Bamboo – A Versatile Material to Make Window Shades - By: Allan Michael Taylor

The eco-friendly trend has already gone a long way. If before, people are just focusing on environment friendly bags or food containers, now they are also applying eco-friendly ideas into home designs including choices of window shades.

An example of window shades gaining a lot of following recently is bamboo shades. Apart from being good for the environment, this type of shades is acclaimed for its versatility. For example, in terms of blending with an existing home design, a lot of adjustments have already been discovered. It used to be such that bamboo shades come only in varying shades of brown. Now, you can find them in varying kinds of colors like green, red, yellow and orange. You can even find shades in a combination of these colors to match interiors of houses.

To give texture and depth to the design, different weaving threads are also being used now. Patterns and shapes can be made through the creative use of these threads.

The size of the bamboo can also be varied. Matchstick is the most basic bamboo stick size used in making shades. It is named as such because its size is no different from that of a regular matchstick you use to create fire. It is easy to make shades using matchsticks because they are easy to weave. The disadvantage of this is that it offers less privacy as well as low light control. Since matchsticks are thin, you need to use a lot of them to be placed one after the other. A separation naturally exists between two sticks so the more sticks you use, the more separation is created allowing more light to seep through. Larger sticks are used to maximize light control and increase privacy. To increase light control and privacy, lining can be used. Some shades that you can buy already come with linings which you have the option to use or not.

Bamboo tubes are also being used to make woven shades. Bamboo tubes are used to provide a more natural look since they are used as they are harvested and their natural appearance is not changed. Bamboo tubes do not come in regular sizes and shapes. If you put them together well, the resulting window shades look artistic. However, because of the same reasons, privacy is lowered and light control is also reduced.

Bamboo shades are durable. They may look delicate but in reality they are strong enough to last long. They are also easy to clean. Normally, you only need soft brushes to clean them. They are enough to remove dust and dirt. If there are hard to remove dirt, a damp cloth can be used. Do not use wet cloth since moisture can make the bamboo sticks deformed. If your shades are exposed to too much dust, you can also use a small handheld vacuum. Usually you would need to clean the shades only once or twice a month but for very dusty areas, weekly cleaning is necessary.

Bamboo is a good material to use because they are easy to cultivate. They grow fast with some varieties growing as fast as one and a half meters in a day. You need only a few years before you can harvest the bamboo. They grow in different climates so there is really not much need to import them.

About the Author

Jennie Keithson is a decorative type, a designer who loves to write and is a qualified home and office designer, who discusses bamboo shades, with all of her window shades audiences. Check out her online store for more info.

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