Bamboo Furniture Adds A Rustic Look To Your Home
With the price of wood these days it is sometimes hard to believe it grows on trees and as an environmentally acceptable alternative, bamboo furniture is making inroads into the home furniture market. Since bamboo grows nearly ten times as fast as most other woods, it is viewed a renewable resource and through proper processing can be as strong and durable as many hardwoods used in furniture construction. The use of bamboo furniture has transcended the patio door and is no longer only used on patios or as lawn furniture. Quality and beauty is being built into furniture used in living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens around the world.
The finishes available for bamboo furniture offers many unique decorating ideas from the smallest end table to the full size couch and chairs. Beds and bunk beds made of bamboo are just as sturdy as most other wood products and their natural ability to ward off infestation by bugs makes it a welcome addition in many homes.
Many pieces of bamboo furniture retain the natural rounded shape of the bamboo and for larger pieces it may take several pieces of this woody grass to build furniture into acceptable sizes. Many occasional pieces are also offered made of flattened bamboo for solid top tables.
Bamboo Furniture - Protective Coatings Add To Furniture’s Strength
While most people consider bamboo to be too soft or brittle to be used in solid quality furniture, its use as a building material provides a history of technology to make bamboo furniture just as sturdy as any other type of wood. How the material is dried also plays a part in its strength as well as the type of finish used on each piece.
Natural drying techniques results in the bamboo retaining its natural color, nearly resembling beech. However, when it is dried under pressure the sugars and sap in the bamboo will evaporate, turning the wood a dark brown and in some cases nearly black or a mahogany color. Its use in bamboo furniture provides a multitude of color options to fit into a variety of decors.
Not too long ago bamboo furniture was usually restricted to cabins, lodges and campgrounds but improved strength and durability have brought them from the patio and into many homes. Kitchen tables and chairs are some of the most popular piece of bamboo furniture, with bedroom pieces coming in a close second. For many people, there is something rustic about having natural bamboo in their home as part of the furniture collection.
By Home And Garden Editor
