Green Home Decorating with Bamboo: This Versatile Grass Can Help Preserve Our Hardwood Forests!

Environmentally-conscious homeowners who are going "green" in an effort to incorporate earth-friendly products in their homes' design and decoration will find that bamboo is one of the most durable and attractive natural materials suitable for home decorating. Bamboo products for interior decorating come in a variety of colors and styles, and are an excellent choice for flooring, blinds, wall coverings, furniture, and decor items.

Bamboo is a group of woody perennial plants that have been used for centuries in Asia and the Pacific rim for everything from food to building supplies, furniture, and home decor. This versatile plant is often thought of as a tree, but it is actually a true grass. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in nature (one type of large bamboo can grow more than three feet in a day). New shoots come up every year and are ready for harvest in three to five years. Compare this to the decades it takes for a hardwood forest to mature, and you can understand how using bamboo instead of hard woods for home decorating can conserve our forests and preserve the natural habitats of our often-endangered wildlife.

As society becomes more conscious of the environmental benefits of using green materials, manufacturers of building construction materials are incorporating more bamboo in their products for its appealing aesthetic value and strength. Certain species of bamboo have more tensile strength (lengthwise resistance to stretching) than steel. In tropical climates, bamboo has traditionally been used for bridges, fences, home construction, as a replacement for steel reinforcement rods in concrete, construction scaffolding, martial arts weaponry and musical instruments as well as furniture, tableware, and other home decor items.

Bamboo Floors- Take a Walk On The Natural Side

The mention of bamboo flooring may make you think of rounded cane poles or uneven strips that would be uncomfortable to walk on, but this relatively new type of flooring is as flat and smooth as other manufactured flooring. High-quality bamboo flooring is available in a wide range of colors to match your decor, and comes in strips, planks, and tiles. It is installed like hardwood or laminate flooring, and with proper installation and care (the same type of care traditional wood floors require) it will last many years. .

Bamboo Window Treatments- Nature Meets Privacy

Bamboo window and patio shades and come in many colors and styles that can add an ethnic ambiance to the room. They can complement the furniture in the room or blend in with your decor. Bamboo window treatments can withstand harsh sunlight for extended periods of time, unlike draperies which eventually fade, and keep the hot sunlight and noise outside.

Bamboo Wall Coverings- Add an Exotic Flair To The Room

Bamboo can be used as a beautiful wall covering that makes the room warm and inviting. Bamboo slat wall coverings are the more economical choice, or you can use the pricier half-rounds to create a unique appearance. Bamboo wall coverings can be installed by the homeowner and come in a variety of colors, or you can buy unfinished bamboo and stain it the color you desire.

Bamboo Furniture- It's Not Just For Outdoor Living

We're all familiar with bamboo lawn furniture, with its wicker-like appearance, but modern manufacturers are creating bamboo furniture for the home's interior from casual styles to more elegant lines. Innovative designers often combine glass or metal with bamboo products to create magnificent furniture in styles to suit any taste in decorating.

Bamboo Decor Items- Unique Accents To Dress a Room Up or Down

There are many ways to enhance your decor with bamboo including picture frames, vases, place mats and table runners, coasters, area rugs, counter tops, bowls, and candle holders. You can change the feel of the room from casual charm to exotic mystique just by changing accessories.

Indoor bamboo plants are favored by Feng Shui consultants. Feng Shui is the ancient Asian practice of carefully placing items to improve the "flow of energy" through a home or office space. The Chinese words for prayer and bamboo sound similar, and it is believed that the bamboo plant increases the power of prayer. You can bring the energizing effect of bamboo into your home without the expense of a Feng Shui decorator!

Discover modern bamboo when you are ready to redecorate your home. Whether your style is earthy and natural, or you prefer something a little more elegant and refined, you'll be able to find bamboo products that will make inviting additions to your home while you are helping to preserve our natural hardwood forests and the wonderful creatures who make their homes there!