Bamboo in furniture

Short answer: Bamboo is used in furniture both in its natural tube form and as glued boards. The two look very different and last differently, so it is worth knowing which kind you are dealing with.

Tube form

Chairs, shelves and tables made from whole stems look light and open. The nodes are clearly visible and give the piece a natural look. Tube furniture takes less load than furniture made from boards, because the joints are harder to make strong. It suits lighter use where it is not worn hard.

Boards

Glued boards are used for tabletops, shelves and cabinet doors, where a flat, stable surface is needed. They are made from strips glued together under pressure and resemble solid wood. They are hard and resist wear well, and the pattern depends on how the strips are laid.

Weaving and baskets

Bamboo can also be split into thin strips and woven. This is used for seats, backrests, screens and baskets. Weaving is light and airy, but more fragile than a board. A woven seat should therefore be kept dry and not loaded with more than it was made for.

Indoors rather than outdoors

Bamboo furniture lasts best indoors. Outdoors it needs treatment and care, because moisture and sun wear the material. A piece kept outside should be covered or brought in for winter. Untreated bamboo can turn grey, crack or rot if it stands in wet weather for long.

The surface

An oiled or lacquered surface protects against moisture and stains and decides how long the piece looks new. Oil gives a more natural look but must be renewed regularly. Lacquer lasts longer without care but is harder to repair if it is scratched or worn through.

Everyday care

Wipe the furniture with a slightly damp cloth and dry it with a dry one. Avoid strong cleaning products that can damage the surface. Do not put hot pans or wet glasses directly on a tabletop without a mat. Small habits like these keep the piece looking good for many years.

Colour over time

Bamboo lightens or darkens depending on the surface and the light in the room. This matches how wooden furniture changes and is not a sign of poor quality. A piece in direct sunlight changes faster. Move items on the table now and then so the colour stays even.

Not textiles

Furniture and textiles share only the raw material. In furniture, the hard fibres of the stem are kept, either as tubes or as glued strips. In textiles, the cellulose is dissolved and formed into new fibres, and the hard structure disappears. Read more in what is bamboo viscose.

A grass

Although bamboo furniture looks like wood, bamboo is a grass. The stem has its thickness from the start and is hollow, which is why it is either used as a tube or cut into strips for boards. One form gives the light piece, the other the heavy one. Read more in is bamboo a grass or a tree.

See the range

If you want to see bamboo in soft form at home, you will find textiles for the living room and bedroom. See home and homewear in bamboo. For the bedroom there are duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases in bamboo viscose that lie smooth against the skin. See bamboo bedding.