Handwoven Rattan Storage Trunk

Low and long, which is exactly the proportion the foot of a bed wants.

At the foot of a bed, aim for a trunk narrower than the bed itself. At 73cm this sits comfortably at the end of a single or a double with space either side, and it looks deliberate rather than wedged.

The height is low. Below seat height, so this is a trunk rather than a bench, and it sits under a window sill or against a wall without interrupting a sightline.

The domed lid needs clearance above. Allow room for it to open fully, particularly if it is going under a windowsill or a wall-mounted radiator.

Handles on both sides mean it moves between rooms easily, which matters on a piece that gets repurposed as often as a trunk does.

The domed lid is what stops it reading as a box.

A flat-lidded trunk is a container. The curved profile is more generous and more elegant, and it gives the silhouette the classic quality of a travelling chest rather than a storage solution pushed into a corner.

The handwoven cane is the other half. The intricate weave pattern across the body catches light across its surface and gives the trunk a textural depth that plain wicker or seagrass cannot match.

Underneath it, a solid wood frame gives structural rigidity and a weight that makes the piece feel like furniture rather than basketwork. It holds its shape whether full or empty, which is the practical test on any woven storage.

The latch closure keeps the lid shut when the trunk is being carried, and the metal handles on both sides make that carrying practical. Small details, but they are the difference between a trunk that moves around the house and one that stays where it was first put.

• Domed lid, with the silhouette of a travelling chest rather than a box
• Handwoven cane with a weave that catches light across the surface
• Solid wood frame, so it holds its shape full or empty
• Latch closure, keeping the lid secure when it is carried
• Metal handles both sides, so it genuinely moves between rooms
• Low and long, the right proportion for the foot of a bed
• Contents completely hidden, unlike an open basket
• Reads as furniture, so it earns a place in a room rather than a cupboard

Blankets, throws, spare pillows and seasonal bedding. At the foot of a bed it is the most useful storage in the room, and the one place spare bedding is actually accessible.

Cushions, toys, magazines and whatever needs a home at the end of the day. In a family room the lid does more work than any open basket.

Scarves, hats, gloves and bags. Everything that otherwise piles up by the door, out of sight behind a latch.

Decorations, extra linens or clothes between seasons. Because it looks like furniture, seasonal storage does not have to live in a loft.

It is the position this shape was made for, and it gives a bedroom the horizontal line that most bedrooms lack. A folded throw across one end is all the styling it needs.

A domed lid is not a surface, which is the trade for the silhouette. If you want storage you can also put a tray and a cup on, our flat-lidded rattan chest is the one to look at.

Rattan is at its best against something soft. A wool or jute rug underneath, linen nearby, a throw draped over one corner.

Natural cane wants warm neutrals: oatmeal, linen white, clay and mushroom. Against a cool grey scheme rattan reads yellow rather than golden.

Stacked in an alcove or placed at either end of a landing, a pair reads as a considered set of trunks rather than a lone storage piece.

Dust the weave with a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment on low. Cane holds dust in the pattern, and a brush clears it far faster than a cloth.

Nothing wet on the rattan. A barely damp cloth on a mark, dried straight away, is as far as it goes. Soaking natural fibre softens and distorts it.

Line it for delicates. If you are storing fine linens or knitwear, a fabric liner or a folded sheet inside stops the weave catching on anything delicate.

Do not sit or stand on the lid. A domed lid is not built to take weight, and rattan over a frame is not a bench.

Keep it out of damp and away from a radiator. Interior use only, not a conservatory that gets condensation or anywhere outdoors.

What to expect. Natural rattan varies in tone across the weave and mellows slightly with light over years. That is the material behaving correctly rather than a fault.

It ships as a parcel rather than a furniture delivery. Current timescales and charges are set out on our delivery page.

Not sure whether it suits the spot you have in mind? Send us the measurements and we will tell you. Reach us via our contact page or live chat.

If it is not right once it is in the room, our returns process is straightforward, and everything is covered by our guarantees and warranties.

Our price match promise stands if you find the same piece for less elsewhere. Kitting out a holiday let? Ask about trade accounts.