You’ve read about how functional and stylish bamboo shades and blinds can be for your home, health, and environment. Now you’re eager to buy your own. But wait. Wouldn’t you like to have a good idea of the choices available before you turn over your credit card? “Bamboo blinds” is a term that is not exclusively used for window treatments made of bamboo. Sometimes it may loosely refer to similar lightweight materials such as jute, rattan, reed, or woven wood blinds.
One of the beautiful qualities of bamboo shades and blinds is that each set is different due to the irregularities in natural bamboo stems. They are never just plain or boring. You can choose from light to dark grains, depending upon the effect you want to achieve. Lighter grains give an airy, relaxed feel to a room; darker grains lend richness and formality to the atmosphere. The natural colors of bamboo range from light yellow to dark brown.
Bamboo window shades are usually sold in their natural colors. Bamboo has a natural sheen but also looks beautiful when varnished. Bamboo blinds may also be painted in your choice of color or picturesque designs to blend, harmonize or complement your décor. There are also various styles of bamboo shades available. Among the most widely available and popular styles are the Roman, Venetian, roller, matchstick, and woven blinds.
Bamboo Roman shades are slatted blinds that hang down like a waterfall but create a pleated effect when pulled up. On the other hand, the long, horizontal slats of Venetian bamboo blinds may be turned parallel to the window sill to allow light to pass through, or turned flat to block outdoor light as well as conceal the room’s interior from viewers on the outside. Roller or roll-up blinds, as the names suggest, are simply rolled up or down using a rope and pulley mechanism to control how much of the blind covers the window.
Matchstick blinds and woven bamboo shades are more ornate. Matchstick blinds are made from long, thin pieces of bamboo whittled down to the size of a matchstick. They are usually rounded, although occasionally some may be flat or square. One version of the matchstick blind is the matchstick mesh blind. This type contains fewer pieces of bamboo sewn together with more string. Woven blinds are the most ornate of all. These are created when pieces of bamboo in multiple widths and both flat and round shapes are woven together with an intricate pattern of threads.
The type of bamboo window treatments that you choose will greatly depend upon your purpose and the environment in which they will be used. For outside living spaces, shade and privacy usually take top priority. The ease and simplicity of using roller or roll-up outdoor bamboo shades make them a very popular choice for the deck, patio, or even a gazebo. They are less prone to being damaged by the wind than the folding bamboo Roman shades. The other styles are most often used indoors, adding natural beauty to a room while protecting the privacy of its occupants.
Read through the information on this site to help you select the bamboo shades, blinds, or window treatments that are best suited for the needs and spaces in your home. You’ll love this budget and eco-friendly type of window covering!
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