Beyond industrial furniture, North Sumatra has a quieter but very distinctive craft identity. A study on the Handicraft Gallery of North Sumatra notes that two key traditional products are ulos and rattan handicrafts, most of them still run as family businesses in household environments. Skills are passed down from one generation to the next, using simple tools and hand techniques.
This family-based system shapes the way small furniture and décor are produced:
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Rattan is woven into baskets, trays, small racks, stools, and simple chairs
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Ulos and other textiles are turned into decorative items that can be combined with wood or rattan frames
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Every piece carries small variations because it is made by hand, not mass-produced
In places like Tanjung Anom, Deli Serdang, research on local furniture SMEs shows carpentry workshops producing sills, doors, windows, cupboards, tables, and other wood products, and moving toward more multifunctional furniture as market preferences change.
Together, these elements give North Sumatra a balanced craft–industry signature:
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Large factories in Medan–Deli Serdang serving panel-based furniture markets
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Family rattan and ulos crafts supplying unique, story-rich pieces
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A growing idea of craft galleries and centres in Medan and Samosir to bring all these products into one curated space for locals and tourists alike
This mix of scale, heritage, and handwork is what makes North Sumatra’s furniture and craft landscape stand out in Indonesia.
