorite hobby for many, even generating income. In addition, it has many advantages. These include:

• low cost, especially compared to products made from other natural materials;
• light weight, thanks to which you can easily move the furniture anywhere without outside help;
• environmental friendliness: wicker interior items not only look beautiful, but are also safe for health and do not have a specific odor;
• easy care: most often it is enough to wipe off dust from the furniture with a cloth dipped in water;
• durability, subject to high-quality weaving, performed according to all the rules.

True, there are also disadvantages that need to be taken into account. Furniture woven from wicker and similar materials is not resistant to the vagaries of the weather. In heavy rain it gets wet, and with prolonged exposure to sunlight and high temperature may dry out. This leads to loss of shape and disruption of the weave. Repairing a damaged product is very difficult. Therefore, it is not recommended to keep such furniture in open areas for a long time.

Nowadays wicker furniture is very popular, and many people are starting to make it at a professional level.

Types of wicker furniture

According to the structure and manufacturing principle, wicker furniture is divided into several types:

1. Frameless products. In them, the rigidity of the structure is ensured by strong stick-ribs.
2. Frame furniture, in which the body is made of durable material, such as steel rods. The metal parts of the frame are braided with wicker or other appropriate material.
3. Wooden furniture, which load-bearing frame made of wooden sticks that give rigidity and durability.

Pieces of furniture made of wicker or rattan - photo gallery

It is impossible to imagine a summer garden without comfortable pieces of wicker furniture A rocking chair is the dream of anyone who loves comfort Even the bed and the whole bedroom set can be woven from wicker or rattan A cozy basket chair with a low base will appeal to kids and pets A comfortable rattan hanging chair is a good place to relax after a hard day. An airy openwork set of a sofa, armchairs and table will decorate any dining room

Video: wicker furniture made of wicker and rattan in the interior

Weaving materials

Several types of materials are used in the manufacture of wicker furniture. Each of them has its own characteristics:

1. Willow vine is a fairly flexible and resilient material, but short-lived. Traditionally, common willow, broom, almond or goat willow (willow) are used. Some varieties are used for coarse weaving, others for finer work.

   

   Willow vine is the most common material for weaving

2. Rattan is a flexible and durable material from which interior items are most often woven. This liana-like plant is found in Asian countries and on the islands Pacific Ocean. Due to its high resistance to moisture and wear, furniture made from it is ordered for baths and saunas. There is also artificial rattan - a synthetic material that is a polyurethane tape. It is more pliable and easier to handle than natural wicker or rattan, and costs much less, so it is absolutely universal for wicker furniture.

   

   Artificial rattan is very durable and flexible, it is practically not afraid of moisture

3. Banana leaves (abaca), 75–350 cm long, were previously used to make ropes and ropes. Over time, their strength and lightness were appreciated, and the material began to be used for weaving furniture.

   

   Banana leaves are often used in furniture weaving

4. Bamboo, due to its rigidity, is not very common as a material for making furniture: it is difficult to weave. More often you can find decorative items made from bamboo shavings.

   

   Bamboo is very hard and difficult to weave

5. Water hyacinth is used because of its resistance to moisture and sunlight. But the technology for preparing the material is very labor-intensive: it needs to be collected, dried, compressed and rolled into rolls. The process will take six months, so it is better for beginners to pay attention to something simpler, for example, artificial rattan.

   

   Products made from water hyacinth are not afraid of moisture and sunlight

6. Seaweed. Furniture made from this material is not very durable, but it looks impressive. Most often, dried seaweed in the form of ribbons is used to braid furniture frames.

For weaving, you can take what is at hand - bird cherry, hazel, raspberry, alder or even nettle. The bird cherry vine is more pliable to work with: it is plastic, flexible and easily cleared of leaves and shoots.

Frame materials

To produce a stable structure that will last long time, we recommend using ready-made frames of furniture - chairs, sofas, tables, armchairs. They can be metal, wood, polyurethane foam. The principle of operation will be to braid the base, and you will have several advantages:

• saving of basic material;
• simplification and acceleration of the weaving process;
• additional strength of the product;
• increasing the service life of furniture.

How to choose the right material

Before preparing materials for weaving, read the recommendations from professionals in this craft:

1. Before cutting the willow rod, bend it tightly or even wrap it around your finger. Only those rods that do not break during such manipulations are suitable for cutting. They must be smooth, clean, without any defects.
2. Choose the longest rods without branches. The most suitable shoots are those that grow directly from the ground or from the lowest branch. As a rule, these are young annual shoots without knots and side branches, in place of which creases can form.
3. Take a closer look at the cut core: its diameter should ideally be less than 1/3 of the diameter of the entire cut. If the core is thick, red or Brown, discard the rod.
4. Make the cut at an angle with a sharp movement. Use a very sharp knife.
5. For the frame, choose thick rods that were harvested in late autumn or winter. Make decorative elements from branches collected in the spring during sap flow.
6. For shoots, good taper is very important, that is, the ratio of the diameters of the branch at the base and at the tip along the entire length. The norm is considered to be a thinning of the branch by 1 mm every 20 cm.

You can prepare the rods yourself. If you don’t have enough skills, time or desire, then purchase ready-made materials in specialized stores. You can use twigs with bark (green) or without it (white). It is easier for beginners to work with the first ones: they are more flexible. Cleaned branches can be given any shade or color using chemicals:

• hydrogen peroxide for a snow-white color;
• manganese solution - brown;
• iron sulfate - grayish;
• aniline dyes for dyeing in any chosen shade.

Bark-cleaned twigs turn white

Tools for work

Weaving from wicker is a labor-intensive task that requires scrupulousness. You just can't do it with your hands. You will have to stock up on a whole set of tools:

• special knives and garden shears for cutting and trimming twigs;
• ladder for sorting raw materials;
• large capacity, tank for soaking the rod;
• boiler for cooking and bleaching workpieces;
• squeezers for cleaning twigs from bark;
• splitters for dividing rods into parts;
• shof for obtaining planed strips;
• shmyg for figure processing, notching;
• iser for aligning rows;
• jigs for straightening frame blanks;
• pruner;
• measuring accessories - ruler or tape measure;
• pliers;
• saw on wood.

Weaving patterns and methods

There are several ways to weave furniture and interior items. Each combines decorativeness and functionality.

Weaving patterns - table

Name of weaving		Peculiarities
Solid thick	Simple	Single rods are woven between the posts. The position of each pond alternates in front or behind the braided post.
	Rope	Weaving is created from at least two rods. Each rack is surrounded by them on both sides.
	Checkers	The working rod (there may be several of them) braids 2 posts at once in a checkerboard pattern to the desired height. This is how the first page is created. The next rod repeats the same movements, weaving between the rows of the first strip. The third and fourth stripes are woven similarly.
Openwork	Diamond-shaped	The weaving is complex, creating geometric figures and open cell patterns.
	In the form of columns
	Chess
	Rosette
	Ring
	Spiral
Pigtail		The method is used for weaving decorative elements and in edge design.
Bending		This type of weaving is used to decorate the edges of the product.

Weaving methods - photo gallery

This simple weaving pattern is easy for beginners to master. The edges of the product are often braided Rope weaving is created from two or more rods Openwork weaving will give the product lightness, airiness and transparency. Using checkerboard weaving, you can decorate furniture with a three-dimensional pattern.

Making furniture from wicker or rattan

First, the vine needs to be properly processed to give it the necessary flexibility and strength. This process will be needed no matter what product you choose to weave:

1. Place the collected vine in large capacity with boiling water. Keep the material in conditions of moderate boiling water for at least an hour. After this, remove the bark.

   

   Prepared vine rods need to be cleared of bark

2. Fix the thick rods used for the frame base in special devices to give them the desired shape. For example, a rocking chair will need rounded runners. To achieve this look, lay a thick thick rod along a round object and secure it.

   

   Thick rods are given the shape necessary to make the frame of the selected product

3. Use a splitter to split thin vines into 3–4 parts. This is not difficult to do: make a cut at one end of the rod with a sharp knife, insert a splitter there and hit the back of it with a hammer. The sharp end of the tool will go along the entire length of the vine.

   

   Thin vines are split into pieces using a splitter

4. The resulting parts of the rod are called shanks. Pass them through a press until they look like braided ribbons. You can also use special device for planing vines.

   

   To obtain braiding tapes, use a special device or wood press

5. Place the thick rods in a fixed form and the tapes in the drying chamber, leaving them there for three days. There they will dry and take the desired shape.

   

   The prepared parts of the future chair need to be dried

Simple braiding of the frame with artificial rattan

It will not be easy for a beginner to weave something serious from natural materials right away and without mistakes. We suggest starting your training with simple things - stools, coffee table tops, ottoman covers - and using artificial rattan. Simple rectangular shape braided like this:

1. First of all, make a frame from strong boards. It consists of 4 legs and a frame. You don’t have to bother with treating its surface: the weaving will cover the entire product completely.

   

   The frame of the future product is made from boards

2. On the upper part of the product (seat on a stool, table top or ottoman cover) make reinforcement strands. You can make them from rattan by braiding or twisting, or use a thick ribbon with minimal tension. Secure the bundles with a stapler and secure them to the screws with a block for strength.

   

   Strengthening tourniquets are pulled onto the seat of a chair or ottoman.

3. Now start braiding. It is better to use dense weaving in a checkerboard pattern. Lay the rattan strip in one direction, alternating 2 short pieces with one long one. In this case, fasten the short ones with a stapler to the seat, and the long ones to the crossbar.

   

   Rattan strips are laid and secured to the frame in the required sequence

4. Having laid the first layer of artificial rattan, begin to weave ribbon into it. Alternate 1 long and 2 short sections. For convenience, use ribbons different colors. Each subsequent ribbon is woven with a shift of 1 ribbon to the left. Be careful, it is easy to get confused in the sequence at this stage.

   

   Rattan is woven into the base, choosing a simple pattern

5. Secure the remaining ponytails and trim off any excess tape. The seat is ready.

   

   At the end of the work, secure the remaining tails and remove excess tape.

6. Now let's move on to the sides. Take one long piece of ribbon and weave it around the sides in a circle. The length of the tape is difficult to determine, so if it runs out in the middle of the job, attach another piece to it using a soldering iron. The beginning of the tape can be attached in any corner under the vertical strip.

   

   The sides are braided in a circle with one long ribbon

7. Braid the product to the very bottom in a circle. When finished, carefully bend the remaining tails inside the product and cut off the excess.

   

   You can braid not only the seat, but also the sides and legs of the chair

8. You don’t have to braid the sides all the way to the bottom, but leave the legs. Braid them separately according to the same pattern. Add rattan strips to the legs in a vertical direction, sliding them under the braiding of the sidewall and securing with a stapler. Braid the leg in a circle.

   

   The legs are braided in the same pattern as the sides or seat of the chair.

9. The chair is ready.

   

   Every pet will be happy with such a versatile piece of furniture

The described instructions are universal: without legs it can be used to make an ottoman, and if you increase the width of the frame, you will get a comfortable coffee table.

Simple furniture with rattan braid - photo gallery

It’s easy to make a sun lounger from artificial rattan Even a beginner can weave a rattan chair with a backrest A good option country furniture - a low table with rattan braid You can make a laundry box out of artificial rattan

Braiding the tabletop frame - video

How to weave a rocking chair from wicker

You can weave a rocking chair from a vine. The chair may look like a regular chair. It can also be equipped with armrests. First, the frame is assembled, securing the parts with nails or screws.

You can weave a rocking chair from a vine

Then they braid it with flexible rods using glue for more reliable fastening. When the main part is done, rounded runners are attached. Make sure the structure is stable: rock the chair and check that it moves easily and does not tip over. The finished product is coated with furniture varnish or painted.

How to make a rocking chair from wicker - video

Vine braiding of a chair frame

The frame can be bought ready-made or made from sticks 15–20 mm thick. Due to weaving, the frame will not only take on a beautiful appearance, but will also be significantly enhanced. Stages of making a chair:

1. Fix racks made of rods 15–20 mm thick to the frame.
2. At the seating area, make a continuous weave of thick rods with a diameter of 10 mm.
3. Braid the back using a solid or openwork pattern.
4. Remove the excess and ends of the rods, sand the chair and paint it.

You can buy a chair frame in a store or make it yourself

Simple garden sofa

A light openwork sofa made of wicker will decorate your veranda or garden.

A wicker sofa, in comparison with a carpentry one, has two additional middle legs. They are attached to the structure frame between the side front and rear legs in order to protect the furniture from sagging and breaking the seat frame elements.

For the frame you will need sticks 20–30 mm thick of different lengths:

• 100 cm and 45 cm, 2 pcs. - for the seat frame;
• 40 cm - 3 pieces (front legs);
• 65 cm - 2 pieces (rear side legs);
• 75 cm - 1 pc. (posterior middle leg);
• from 125 cm - 1 pc. (for the upper arched part of the back).

To give additional strength and stability to the frame, stiffening ribs are attached between the legs at a distance of approximately 20 cm from the seat. To do this, you will need 3 sticks of 45 cm and 2 sticks of 100 cm. All elements are attached using self-tapping screws.

Operating procedure:

How to weave a chair from willow vine - video

Finishing wicker furniture

When a chair, table, sofa or other item is ready, all that remains is to give the item a marketable appearance. Finishing work are carried out in several stages:

1. Inspection for various defects, eliminating them: correct the uneven density of the weaving by slightly moving the rods, align the legs, cut off the tips of the rods and smooth out the unevenness with fine-grained sandpaper.
2. Bleaching and painting. To make the product white, it is treated with lime or sulfur dioxide. To give a different color, use regular paint. Decoctions of onion peels are also used, wolf berries, heather, alder bark or moss, if you like naturalness and environmental friendliness.
3. Varnish coating. In order not only to preserve the texture of the material used, but also to make it even stronger, apply 2-3 layers of varnish (each subsequent after the previous one has completely dried).

Caring for wicker and rattan products

Wicker furniture needs special care, which is due to the characteristics of the material used: wicker and rattan can become very fragile if used improperly.

Wicker furniture is a rather difficult product to repair. In the event of a breakdown, it is difficult to find a repairman who will undertake the repair. That's why proper care mandatory and necessary for products made of wicker and rattan.

The furniture manufacturing business has its own specific activity, since it is associated with manual work, and for this you will need masters of their craft. But even if a person wants to master wicker weaving, he can simply take a course and start working. And an entrepreneur, when opening a business, can hire craftsmen and provide them with work, which will subsequently lead to profit.

Relevance

Wicker furniture is considered:

• one of the extravagant decorative elements;
• excellent material for design experiments.

Many owners of private houses prefer to buy such furniture not only for ease of use, for example, in the courtyard of their garden, but also as an addition to the exterior of its entire territory.

The production of wicker furniture in Russia is a popular business. It does not require many investments, and its payback can occur within six months. At the same time, customers will be present in both retail and wholesale purchases. If you hire several workers, they can easily cover the monthly rent of the premises and advertising investments.

Registration and organization of business

In order to organize a business, it is necessary to collect and analyze the following factors:

• premises;
• raw materials and suppliers;
• equipment;
• technological process;
• staff;
• advertising and sales.

It is important to note those indicators for which costs will always be present. But there are also expense items that will only have to be spent on once. You should not be afraid to open such a business, since it has practically no materials that require write-off, and personnel management does not take much time.

In order to understand what is worth paying attention to Special attention, let us consider in more detail the main components of such a business.

Room

Important aspects for arranging the premises:

Key points related to renting premises:

• its cost will depend on the region where it is planned to organize furniture production;
• if you already have premises, this will be a huge plus, since the rent is about 30% total income per month;
• if the workshop plans to organize the work of several craftsmen, then in this case it will be easier to pay.

Raw materials and suppliers

First of all, you need to pay attention to:

• procurement of materials, as this is a rather labor-intensive and time-consuming process;
• quantity necessary materials (willow twigs, plates, sectors and tapes made from them, sticks for the frame and lumber of various types of wood);
• the possibility of purchasing ready-made material, then you will not need to waste time on procuring raw materials, but will immediately start making ready-made furniture;
• supplier, as they may be different. It is recommended to work together with one person in order to have a stable supply and, if necessary, purchase additional material, which may suddenly be required.

Equipment

When purchasing equipment, you need to consider that:

Technological process

The entire technology of wicker furniture production is well explained and practiced in wicker weaving courses. It is worth noting that it is necessary to train each employee and conduct training from time to time in order to improve the quality of manufactured products. The cost of the courses for each master is about 10 thousand rubles and lasts about 48 hours.

The technological process includes the following nuances:

• If we talk about the process of weaving vines, then the average time to complete one chair is up to 6 days;
• As a rule, in order to complete an order for one chair, only one master is enough;
• experienced craftsmen can complete an order in half a week, beginners can complete it in a week;
• training plays a special role, which is reflected in the quality of products;
• It is important to remember that the more products customers like, the more orders the company will have.

One of the laws of sales is the rule: it is more profitable to retain one client than to attract new ones.

Staff

Aspects of recruitment are as follows:

In order to achieve the fastest payback, you need to focus on the work of the craftsmen, especially on their quality. If all employees work in good conditions for a decent pay, then their level of efficiency will be significantly higher than that of those who are not happy with their place of work and are only thinking about how to leave it.

Advertising and sales

Business promotion can be carried out in the following directions:

After registration of an individual entrepreneur or legal entity and registration of all necessary documents, it's time to start looking for distribution channels. You can search for customers and buyers through:

• advertisements in newspapers;
• interior design studios;
• specialized exhibitions.

As practice shows, finding customers is not so difficult. The main thing is that the work is completed efficiently and on time. If you show yourself on the market with the best side and ensure price-quality matching, then there will always be orders.

Financial component of business

Of course, the financial part of such a business will play a special role. It is important to calculate all income and expenses in order to plan profit. Furniture prices must be calculated based on manufacturing costs. However, if an entrepreneur wants to have 15% of the profit, this amount is calculated based on the monthly cost of all manufactured furniture.

When calculating expenses and income, first of all, you need to pay attention to factors such as:

1. Cost of opening and maintaining.
2. The amount of future income.
3. Payback period.

Cost of opening and maintaining

The cost of opening and maintaining will include the following components:

• the cost of one chair is 2,000 rubles;
• monthly rent of premises - 30,000 rubles;
• purchase of the first batch of raw materials - 20,000 rubles;
• registration of all documents - 50,000 rubles;
• maintenance of a business card website - 3,000 rubles;
• courses and trainings for staff - 10,000 rubles.

These indicators are considered average for Russia. Of course, all the parameters that were described earlier are taken into account. Costs are calculated based on a workshop of three people.

Amount of future income

Income from the sale of one chair may vary. The retail price throughout Russia is on average 5,000 rubles for one wicker chair, and its cost is 2,000 rubles. Therefore, calculating the indicators for just one chair, we can conclude that expenses are only 40%, and income - 60%.

You can also take into account monthly indicators. As previously mentioned, the production time of one chair by a master is 6 days, so the monthly profit from one employee will be equal to 15,000 rubles.

Payback period

As for payback, such a business will require at least 1 year. If you increase your staff by two or more times, and at the same time train them and make them true masters of their craft, you can pay for such activities in six months.

In conclusion, it is important to say that such a business can be not only profitable, but also interesting. Craftsmen will love their work, which will affect their efficiency. It is worth noting that the entrepreneur himself must be loyal to his employees, since the entire business rests on their shoulders.

Despite the fact that today you can buy almost any furniture in furniture stores, it is quite difficult to find something to your liking. This is especially true for non-standard models, which are represented, in particular, by wicker furniture. Do-it-yourself wicker furniture is no worse than ready-made furniture made by professionals. The main thing is to thoroughly study the technology of its manufacture, and then an excellent result will not be long in coming. Furniture that you create yourself will be an excellent addition to your garden decoration and will also highlight the unique style and design of your garden. Furniture created using weaving technology is very aesthetically pleasing and reliable; these are its clear advantages over other types of furniture. Such furniture is not afraid of moisture and other aggressive influences.

Disadvantages of ready-made wicker furniture

Ready-made wicker furniture is quite expensive, it is inaccessible to the middle class of users, and this is its main disadvantage. But it looks very elegant and harmonious, so many people want to learn how to make it with their own hands. This is not only profitable, but also interesting.

For work you need to prepare the following materials and tools:

• fasteners;
• plywood;
• nails;
• skin

Before you start weaving furniture with your own hands, you need to clarify that it can be different types. Thus, there is frameless furniture, which requires the use of strong sticks that act as stiffeners for such furniture. Wicker furniture can be joinery-frame and frame, i.e. created from individual elements. In such products, duralumin tubes act as a frame, which, however, can be safely replaced with metal rods. Weaving is done between such rods. There is also stick furniture. In this case, the sticks are a supporting structure, and do not play the role of stiffeners. There are also semi-rigid and soft wicker furniture.

Preparing for work

Having decided to make furniture by weaving with your own hands, you should prepare drawings and study the basic methods of weaving:

• single;
• combined;
• openwork.

In combined weaving, several rods are used at once. To prevent wicker furniture from falling apart before your eyes in the first days of use, you should ensure reliable fastening its components. When working, you can use the following types of connections:

• one-piece;
• detachable.

When using a detachable connection, the product can be easily disassembled and, if necessary, quickly assembled. But this method is used extremely rarely. The second fastening technique is more widespread, because The result is a more reliable product. The permanent fastening method involves the use of:

• hammer;
• self-tapping screws;
• nails;
• glue.

The disadvantage of wicker furniture assembled using this method is that it is large in size; if it needs to be transported, it cannot be disassembled, which means it is more difficult to transport it to a new installation site.

Wicker furniture is made from willow according to pre-prepared drawings. To work, you need to stock up on reliable sticks with a diameter of 2.5-3 centimeters. This material is the basis of the furniture frame. First you need to prepare the sticks by removing the bark from them. They are then left to dry. The surface of the material should be sanded. This is done in order to eliminate the possibility of skidding during weaving of furniture and during its use.

Select a sketch

While the material is drying, you can choose a suitable sketch of the furniture and decide what size it will be. When making a sofa, decide what size the width and length of its seat will be. You should determine what the distance from the floor to the seat will be, as well as what height the back of the sofa will be.

After the preliminary work, you can begin making furniture. First you need to make a frame for the seat. To do this, 4 sticks are cut to required sizes. For example, consider the following dimensions of sticks: 4 pieces of 60 cm and a pair of 40 cm. Weaving furniture at this stage involves installing sticks with self-tapping screws so that the result is a rectangle. Then they move on to cutting out the front legs of the sofa. There should be 3 of them. They are also made from sticks. The height of the legs should be equal to the selected distance of the seat to the floor. For example, let’s define this distance as 40 cm.

The legs are attached to the seat using self-tapping screws. They are installed at an equal distance from each other. In our example, at a distance of 20 cm. The sofa will not stand if there are no back legs. To calculate their height, we do the following: add the height of the back to the height of the front legs. Let's assume that the height of the backrest is 25 cm, then the legs will be 65 cm high. These elements are mounted along the edges of the wicker sofa. For reliability, a leg 75 cm high should be installed in the middle. The legs are attached to the seat with self-tapping screws.

Making the back of the sofa

To do this, choose a stick longer than the expected length of the seat. Using self-tapping screws, it is attached to the upper ends of the legs located at the back. Since the leg in the middle is higher than the rest, the back will have a beautiful curved shape.

Bar sorting

Now you can start making ribbons to create your own wicker furniture. To do this, we divide the twigs into 4 parts. To do this, you can use a stick cut in the shape of a star with four rays. The stick will help you make cuts at the ends of the twigs, after which you can separate them with your hands. Such twigs will allow you to hide the heads of nails and screws.

We add rigidity to the frame

Wicker furniture should be rigid and reliable. One stick should be fixed between the legs located on the sides of the sofa. This must be done using self-tapping screws. In addition, the legs installed in the middle should be strengthened together. The stiffening ribs of wicker furniture should be at the same height.

The furniture's wickerwork is complemented with a few touches. So, you should use a willow twig, which needs to be rolled into an arc and installed in the back of the sofa on the left. It is fixed with nails: the ends of the twig are attached to the legs located at the edges and in the middle. The top point of the arc is attached to the back. Do the same with the right side of the back. The wicker sofa is complemented with another rod. Its size should already be larger than the first twig. It is rolled into an arc, the ends of which are fixed with nails to the front legs installed on the sides of the wicker furniture. The upper part of the rod is attached in two places to the seat of the wicker sofa.

Final touches

When making wicker furniture with your own hands, the places where the heads of screws and nails are visible are wrapped with tape. The method for their preparation was described above. Weaving the sofa at this stage is accompanied by the use of glue. Furniture made by weaving with your own hands must have a seat. It is made from plywood according to the dimensions of the frame. This element is nailed to wicker furniture. The top of the plywood is covered decorative pillows or a soft blanket. The sofa is ready to use!