Bamboo has become a popular component in many home-decor products. Because of its sustainability, it is a great substitute for items formerly made from less-renewable resources like hardwood.
Bamboo is a grass that renews itself within a five- to seven-year span, compared to hardwoods, which take up to 60 years. It is a very hard material, which makes it a great source for construction materials, furniture and flooring. It also has some anti-bacterial qualities, which make it a good choice for use in textiles for the home.
The 'green' factor of bamboo is making it a popular option for home renovations and home decor. There are a wide range of products available made either with or from bamboo for your home. New products are coming out all of the time, which makes this an exciting decor trend. Bamboo is such a versatile plant that the possibilities seem to be endless for its use.
Flooring
Most of us have heard of bamboo flooring. It's eco-friendly, durable and affordable (compared to exotic hardwoods), which makes it a popular choice for the home. Like laminate flooring, bamboo flooring is usually manufactured in planks, which make it a fairly easy DIY project. If considering bamboo flooring, do your homework. Inferior bamboo flooring can warp, dent and delaminate if the bamboo used is not properly harvested (to full maturity) and/or inferior milling processes are used. Look for items made with mature Moso bamboo that has been kiln-dried and made using eco-friendly adhesives. Most reputable flooring sites will provide information about the kind of bamboo from which their products are made.
Walls and more
Bamboo is used in everything from kitchen cabinets to furniture. Countertops and backsplashes are another area where bamboo is becoming popular. Even interior doors are being made from bamboo. Its natural honey tones and grain make it a warm, earthy choice for use in these applications.
Bamboo panelling is a less refined but affordable product to use at the cottage, in the basement rec room, the porch/veranda or even in the garage to finish walls and ceilings.
Decorative bamboo slats can be used to create dramatic finishes on ceiling and walls. These slats are actually slices of natural dried bamboo that are about one to two inches wide and six feet long that can be configured to just about any design you can think of. With these slats, you could make a headboard, cover the front of a bar, reface kitchen cabinets, create a wainscotting effect and so on. One site I happened upon that had good photographs and ideas is www.calibamboo.com
Housewares, accessories and textiles
Many new bamboo houseware products are hitting the market as well. Bamboo serving dishes, cutting boards, disposable, biodegradable picnic ware, utensils and baskets. Look for items with organically grown bamboo, which uses less pesticide.
Decorative items like photo frames, shelving, plant stands, mats, wastebaskets, bathroom sets, mirrors and spice racks can all be found in bamboo as well.
Bamboo fabric is another great alternative for the home. Made from the pulp of the bamboo grass, bamboo fibres are strong, sustainable and have wicking properties and antibacterial properties. It is an expensive alternative but hopefully will come down in price as its popularity grows. I purchased an organic bamboo bath towel and find it to be soft, absorbent and quick to dry, unlike thick cotton towels. It washes beautifully and gets softer with use. It cost about double of what I normally pay for a towel but if you're splurging on yourself or on a gift it's a nice item to have.
Bamboo fabric can be found in everything from bedding to draperies. Again, look for organically grown bamboo when considering bamboo textiles.
Furniture
Because it can be used in place of most wood products, it's a natural choice for furniture manufacturers. Everything from bedroom suites to dining sets can be found in bamboo-based products. Computer desks, coffee tables, bedroom suites and more are now being made from bamboo.
The possibilities
Bamboo-based products have so much potential for new uses, I'm sure we'll see a lot of new and interesting items as time goes by. I happened upon a great item on a California-based website that has designers scrambling to get it for their clients. It's a bamboo vessel sink that is absolutely gorgeous. I was unable to obtain a photograph of it for this article but you can see it at www.totallybamboo.com along with other bamboo items
The Internet is a great source for researching the possibilities. The various photographs of bamboo applications give you a good idea of the range of uses and possibilities and show just how attractive bamboo can be in the home.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
