Luckily, there are some design tricks that have not been overused, and, if used properly, can set you apart from the crowd. One item that can do a lot to set your interior apart from the rest, is bamboo shades. Bamboo shades are an attractive, inexpensive, and ? above all ? highly versatile solution to your window covering dilemma!

Colors and Styles

There are many appealing features and aspects of bamboo shades, but probably the biggest reason why they are fast becoming the top choice of professional decorators and do-it-yourself designers is because of the wide color and style options available. Until recently, bamboo was not widely used in interior design in the United States. There might be some people who still think of the little green chutes of bamboo that they see on the receptionist's desk at a doctor's office or on the hostess stand at a sushi restaurant. But, the wood from bamboo chutes which is a bright yellow in its natural state, can be stained, painted, or left alone to provide a variety of colors. So, whether you're looking to match the dark, muted hues of your library or den, or you're trying to add even more splash to your modern living room or colorful sun porch, you can find bamboo shades to fit into your color palette.

And styles of bamboo shades are even more diverse than the colors. Although all bamboo shades are based on the same structural premise ? sticks of bamboo placed side-by-side ? the companies who make the shades create numerous styles by the way they cut, shape, and match the individual pieces of bamboo. So, again, whether you need a formal appearance for a more ?serious? room, or maybe a fun design for a child's room or play area, you can find a style of bamboo shade that matches the mood of the room.

Functionality

Other features of bamboo shades make them an excellent choice for your windows. The overall functionality of these shades cannot be surpassed by any other blind or shade on the market. The most common type of bamboo shade utilizes a pull cord, as with most traditional shades, which pulls the shade up to the top of the window. But, they can also be opened with a continuous chain or even a motorized lift! Because bamboo shades are woven together and connected as though they are one piece of material, there is no tangling to worry about as with traditional blinds, and dust collection is minimal. In addition, bamboo shades offer any level of light filtering. Some styles are more loosely woven to allow for more light to shine through, while other styles are more compact to block out almost all light. Bamboo shades can also be lined with a light-blocking material to keep all light out of the room.

Eco-Friendly

With a lot of focus these days on eco-friendly interior design, and sustainable home products, bamboo shades have become a very popular option for the ?green? decorator. Bamboo, of course, is a naturally-occurring product, and because bamboo grows so rapidly, it replenishes itself very quickly. Plant products do not require the carbon output necessary to create the synthetic materials in more traditional blinds and shades. Wood shades can create an ?organic? feel to your room or your entire home ? providing a sense of warmth not readily apparent in a metal or plastic window covering. And, last, but definitely not least, because bamboo is rapid growth in the wild and thus, quite abundant, bamboo shades are often the most affordable products in any window or blind store. And, with today's economic climate, who can complain about that? With so many options, and such great flexibility, perhaps it's time you looked at bamboo shades for your home!