Bamboo Shades – What You Need to Know - By: Allan Michael Taylor

The issue about climate change and global warming has generated a lot of buzz lately. Socio-civic organizations, environmental groups, news networks and even ordinary citizens are already enthusiastic in thinking what they can do, big or small, to help save the environment. And one unexpected area where people are doing something to help is in designing homes. If before, plastic, leather and rubber are the popular choices for home appliances, now, materials gaining a lot of following are wicker, bamboo and other natural products. Even other accessories like window shades are also being manufactured using natural products like bamboo.

Bamboo shades can blend well with different home interior designs. They can be made such that their colors will match that of your wall color or wallpaper. They can also be made to have different patterns and designs to match the concept of your house. These were made possible because bamboo sticks now come in varying colors. They come in red, green, yellow, blue and orange. Gone are the days when they only come in their natural color and are only made to look different because of the application of lacquers. And even after the application of lacquers, bamboo sticks still come out in their natural color only in varying shades.

Patterns and designs can be made using weaving threads in different colors. Cutting bamboo sticks in different lengths can also give a different effect. Even varying thickness of sticks gives a different appeal. Matchstick bamboo shades for example has a clean and fine look. Bamboo tube shades on the other hand has an irregular yet artistic appeal.

Size of sticks matter not only with regards to the appearance of the shades but with their capacity to control light and ability to give privacy. When bamboo sticks are woven, a space between sticks is created. Light passes through these gaps. When making matchstick bamboo shades, a lot of matchsticks are needed given that they are thin. This means that more spaces are also created so more light passes through. When bamboo tubes are used, there is also the tendency to have big gaps because of the unevenness in shape of the tubes. Privacy and degree of light coming in can be controlled by using lining for your shades. Material for the lining can be sheer or thick depending on how much light you want to seep through and how much privacy you want to have.

Bamboo shades are not only used as window treatment. It can also be used as a divider between your house and your garden deck or your kitchen and your outdoor dining shed. Since they are made of natural materials they blend well with any outdoor concept.

Perhaps bamboo is the best eco-friendly material to use for your window shades because it is biodegradable. It may take long before there will be a need for you to throw away your shades but when that time comes, you can safely say that you are not contributing to global warming because bamboo can and will naturally decay. Bamboo grows fast. It only takes a few years to mature so the cultivation and harvesting cycle is just short.

About the Author

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

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Allan-Michael-Taylor/45501

Additional Articles From - Home | Home & family | Interior design