You're seeing rope on more and more lounge sets, garden chairs and garden benches. It looks soft, almost like fabric, and gives a terrace an instantly calm, modern look. But what is rope, really? Is it just string, what is it made of, and what do names like Qualicord, solution dyed and TPU mean on a product page? In this article you'll read what rope is, how it's made, which types you'll come across, where it sits on a piece of furniture, and what the pros and cons are. With examples from our range.
In short: rope is synthetic outdoor cord that is woven or knotted around the frame of a piece of furniture. It is not a fixed material name: on product pages you'll see terms such as Qualicord rope, solution dyed polyester and TPU. Rope is usually found on the backrests and armrests, while you sit on cushions. The advantages are a soft feel, a light, modern look and quick drying; the disadvantage is that oil and dirt can soak into it.
What is rope in garden furniture?
Rope is the English word for cord or rope. In garden furniture, we use it to refer to synthetic cord made specifically for outdoor use. It is woven, braided, wrapped or knotted around the frame of a piece of furniture. The frame itself is usually aluminium with a powder coating, or sometimes acacia wood.
It's important to know that rope tells you about the form, not the raw material. The word tells you the material looks like cord, but not which plastic it's made from. That's why you see different names on product pages, and why rope furniture differs in how the cord feels and how colourfast it is.
Rope is also different from cord made of cotton or jute. Natural cord absorbs a lot of water and can go mouldy or rot outdoors. Outdoor rope absorbs little water and dries quickly, which makes it suitable for furniture that stays outside.
How is rope made?
Every manufacturer has its own method, but broadly speaking, the process from plastic to furniture takes three steps:
The plastic is melted and formed into thin fibres or threads. If the colour is added at this stage, it's called solution dyed: the colour then runs right through the fibre.
The fibres are twisted or braided into cord. Sometimes this is done around a core. The rope on the Monti dining lounge set, for example, has a rubber core.
The cord is applied tightly around the frame. On product pages you'll then read terms such as hand-braided, hand-woven, hand-knotted or hand-wrapped. These say something about the workmanship, not the material.
How tightly and neatly the rope sits around the frame largely determines how well a piece of furniture keeps looking good. What to check when it's delivered is explained in checking rope on delivery.
Types of rope on the product page
On the product page, you'll usually find the type of rope under upholstery material or in the description. The terms you come across in the current range don't all mean the same thing: one is a brand name, another is a plastic, or a way of dyeing or processing.
| Term | Tells you about | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Qualicord rope | Brand of the cord | Teramon, Pescara |
| Solution dyed polyester | Material and colouring | Monti |
| TPU or TPU rope | Type of plastic | Sardinia, Tirolo |
| Hand-braided, hand-woven | Workmanship | Monti, Allasio |
| Hand-knotted cord work | Workmanship | Talara |
Qualicord rope
Qualicord is a brand name for outdoor cord. The manufacturer describes it on the Teramon as "exceptionally strong" and "colourfast", and on the Pescara dining garden chair as "colourfast, weather-resistant and low-maintenance". Which plastic it is made from is not stated in the product information.
Solution dyed polyester
This refers to polyester cord where the colour is already in the liquid plastic, before fibres are made from it. With cord that is dyed afterwards, the colour mainly sits on the outside of the fibre. Solution dyed is therefore more colourfast. On the Monti dining lounge set, the rope is hand-woven solution dyed polyester with a rubber core, which according to the manufacturer ensures colourfastness and weather resistance.
TPU and TPU rope
TPU stands for thermoplastic polyurethane: a flexible plastic with a smoother surface than fibre cord. It looks like rope, but feels less textile-like. In the range you'll see it on the Sardinia dining armchair, which has "TPU rope" in its name, and on the Tirolo lounge bench, where TPU is listed as the upholstery material. The Solita lounge set also appears among the rope lounge sets with TPU as its upholstery.
Hand-braided, hand-woven and hand-knotted
These terms describe how the rope is applied around the frame. On the Allasio sofa lounge set, the manufacturer refers to hand-braided rope, "strong plastic braidwork that looks like real cord". The Monti has hand-woven rope, the Pescara is "hand-wrapped" with Qualicord rope, and the Talara has hand-knotted cord work on an acacia wood frame. It gives you an idea of the pattern and finish, but not of the material itself.
Does it just say "rope"?
Many pieces simply say "Rope" under upholstery material, with no brand or plastic named. If you want to know how colourfast the cord is, check the description for something like Qualicord or solution dyed. If nothing is stated, you only know it's rope, not which type.
Where is rope on a piece of furniture?
With almost all rope furniture, you don't sit on the cord itself, but on a cushion. The rope is located where you lean back or rest your arms. In the range, you'll see four variations:
- Backrests and armrests: the most common place, for example on the Teramon and the Monti. The frame forms the base, and the rope forms the walls of the sofa.
- Backrest and sides: on the Allasio, the backrest and sides are hand-braided rope.
- Around the frame of a chair: on the Pescara dining garden chair, the aluminium frame is hand-wrapped with rope, with a seat and back cushion on top.
- As the upholstery of a bench: on the Tirolo lounge bench, TPU is the upholstery, with four cushions on top.
For how much rope a set has and what that means for the look and for keeping it clean, read the buying guide buying a rope lounge set.
How does rope behave outdoors?
Rope is made to stand outside, but it behaves differently from aluminium, wood or wicker. These are the characteristics you notice in practice:
- Water: outdoor rope absorbs little water and dries quickly after a shower. The frame underneath the cord determines how well the furniture copes with moisture: powder-coated aluminium doesn't rust, while acacia wood needs oiling.
- Sun and colour: how well rope keeps its colour depends on the type. Solution dyed polyester and Qualicord rope are described by the manufacturer as colourfast.
- Feel: fibre cord feels soft and textile-like, even against bare arms. TPU feels smoother.
- Heat: dark rope gets warmer in full sun than light rope, just like a dark fabric.
- Stains: because rope is textile-like, oil, sun cream and dirt can soak into it. You'll notice this more on light colours.
Rope feels like fabric, so treat it like fabric: no harsh jet or abrasive cleaner, just lukewarm water and a soft brush. Remember that, and the cord will give you years of pleasure.
The full cleaning plan is in maintaining rope garden furniture.
Pros and cons of rope
| Point | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Soft, textile-like | TPU feels smoother |
| Look | Calm and modern | Light rope shows stains |
| Rain | Dries quickly | Cushions must be stored dry |
| Sun | Colourfast types | Dark rope gets hot |
| Maintenance | Water and a soft brush | Oil soaks in |
Rope is a good choice if you
- Want a soft, textile-like look rather than a smooth weave pattern
- Are looking for a light, modern appearance that suits clean lines
- Want low maintenance, especially in combination with an aluminium frame
- Don't mind occasionally wiping off a stain with lukewarm water
Rope, wicker and textilene side by side
Rope is often confused with other woven or stretched materials. Here's how they differ:
| Material | What it is | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Rope | Synthetic cord wrapped around a frame | Soft, like fabric |
| Wicker | Plastic woven strand | Smooth and sturdy |
| Textilene | Stretched plastic mesh | Taut and springy |
You can read more about the other materials in what is wicker and what is textilene. Torn between a rope and a wicker lounge set? Read rope or wicker lounge set, which also includes a short choice test. The frame beneath the rope matters too; see what is aluminium. If your rope set has a table with a wood-look top, that is often Vironwood.
Rope in the range: lounge set, chair and bench
To make the types concrete, below you'll find rope furniture from three categories, each with a different type of rope or workmanship. All specs come from the product information. You can see the current prices on the cards.
Teramon corner lounge set: Qualicord rope
A 4-piece corner lounge set with a powder-coated aluminium frame in carbon black. The backrests and armrests are finished with Qualicord rope in dark grey. The middle element goes to the left or right of the corner element. The seat height is 46 cm, and you get 11 cushions, 10 cm thick.
Teramon corner lounge set 4-piece
Monti dining lounge set: solution dyed polyester
A lounge dining set with a corner sofa measuring 278,5 x 213,5 cm and an aluminium table measuring 147 x 85 cm. The backrests and armrests are finished with hand-woven rope of solution dyed polyester with a rubber core, in grey sand on a taupe frame. According to the manufacturer, you clean the rope upholstery with a soft brush.
Monti dining lounge set 5-piece
Talara lounge set: hand-knotted cord work on acacia wood
The Talara consists of 2 lounge chairs and a round side table, Ø51,5 cm, with a terrazzo top. The frame is FSC-certified acacia wood in white wash, with hand-knotted cord work in taupe. The cushions are 13 cm thick. According to the manufacturer, you should treat the acacia wood once a year with teak oil or a wood care product.
Talara lounge set 3-piece
Pescara dining garden chair: hand-wrapped
A dining garden chair with a high backrest and an aluminium frame with powder coating, hand-wrapped with Qualicord rope. A seat and back cushion are included. The chair is stackable, so you can store several in a space-saving way. According to the manufacturer, you clean the rope with lukewarm water and a soft brush.
Pescara dining garden chair rope
Sardinia dining armchair: TPU rope
A dining armchair with an aluminium frame in light teak look and TPU upholstery in sand colour. The seat height is 46 cm and the seat depth 45 cm, with a seat and back cushion. According to the manufacturer, you clean the chair with a soft cloth and lukewarm soapy water.
Sardinia dining armchair TPU rope
Tirolo lounge bench: TPU upholstery
A lounge bench 225 cm long for 3 people, with a taupe aluminium frame and sand-coloured TPU upholstery. With a seat depth of 60 cm and a seat height of 41 cm, you sit low and deep. You get 4 cushions included.
Tirolo lounge bench taupe
Also worth a look:
Allasio: hand-braided rope
View set →
Houston rope lounge chair
View chair →All rope garden chairs
View range →View all rope lounge sets, rope garden chairs, dining garden chairs and lounge benches. Not sure yet what type of garden furniture you're looking for? Then try our selection tool.
Which type of rope suits you?
| Your wish | Look out for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| As colourfast as possible | Solution dyed or Qualicord | Monti, Teramon |
| The genuine feel of cord | Rope made of fibres, not TPU | Pescara |
| Smooth armrests | TPU as upholstery | Sardinia |
| A warm, natural look | Rope on acacia wood | Talara |
| Low maintenance frame | Aluminium frame | Tirolo |
Looking for a complete rope lounge set and want to know what else to look out for, such as colour, frame and cushions? Then read buying a rope lounge set: what should you look for?
Five misconceptions about rope
"Rope is cord, so it soaks up water"
Outdoor rope is synthetic and absorbs little water, unlike cotton cord. It dries quickly. What does soak up water is the cushions: store them dry when it rains.
"All rope is the same material"
Rope is a form, not a raw material. Solution dyed polyester, Qualicord rope and TPU feel and behave differently. Check the upholstery material to see which type it is.
"Hand-braided is a type of rope"
Hand-braided, hand-woven and hand-knotted describe how the cord is applied around the frame. Which plastic the cord is made from is a separate matter.
"You sit on the rope"
With almost all rope furniture, you sit on cushions. Seating comfort therefore comes mainly from the cushions, the seat height and the seat depth. The rope determines the look and how the armrests feel.
"You clean rope with a pressure washer"
A harsh jet roughens the cord. Use lukewarm water, optionally with a mild soap solution, and a soft brush. Read how to maintain rope.
Checklist: spotting rope on a product page
Tick off what you've checked; your browser remembers it.
- Checked the upholstery material: rope, Qualicord, solution dyed or TPU
- Searched the description for what it says about colourfastness
- Read how the rope is worked: braided, woven or knotted
- Seen where the rope is: backrest and armrests, sides or the entire frame
- Looked at the frame beneath the rope: aluminium or acacia wood
- Read the manufacturer's maintenance advice for the rope and frame
- Thought about a dry spot for the cushions and a breathable protective cover
Frequently asked questions
What is rope in garden furniture?
Rope is synthetic cord made specifically for outdoor use, which is woven, wrapped or knotted around the frame of a piece of furniture. It is usually found in the backrests and armrests, while you sit on cushions. The frame underneath is often aluminium with powder coating, sometimes acacia wood.
What material is rope made from?
That varies from piece to piece, as rope is not a fixed material name. For the Monti it is rope made from solution dyed polyester with a rubber core, while the Tirolo bench and the Sardinia dining armchair use TPU for the woven surface. Qualicord is a brand name for outdoor cord. Check the product page under the upholstery material (bespanning) to see which type it is.
What does solution dyed mean for rope?
With solution dyed polyester, the colourant is added to the liquid plastic before it is spun into fibres and cord. The colour therefore runs through the entire fibre rather than just sitting on the outside. This makes it more colourfast than cord that has been dyed afterwards.
Is TPU rope the same as regular rope?
Not quite. TPU is thermoplastic polyurethane, a flexible plastic with a smoother surface than textile-like cord made from fibres. It looks like rope but feels smoother. Sets and chairs with TPU are often still listed in the rope category, so check the upholstery material if the feel of cord matters to you.
What are the disadvantages of rope?
Rope is textile-like, so grease, sun cream and dirt can soak into it. Light colours show this first. A high-pressure washer fluffs up the cord, and under a cover wet rope dries poorly. Also, with most rope furniture you don't sit on the rope itself but on cushions, and these need to be stored dry when it rains.
Can rope withstand rain and sun?
Outdoor rope is made for outside use: it absorbs little water and dries quickly. Colourfast types, such as rope made from solution dyed polyester, or Qualicord rope, which the manufacturer describes as colourfast and weather-resistant, keep their colour better in the sun. A piece of furniture will still last longer looking good if it is stored dry in winter or under a breathable cover.
