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Bamboo Shades

Bamboo shades is a very general name for this type of window covering. "Woven shades" is a more precise term for it, because bamboo is only one of many materials used today for this type of window treatment. Personally, they are one of my favorite window coverings. They can add so much warmth and a touch of nature to a room. They can be woven out of hard woods by linking the slats together, or braided out of softer woods in a basket-weaving fashion.

There are three major type of natural woven shades; matchstick, reeds and grasses and woven woods.

Matchstick - refers to the size of the bamboo used in the shade. For matchstick shades, you will have lots of small bamboo sticks wrapped together giving the look of many long matchsticks held together in one shade. There are also some variations like flat matchstick vs. round matchstick.

Reeds and grasses - these are types of plant materials used for woven shades manufacturing. Some grasses are strong, some are less durable so it's important to know which type you are buying.

Woven Woods - these are a combination of flat and round bamboo in multiple sizes. Woven wood patterns and colors are quite divere, and can range from basic to quite elaborate.

Bamboo is a natural product and no two pieces are the same so there are color variations with each shade. If you are ordering any type of bamboo shade it is wise to know that no shade will be like the other shade. This can be even more so if you order your bamboo shades at different times as the material can vary from one batch of material to another. It is recommended that you order all your shades at once for a specific area. If you order samples of bamboo shades it should give you an idea of the style and color, the shades you order could differ from your sample.

Woven shades should be kept out of humid areas or they risk rotting and warping. You should probably keep it out of the bathroom, and the kitchen.

Woven shades are naturally woven; natural light comes through the shade. If you want greater privacy, but do not want to block the majority of the light, then a privacy liner would be great for your shades. If you will be using the shade in a bedroom and are wanting to darken the room than a blackout liner would be best. (Please note that with any inside mount shade with a blackout liner, some light will come through the sides of the window.) If you are wanting to add to the decor of your room you can add a nice fabric edge-banding.

To clean woven shades use a feather duster to swipe over the slats for removing dust. For heavier cleaning, you can use a brush attachment for the vacuum cleaner to sweep over the slats. Never use household cleaners on your woven shades.

Woven shades are a great way to add warmth and exotic flavor to any room in your house!