Vintage Rattan Sofa For Our Porch
This week I’m participating in another Summer Home Tour series which is hosted again by my friend Marty of A Stroll Thru Life. Welcome to everyone coming from her blog and also all the other new visitors coming from today’s lineup.
Anita of Far Above Rubies is before me today and I always enjoy her unique style and story behind her beautiful eclectic home.
I’m going to share our front porch with you again today because I made a recent Craigslist purchase which changed things up a bit out there. I bought a vintage rattan sofa and it was only $50. The reason I was looking for a new piece to place on the porch was that I hated sitting on our wooden bench on the porch. It looked nice but was just so uncomfortable and only fit two people. My legs are also pretty short and didn’t reach the floor which always resulted in my legs falling asleep because they were dangling. Serious problems here, am I right? LOL!
Here is the porch when I shared it last with the bench and my painted black and white striped porch.
Below you can see the chairs that were in the same listing as the sofa and are still available by the way. The entire setup for $50 too. To the right, you can see the couch slightly in the photo. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab the listing photo.
But the cushion style and sofa are similar to the one below on Etsy which costs $500.
So let me show you and explain a bit more…
Our “new” vintage rattan sofa
I picked the sofa up at the lady’s house who had explained to me already that her two dogs loved this sofa, slept on it frequently and the cushions weren’t in the best shape anymore. So I thought that I could probably find other cushions online to fit.
She also explained to me that she only used one side of the cushions and I noticed that the other side facing down looked like new which is why I decided to take the zippered covers off and throw them in the wash.
Finding new cushions for your vintage rattan sofa
While they were washing I googled around for some blue deep-seat outdoor cushions with the existing cushions’ measurements in mind because my initial plan was to tie the porch look in with my backyard. If you are new around here, let me show you my backyard and my small yard landscaping ideas. Below you can see what I shared last week along with our newly built DIY stock tank swimming pool.
Blue is just my first choice. I found two options that had similar measurements. One at Walmart and one from AtHome. Ultimately the hue of the AtHome cushions won me over.
I went and bought the cushions so I could try them. The $150 bill hurt a bit though after I had gotten the sofa for only $50.
The blue is beautiful but I had to squish the pillows in a bit to make them fit.
While I was trying them out I noticed that whenever I sat on them they left indents that didn’t go away. And not just little ones. BIG ONES! The fabric was also not soft at all and the cushions weren’t firm. Can you see where I’m going with this…?
When the old cushions were done I put them back on and while I had them in the house I noticed how well they went with our new kitchen color, blush sideboard, and even our daughter’s bathroom.
One of the questions I always ask myself is: Would you wear this fabric in an outfit? And the answer, in this case, is YES.
The old cushion fabric had all the right colors, don’t you agree? Just look at the two next photos. And they didn’t cost me $150 more.
So I went into my pillow stash and found some blush pillows and another TJ Maxx find in a diamond pattern.
I stopped using outdoor throw pillows on our covered front porch a long time ago because you just can’t wash them nicely. Instead, I use the same throw pillows as inside which are covers and inserts so I can rotate and wash the covers easily.
Making vintage fabric work with modern pillows
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The above are all reasons I decided to keep the old cushions and the quality is just so much better than the stupid AtHome cushions which I returned the next day.
I would probably never choose a print on a sofa cushion because it’s not as versatile but you can make it work by pairing the vintage fabric with some more modern pillows.
Photos of decorated vintage rattan sofa on porch
And here is what we have on the porch now…
I also hung a new mirror by the door.
All the kitties love hanging out with us when we keep the windows open while sitting on the porch. I wish I could make it a screened-in porch so they could come outside with us. Maybe one day that will happen. Right now the hubby says NO.
Look at Willy, my front door greeter.
It is a comfy and snuggly couch and everyone loves it who sits on it. My son has spent entire evenings out here already and I actually watched a scary movie with my daughter out there on Friday on my iPad. It was awesome with the fire lit.
I gathered several things from around the house to pull the look together.
So now we have a hillbilly pool and an indoor sofa on the porch. What’s next?
UPDATE: I changed the porch again and I love the vintage fabric even more with the new look. Our fall porch is just so cozy.
Check out how painting a concrete porch in a checkerboard pattern changes the look completely. Also check out, how this porch looks after the first winter and how to clean a painted concrete patio or porch.
Where to buy rattan sofas that have a vintage look
Not everyone is as lucky as I am to find a vintage rattan sofa/couch on Facebook Marketplace for $50. Let’s face it, rattan is really popular now again and people sell them for much more. You can find vintage rattan sofas on websites like Chairish, 1stDibs, and Etsy but they are always really pricey and you don’t really know what shape they are in since they are used.
If you are looking to buy new but with a vintage look in mind, then check out the options that I found below. They aren’t cheap but you know that you will get a brand new piece of furniture.
Next visit my friend Heather of Setting For Four. She always has such an elegant tour.
Tschüß,
You’ve created such a cozy spot for your family. I love it!
Thanks Alison, we love it and have spent a lot of time out there already
A sofa on the porch is a wonderful idea. I use mine all the time.
Thanks Ann, we’ve used ours so much already.
Can you just come to Atlanta and do my front porch for me??? Everything you did looks awesome!!
Haha thanks, Susan! Atlanta is tempting.
Why do you dislike AtHome? I’ve made several purchases (outdoor furniture, baskets, outdoor lighting) & been satisfied.
Hi Gwen, I don’t find them priced well and don’t like the majority of their stuff. I’d much rather go to HomeGoods or Target, that’s for sure.
Oh I love it, what a great find and the fabric looks great. You always coordinate all your fabrics so well. Now the front porch and that fabulous backyard are amazing. Thanks so much for joining the tour. You always inspire me.
Thanks so much Marty
Oh my goodness what a find!!!! I never find anything like that around here😢 What a beautiful outdoor space too, and a great place to spend summer days🙂
It was a lucky find for sure and thanks Anita.
i am in LOOOVE with it! what a great find and it looks amazing on your porch!
Thanks Cassie, I hope I can find a spot in the garage over winter for it because I don’t want it to get ruined on the porch 😉 The bench I didn’t ware and left it out there.
Looks great
Are the plants in the powder room real??
You mean the blush bathroom? Nope they aren’t and I linked to them in the post. Love them
Wow, Julia1 I am so jealous of your craigslist score. Rattan is pretty much my favorite! I love how cozy and inviting the sofa makes your porch look. Cheers, my friend!
Thanks Erica, I love rattan and bamboo so much too.
You totally made the vintage fabric work! Your porch looks so inviting and comfy! Love your style 🙂
Thanks Alicia
What a great find for $50, and surely way more comfortable than the wooden bench, as lovely as it was!
Debbie it’s so much more comfortable! I could sleep out there.
Love your new rattan sofa, it’s my favorite obsession right now. Can’t get enough of bamboo & rattan! Looks so good and your vintage fabric works too. And I think your stock tank pool is the BEST one I’ve seen out there. So innovative and pretty with the rocks! You did a great job, I know you’ll enjoy the summer with that in the backyard.
Thanks so so much Rhoda and cheers to rattan and bamboo.
That’s such a lovely piece!! All your outdoor spaces are gorgeous. Well, your entire home. ❤️
Thanks so much Cristina
Hillbilly pool? Metal trashcan as a fire pit? Haha! I got a good laugh! Seriously, the porch looks very inviting. You’ve worked your magic again.
Thanks Donna, who know maybe there is a metal trashcan firepit in my future 😉
What a beautiful tour, your porch looks like the perfect place for summer! That couch was such a great find!
Thanks Andrea! You can’t beat $50
It’s so awesome, you would find me crashing on that sofa all summer. Actually, I’m pretty sure all of our family members would fight over it, including the 2 dogs. It’s really such a beautiful space.
Thanks Diane, and yes our family has been fighting over that sofa since we got it. Everyone wants to stretch out on it
Holy Moly, this is so much fun! I love your backyard pool and your newly updated sofa on the front porch. You have such great style and create spaces I would love to hang out in for hours!!! Heading to explore your blog more!
Thanks so much Kristin, we live out here during the summer
I loved reading the story of your vintage rattan sofa! It is so you Julia and looks perfect on your porch. Your yards look like such an oasis! Happy Summer.
Happy Summer to you too and thank you so much.
Your porch looks so beautiful, Julia! And I love what you did with that awesome sofa!!! xo
I absolutely LOVE it all!!! I so agree with you on the cushions. Our porch sofa set is antique iron that I bought 20 years ago with no cushion. I had to have custom cushions made because it didn’t come with them. Back then ready made just wasn’t’ as plentiful. Mine are hunter green and I’m so tired of them. To have new cushions made would cost what a brand new sofa set would cost. It just isn’t in the budget. So this year I found some pretty outdoor fabric table cloths at Tuesday Morning and sewed some pillow covers to give the entire set a makeover. I was able to pull other pillows from the front porch to add to it. The entire new look just cost $35 opposed to $1500 for new cushions. Ready-mades won’t fit and like you said…the comfort quality isn’t there. It works for now and loving the green cushions a bit more. I always love touring your home and seeing all the precious cats!!
Thanks Christy! Wow $35 is so much better 😉 and thanks so much! I always love your porch.
Love your porch, Julia! Those painted stripes are perfect! I wish I had some concrete to paint. 🙂 So happy to be touring with you again!
Thanks Laura, Happy to be touring with you too
What a great find! I love your summer front porch. And I am drooling over that pretty peach bathroom!!! The cute kitty is the icing on the top. xoxo
Thank you Ashley, my Willy is always the best accessory I think
Love your new rattan sofa and what a steal! And, I like how you made the existing cushions work – and they do!!!
Thanks Doreen, I’m trying to waterproof them yet before I go on vacation. Hope it’ll work
That sofa is the perfect addition to the porch. I am cracking up about the hillbilly pool comment. You are hilarious and have such a talent for creating beautiful things!! Happy summer! 🙂
Haha thanks Tammy! Please some just stop me if I get a metal trash can as a firepit, ok?!?!
Just love your soaker pool. If I was local i would so buy those chairs…can’t believe someone has’nt snagged them yet. Enjoy the summer months in your beautiful home!
Thanks Laura, I wish I had room for those chairs.
Julia, I really like the vintage rattan and cushions together. The entire mix of patterns looks great and is so on trend. I have two bamboo chairs that I’ve had for years and am a bit tired of. But since they two are back in style, I’m going to set them aside for the time being.
Thanks for sharing the process you went through to get to the finished design.
Visiting from Follow the yellow brick home and Pinning!
What a charming sofa. I also LOVE how you surrounded your pool with cut bamboo. Tres chic!
Love the porch and the cute set up! How long have you had the couch outside now? How is it holding up in the weather. I just scored a vintage rattan set as well that I planned to put on my porch. However, after research I am not sure as it has been advised that the sun will make the furniture brittle and water can make it mold. So I am very curious how yours is holding up so far. Thanks.
Hi there, we’ve had it out there for 3 years now. One winter we only covered it instead of putting it away and that definitely didn’t work. I had to restain it. It is much better to put it into the garage over winter and just have it out there for spring and summer.