Aluminium vs Wicker Outdoor Lounges An Honest Guide For Australian Buyers
This is the question most outdoor furniture buyers land on eventually. You have narrowed it down to two settings you like, one is aluminium, one is wicker, and they look completely different but cost a similar amount. Which one do you choose?
The honest answer is that both are excellent materials when the quality is right. The choice comes down to your outdoor environment, your tolerance for maintenance, and what you actually want the space to feel like.
Pictured: Outdoor lounge settings from the Lavita Outdoor range. Source from lavitafurniture.com.au product pages.
What you are actually comparing
Aluminium and synthetic wicker are different in almost every way except one: both, when made well, last a long time in Australian outdoor conditions.
Aluminium is a metal frame. Powder coated to prevent corrosion, lightweight, rigid, and essentially maintenance free. Synthetic wicker, also known as PE wicker or all weather wicker, is a woven polyethylene fibre wrapped around a structural frame underneath. It gives a softer, more textural look while still resisting UV and moisture.
The structural frame inside a quality wicker piece is often aluminium. That means you are not choosing between a metal lounge and a natural material lounge. You are choosing between a lounge with an exposed aluminium finish and a lounge with a wicker layer over the top. That distinction matters when you are thinking about durability.
Where aluminium performs best
Aluminium outdoor lounges are the right choice in two situations: high exposure environments and low maintenance lifestyles.
If your outdoor space faces direct sun for most of the day, if you live near the coast and salt air is a factor, or if you simply do not want to think much about upkeep, aluminium delivers. The powder coated surface resists UV degradation, does not absorb moisture, and cleans with a quick wipe.
The aesthetic is clean and contemporary. Aluminium outdoor lounges tend to sit quietly in a space rather than defining it. That suits some outdoor areas well and can feel sparse in others.
Where synthetic wicker performs best
Synthetic wicker adds warmth and texture that aluminium cannot replicate. For buyers who want an outdoor space that feels like a natural extension of an interior rather than a separate outdoor zone, wicker achieves that more convincingly.
It also tends to be more comfortable on bare skin in warm weather because the woven surface breathes differently to flat powder coated metal. This matters more than buyers often expect.
The key qualification is the word synthetic. Natural rattan wicker belongs indoors. It absorbs moisture, cracks under UV, and breaks down relatively quickly outside. Quality synthetic wicker, from a reputable outdoor furniture brand, is extremely durable. The outdoor lounge settings at Lavita Outdoor include wicker options designed and tested for the Australian market.
Maintenance: the honest comparison
Aluminium requires almost no maintenance. A wash with mild soapy water once or twice a year keeps it in good condition. There is no sealant, no treatment, and very little that can go wrong with the frame.
Synthetic wicker is similarly low maintenance. The frame underneath is typically aluminium, so corrosion is not a concern. The wicker surface itself can be cleaned with a soft brush and mild soap. Neither material requires significant ongoing care. The maintenance gap between them is smaller than most buyers expect.
Does it matter in coastal areas?
If you are on or near the coast, salt air is a genuine factor. Aluminium handles coastal environments well because it does not rust. Synthetic wicker, built around an aluminium frame, also holds up well.
The more important consideration in coastal areas is the cushion fabric. Look for cushions with olefin or Sunbrella fabric and quick dry foam in the core. The alfresco furniture range at Lavita Outdoor is built with the Australian coastal environment in mind, with fabric and frame specifications that reflect that.
The question worth asking before you decide
Before you choose on aesthetics alone, think about where your outdoor space sits on a scale from fully exposed to well sheltered.
A fully exposed deck that gets direct sun all day, with coastal wind, is an environment where aluminium wins on pure performance. A covered patio area with a roof overhead, where the furniture is partially protected, is an environment where wicker performs beautifully and brings more warmth to the space.
Come and see both in person. The team at Lavita Outdoor can help you assess which material suits your space based on exactly where the furniture will be placed. Find your nearest showroom.
