Design elements make any interior design scheme work. Whether you want to use bold colors or subtle tones throughout your home, specific details tie everything together and balance the different rooms. Many people use bamboo as their running theme because it's eco-friendly and casual, but you may wonder how to implement it when you've never had any in your house before.
Check out these five ways to use bamboo in your home. No matter which tips you try, you'll find new ways to elevate your interior design scheme into something tailored to what you love.
1. Find Outdoor Furniture
Spending time outdoors is a wonderful way to relax and make memories with loved ones. When you're not grilling burgers for dinner or watching your kids play on their swingset, you can relax in outdoor bamboo furniture. It's a material that meshes well with outdoor spaces like gardens and yards because it plays with the natural elements around it.
If you choose to invest in outdoor furniture, learn how to care for it, so each piece lasts for many years. Indirect sunlight and shelter from the rain go a long way in preserving the bamboo furniture that will make any outdoor space more usable.
2. Use Bamboo Decor
Decor makes any space feel like home, but think about how much of it isn't sustainable. People buy wood picture frames, cutting boards, window shades and decor that takes away from the earth's forests every day. When you find decor you like, see if there's something similar made with bamboo.
Bamboo is more eco-friendly than most plants because of how quickly it proliferates. Depending on the type of bamboo, some species grow two to three feet daily and reach their maximum height within weeks. It's easier to replant after harvesting than trees that require decades to reach their full height.
3. Create a Greenery Wall
Statement walls are a classic design element. They catch your eye when you walk through the room and give the space purpose. Greenery walls are a modern way to avoid adding to your carbon footprint when creating a statement in a room.
Instead of coating the wall with paint containing chemicals that leach into the atmosphere, you can line the space with arching bamboo stalks and leaves. It's more environmentally friendly to avoid paint because it's difficult to dispose of without the chemical ingredients ending up in landfills and local waterways. A bamboo wall adds a stunning visual appeal to any room and won't harm the planet.
4. Consider New Flooring
Chemically treated hardwood floors aren't the most eco-friendly flooring option available to homeowners. Even though they may have come with your house, you always have the opportunity to consider new flooring.
Bamboo flooring resists long-term wear and tear and doesn't take long to install. With the right care, homeowners can make their bamboo floors last through the decades. It also comes in a variety of colors, so you can find some to match any previously installed wood features like cabinetry.
5. Grow Indoor Bamboo
If you have available space in your home, you could always grow a bamboo greenery wall to merge your design scheme with sustainability. The plant requires only indirect light and a small amount of water to grow successfully, even if you don't have a green thumb. Grow it from decorative pots in your dining room or plant it along a fence in your yard. As long as you keep it away from direct sunlight and don't overwater the plant, it will thrive inside or outside your home.
Experiment With Bamboo in Different Rooms
Every room in your house has a different purpose and vibe, so use these tips to experiment with all the various areas. A bamboo wall might look great in your living room, while updated bamboo decor could be a better fit in your home office. New flooring might be your transformative interior-design tip for the entire space. See what meshes with what you've already done around your home, and discover options that work well with your natural preferences.
Written by Holly Welles
About the Author
Holly Welles is a freelance writer with a focus on green building and design. She regularly writes for Environmental Magazine, Home Energy magazine and other online publications. More of her work can be found on her blog, The Estate Update.
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