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What Is Bamboo Furniture?

This article describes the properties and uses of bamboo as a furniture material. Although bamboo furniture is fast becoming fashionable in some parts of the Western world, particularly as an environmentally friendly building material, it has a longer history of use elsewhere in the world.
  1. Description

    • Furniture and decorations made from bamboo come in myriad forms---from chairs and tables to picture frames and knickknacks. Pieces made from bamboo are generally sturdy in construction and often have a natural, rustic appearance.

    Benefits

    • Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, and thus is an excellent source of renewable building materials. It can be planted, cultivated and harvested much more quickly than wood. Because of its growth rate and relative plenitude it is often cheap. In places where the demand for building materials is great, bamboo is an affordable, sustainable option that has a lower impact on the environment. In terms of home décor, bamboo furniture has a somewhat exotic appearance and is neutral enough to be integrated into established settings.

    Geography

    • Bamboo furniture can be found all over the world. The bamboo plant primarily thrives in warm and tropical climates and can be found across Asia and parts of Africa and the Americas. It is especially common in East Asia, where bamboo furniture has been popular for quite some time. Because bamboo is not native to Europe, its use as furniture there is less prevalent.

    Price

    • Due to its quick growth and general abundance, bamboo furniture is usually cheaper than its wooden counterparts. However, its growing popularity has lead to price increases in some areas. Designer furniture made of bamboo sometimes fetches higher prices than its wooden counterparts.

    Availability

    • Bamboo furniture can be found all over the world. It's most common in regions where bamboo grows naturally, although it can be found almost anywhere.