Bamboo Furniture Buying Guide

Bamboo and the environment

Bamboo is a renewable plant, technically a grass, and is often considered a weed. Bamboo is found on nearly every continent and can grow in many diverse climates. Bamboo is eaten, made into fabrics, used for building materials, made into paper, used in construction and in making green furniture and decorative accessories. In fact, bamboo has been used for construction and furniture longer than other hardwoods.

Almost everyone knows that natural resources are being depleted, so what makes bamboo a "green," eco-friendly furniture choice? Some bamboo species grow, well, like weeds! They grow quickly and are known for spreading into other areas. When cut, bamboo will send up new shoots to replace those lost. Bamboo is ready to be harvested in about five years, unlike many hardwoods which take 50 or so years to harvest. This makes bamboo a very renewable material and the fastest growing plant on Earth. Bamboo doesn't even need fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides to thrive.

Bamboo furniture

Bamboo is used to make a variety of furniture. You can find bamboo chairs and tables, bamboo sofas and loveseats, bamboo cabinets, dressers and entertainment centers, to name a few. Bamboo rugs, clothes and bedding are even available.

Bamboo furniture construction

Bamboo is used just as other furniture materials are. Strips are cut from the round bamboo stalk and then milled square on four sides and kiln-dried to 8 to 10 percent moisture content. The bamboo is sanded smooth for laminating, then edge-glued and layered to make plywood. Bamboo can also be face-glued to make vertical grain panels, and then veneers can be cut from the panels. The bamboo plywood is easy to work with and makes strong, fantastic eco-friendly furniture pieces.

Bamboo poles can also be used like wicker and tied or bolted together for added strength. (Bamboo clum stalks used for building materials are filled with concrete and bolted.) Like wicker, bamboo can also be woven.

Why choose bamboo furniture?

You may decide you want bamboo furniture for many different reasons:

• Durability: Bamboo furniture can withstand everyday use. It is far more resistant to damage than traditional hardwoods. Bamboo is even used in cutting boards for this reason; it can take the beating of repeated knife use and still remain beautiful, and bamboo is gentler on knife blades than other woods.

• Resistance to swelling and shrinking: Bamboo furniture won't swell or shrink due to atmospheric changes.
• Strength: Here's a cool fact: bamboo's tensile strength is 28,000 per square inch versus 23,000 for steel. Bamboo fibers are also used to strengthen composite materials. What is the key to bamboo's strength? Bamboo grows straight; no other trees grow as straight as bamboo. There are "knuckles," but these variances are consistent and dense and don't weaken the bamboo's structure. When laminated, bamboo's strength is enhanced, and the lamination provides another layer against the wear and tear of use.
• Selection: Bamboo home furniture comes in more varieties of styles and finishes than before. Furniture designers are using bamboo in innovative designs, either in all-bamboo or composite materials.
• Appearance: Bamboo has a fine grain and is available in many stains and finishes. Your style doesn't need to be compromised when you add fashionable bamboo furniture and accessories to your home.

Buying bamboo

Knowing which bamboo furniture pieces to buy isn't difficult. If you're buying bamboo for eco-reasons or just for looks and quality, here are a few tips:

• Look for furniture with real bamboo and not just bamboo look-alikes.
• Look for furniture that states it is made with sustainable bamboo (bamboo grown and harvested naturally that remains sustainable).
• If furniture includes bamboo veneers, check to see that the glue used is non-toxic.
• Look for bamboo furniture using water-based stains.

A good clue to the quality of the bamboo is where the furniture was made. Many artisans from small villages and communities make bamboo furniture and have been for generations. (Remember, Asia is one of the largest exporters of bamboo and bamboo products.) Worldstock furniture is a great way to buy eco-friendly bamboo furniture that helps support community growth. (These tips can apply to all furniture goods and even some clothing. Bamboo furniture isn't the only way you can begin living a green lifestyle!)

Caring for your bamboo furniture

Bamboo furniture can be used indoors and outdoors, but when used outdoors, it is important to perform regular maintenance, as with any other outdoor furniture. Keep your bamboo furniture clean following the same guidelines as with other hardwoods; however, you should pay particular attention to avoiding moisture.

• Wash furniture with a water and light detergent solution regularly, at least every few months.
• Outdoor and indoor furniture should be washed with an anti-mildew additive (there are eco-friendly cleaning solutions available) once every six months or more if you live in a humid climate.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Dust your bamboo furniture regularly.

Following these tips should keep your bamboo furniture in tip-top shape for years.