Guest Picks: Bring in the Beauty of Bamboo
20 ways to use versatile, sustainable bamboo into your home
Appreciated for centuries thanks to its versatility and beauty, eco-friendly bamboo is enjoying a surge in popularity these days. Its rapid growth, high mechanical strength and durability in adverse weather conditions make it ideal for architecture. In addition, its flexibility and warm, rich tone make it a star material for designers. Why not add a little bamboo to your home? — Lori from automatism
Kina Natural Pendant by David Trubridge
Named after the Maori word for a local sea-urchin in New Zealand, the design of the Kina Natural Pendant was inspired by the surface patterns made by the spines on the urchin's shell. This lovely fixture would add drama and beauty to the simplest living or dining room.
Table One Magis
This sleek and elegant dining table by designer Konstantin Gric is a beautiful balance of the warmth of bamboo and the modern sleekness of steel. I love it.
Samara Wall Clock
A timepiece that's as ornamental as it is useful, the Samara Wall Clock is a nod to mid-century design while remaining effortlessly modern too. I love its graceful design.
Mano Storage Jar Medium, Blue
Warm bamboo meets delicate glazed blue in this pretty Mano Storage Jar by Jeanette List Amstrup. Storing sugar or twist ties is now instantly stylish!
Bubble Sofa
Made up of 732 hand-woven bamboo balls, this extraordinary Bubble Sofa was designed by Kevin Yu-Jui Chou and made by craftsman Su-jen Su. Light but stable, it's a tribute to the possibilities of this amazing material.
Ekobo Bo Bamboo Bowl, Lime
Add a little color to your morning cereal with the Ekobo Bo Bamboo Bowls. Each set features three bowls and is available in several colors — perfect for mixing and matching.
Daymon Table Lamp
I love the combination of 1930s style with the casual look of bamboo in the Daymon Table Lamp by Arteriors Home. It would look equally good in a formal living room or a seaside cottage.
GEMO Bamboo Set of Salad Tongs, Tomato
Serve up salads or veggies in style with these striking two-toned GEMO salad tongs. The colored lacquer exterior is a nice contrast to the natural bamboo interior. These would add a dash of style to even the most impromptu lunch or supper.
Fruit Basket from Fleux
This lovely bamboo fruit basket by designer Douglass Legg for Eno Studio is almost too beautiful to put apples in; it's just as nice on its own as a sculptural accent to a dining or living room.
Bamboo Throws
Surround yourself in eco-friendly warmth with one of these pretty bamboo throws from Inhabit. Each is a generous 60" x 84" in size, making them great for cozy snuggling on the couch on cool winter nights.
875 Bamboo Pepper Mill by Studio 44 Eighty
Beautifully handmade, this pepper mill is elegant enough to be displayed on the kitchen counter when not in use. I love the contrast of the aluminum band against the textured bamboo body.
PARANÖT Plant Pot
The simple shape of the Paranöt Plant Pot would look good in both traditional and modern homes. The plastic pot included inside makes it easy to care for too.
Vintage 1960s Bamboo Wine Rack by Loverly Vintage
Give your wine somewhere groovy to hang out with this great vintage 1960s wine rack. The shape of this is nice enough to stand on its own as a decorative object too.
Bamboo Appetizer Trays
Serve your appetizers with style using this set of three trays that are made from 100-percent organic bamboo. Cheese balls never looked so good!
Tulip - Pod Swivel Bookcase
Designed and made by Tulip, a Quebec-based company, the Pod Swivel Bookcase is made from solid bamboo and bamboo veneer and is finished with lead-free paint and varnish. It is a great way to display a collection or books.
Cook-A-Book Cookbook Holder
Trying out a recipe from your new cookbook just became more stylish with the elegantly simple Cook-A-Book Cookbook Holder by David Quan. It folds flat for easy storage too.
Akari Freeform Column Floor Lamp
Delicately organic in form, the Akari Freeform Column Floor Lamp is handmade from washi paper and shaped on a frame of higo bamboo ribbing and steel. When lit it gives off a soft glow, giving you an instant atmosphere.
Modern Towels
Enjoy the luxury of a spa in your own home with this wonderfully soft bamboo towel set. Because bamboo is naturally hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial, these towels are a practical and silky delight to use.
Boom - Bamboo Room Divider
A great solution to defining areas in a multifunctional room, the Boom Bamboo Room Divider is an ingenious flexible panel made up of vertical strips of bamboo, allowing you to create a wavy sculptural look that'll also hide away that unsightly TV.
Bamboo Napkin Rings
Set the table in style for your next dinner party with these simple, modern napkin rings. They'll add a lovely warm note to your dining table.
Next: Bamboo in Home Decor
Next: Bamboo in Home Decor