If you’ve ever travelled to South-East Asia you’ll likely have seen bamboo used extensively in the construction industry.  Bamboo is commonly used as scaffolding, upright props, and even to build huts and houses.   This is because bamboo is super strong; even stronger than steel! The tensile strength of steel is 23,000 PSI, while the tensile strength of bamboo is 28,000 PSI.

Via: Silver Kris

One of the biggest environmental benefits of bamboo is its ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.  Compared to an equivalent tree mass, bamboo produces 35% more oxygen and research has shown that bamboo can absorb as much as 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.  That’s a lot of carbon sequestration! And if that wasn’t enough, it’s built to last indoors or outdoors and is fairly neutral and decoratively goes with anything

Let’s start with this bamboo craft. These bamboo canes were purchased at a local garden centre, we’ve chopped them in half and arranged in a drum vase, which we wrapped in greed card stock. Using bamboo beads, which we found at Hobby Craft, we threaded the beads into sections of yarn and tied them into random sections of bamboo cane. Super simple DIY piece that sets our bamboo scene.

Versatility 

Bamboo is a popular choice for floors, wall divides, furniture, serve wares and more! Bamboo is such a neutral colour, you can bring it into any colour scheme- you know it’s going to be a safe bet. We have gathered some of our favourite products to show you just how versatile bamboo is.

Décor

Baskets

These baskets are from IKEA, which come with matching lids, they would be great if you have open shelving and have smaller things that need to be stored. There’s a beautiful woven detail on there in a classic bamboo blonde shade and would look great in modern homes to add a bit of texture.

Lanterns

This is another product that we love, these simple lanterns crafted from split bamboo canes. It’s assembled into a circular design on a metal base. Imagine this lit up, and how gorgeous the light is when it refracts around inside.

Furniture 

Bar cart

One of our favourite things, the bar cart. This should be essential for every home, this beautiful bamboo cart is from the Colin and Justin collection at Homesense. This has a great textile strength, to it and makes a room feel more exotic. The bar cart is essential for your tropical bar arrangement this summer.

Step Ladder storage

This product is another one from the Colin and Justin Homesense collection, ladder storage. You can use this product in the bathroom as it’s bamboo material will not degrade in water. It’s also super light-weight but has lots of structural integrity so allows for lot’s of product.

Occasional table

This table was found at Marshall’s and is made from tension bamboo which has been heat treated to create a bowed side. The black top adds more interest to the piece, a great accent piece that will not break the bank.

DIY bowls and art 

We’ve glued bowls together to create a triptych of tall, medium and small bamboo items – groups of 3 work well in interior design. We’ve glued two of the small bowls together, then two medium ones and then left the large one by itself in the front. When you cluster three things together in a tall, medium and small format it adds form and design to an area.

Bamboo bowls should be hand-washed immediately after use. They should not be placed in a dishwasher or soaked in water.

The high heat of the dishwasher and the long exposure to water can cause the bamboo to swell and crack. To clean, first wipe out the bowl; then wash it in warm water with mild soap and a soft sponge or brush. Avoid abrasive cleaners or tools. Rinse thoroughly and wipe-dry with a soft cloth; then allow the bowl to air-dry completely.

We also have these bamboo barbecue scrapers that we found at the dollar store. They work in 3 ways: a: as intended, b: as decorative wall hangings and c: as personal charcuterie boards – for people less inclined to share… LOVE these.