subject: Give Your Windows A Green Upgrade By Dressing Them With Bamboo Shades [print this page] Bamboo shades have been a staple in decorating for many years now. Like more traditional curtains, they block both light and create privacy. They have always been a good choice for durability and the fact that they are generally less expensive than traditional fabric window shades makes then an easy choice for most decorators. Times have changed, however, and now there are many more reasons to choose bamboo, such as they are the fastest growing renewable resource on the planet.
Bamboo still has durability on its side! It will not rot and if treated correctly during the manufacturing process it is naturally stronger than steel. It's a beautiful choice for indoor decorating and can also be used just as well outdoors on patios or under the eaves of a house.
Your pocket book will enjoy the lower price of bamboo as opposed to traditional fabric alternatives. But don't let lower price fool you, they are also quick and easy to install. If you use the same type of shade as you had on the window previously, you can probably even re-use the hardware. Another green living plus!
In Asia, bamboo has been both a decorating and a building material for centuries. Until recently, most westerners had only the traditional roll-up shade styles to choose from and those were the kind that did not afford as much privacy as most people desire. But all that has changed in recent years as the needs of the modern decorator have created a market for nearly every conceivable style of shade or blind. And since bamboo is such a highly green choice, people are demanding it.
You see, bamboo is being touted as the answer to the planet's need for wood. Bamboo grows at a rate up to 30 times faster than traditional wood. And there is practically no building or decorating need that cannot be fulfilled by it. Bamboo is now being used for flooring, cabinetry, dishes, window shades, ceilings, lamps, and fabric to name just a few of its applications.
But you don't have to take my word for it, just go online through your favorite search engine and take a gander at the diversity of styles to select. Everything from soft or coarse woven fabric, to roman folded style; from sliding solid-wood panels, to the most elegant lined sheathes. And the hanging options run the gamut from top down / bottom up through center pull options. The limit is only in any particular style. And you can hang them on the outside of the frame or on the inside giving a cleaner, more modern look to your room.
The beauty of the wood can come naturally in many different shades and colors. The color is brought out in the wood during the curing process. Natural shades range from the lightest blond to deep rusty browns; and from green to black. Even if the natural look is not for you, the wood can be stained like traditional wood, or painted to any color you can imagine.
Your creativity will be unleashed when you decide to decorate with bamboo. And you can see that bamboo is not just beautiful and versatile, but it's also the natural choice as a renewable resource. Going green, saving money and looking good all at the same time was never easier for your windows than it is with the installation of bamboo shades.
