Decorating a Green Home with Bamboo

Bamboo is a wonderful alte
ative to traditional hardwood. One of the Earth's most versatile grasses, it is fast growing, readily renewable, and can be harvested selectively without the destructive types of methods used when cutting down trees. It is the fastest growing of all the woody plants, and is very strong and resilient when used as a building material. It has been cultivated in China for thousands of years, and has many everyday uses which are just now catching on outside of Asia. Building materials that are made from bamboo are becoming much more popular, and include items such as flooring, moldings, paneling and veneer. There are also many decorative uses for bamboo, including rugs, window treatments, wall coverings, baskets, room dividers and even furniture.
Adding a bamboo floor to your home is not only a "green" thing to do, it is also a stylish way of decorating a room. These lovely floors have a unique appearance that can add a look of warmth and style to the home. There are several different varieties of bamboo flooring, not all of which is made from 100% bamboo. Engineered bamboo flooring is often a good choice for those living in more humid areas, as it more stable in high humidity than pure bamboo. If you are looking for a very durable bamboo floor, stranded bamboo could be a good choice. This very dense and highly durable flooring is pressure treated and created using shredded bamboo fibers and adhesive. Bamboo flooring with a solid horizontal grain construction is very beautiful, with the distinctive look of bamboo, while flooring with a solid vertical grain construction has a fine grained appearance with a more linear look.
If you already have hardwood flooring in your home, or have a need for an outdoor rug, consider laying down a bamboo rug. These rugs are generally made from pure bamboo, and many have a durable coating added to help protect the rug from wear. If you plan to lay a bamboo rug on wood or concrete, looking for one that has an anti-slip backing is also a good idea to reduce slipping.
Bamboo blinds and shades are another excellent way of adding green style to your home. These beautiful shades have a very natural appearance, and are useful for both interior as well as exterior use. A wide rolled bamboo shade can make an excellent addition to your patio area, giving you the ability to roll it down when the sun becomes too intense. The light filters softly through bamboo shades, creating a very lovely and pleasing effect. Indoors, bamboo shades can be a great addition to almost any room, including sunrooms, family rooms and living rooms. If you need a shade that blocks light rather than simply filter it, some of these shades also come with a backing.
Flooring, rugs and shades are just the beginning of decorating with bamboo. There are lovely pieces of bamboo furniture on the market from which to choose, and an almost endless variety of small decorating touches, such as wind chimes and planters. Decorating with bamboo will add beauty to your home, while giving you the good feeling of knowing you are using an easily renewable resource.