Roller blinds made of bamboo – roller blinds and Roman blinds made of bamboo

There are so many options for curtains you won’t find on the market. When creating curtains, all available materials are used, including those whose use in such areas was previously unheard of. One such material is bamboo.

Bamboo roller blinds

Bamboo curtains are enjoying serious consumer interest today. With their help, you can succinctly decorate a room, while they stand out for their good performance characteristics, durability and minimal price.

In this article we will understand how bamboo curtains differ from ordinary textiles, learn how to install them and consider the rules for caring for such products.

Features of bamboo curtains

The raw material for the production of this type of curtain for a window or door is bamboo straw (stems split into pieces). Due to the thickness of the lamellas, the canvas has a larger volume when folded and is not suitable for assembling cassette products.

Bamboo roller blinds can have different colors, which depend on the processing technology of the bamboo straw.

The peculiarity of bamboo curtains compared to roller blinds of any type is as follows:

• the shaft for twisting the panel is located on the lower edge of the product;
• it is not fixed to the brackets, but hangs freely, weighing down the edge of the blinds;
• The curtains are opened from the bottom up, most often manually.

The cloth has an unusual appearance. It is not sewn from fabric or non-woven material, but is created by weaving straw with thin threads of different shades.

There are several types of bamboo fabric:

Transparent rolled bamboo fabric.

• translucent, in which horizontal straws are connected by 3-4 rows of vertical threads;
• dense, where the straw is a rigid base, and the weave of threads can completely cover the plant elements of the mat;
• transparent when the gap between the straws is several times greater than their thickness, and the rows of threads connecting them are sparsely spaced (resembles a large mesh).

In addition to the structure of the mat, the color of the panel may also differ. Unpainted canvas has a light brownish or golden tint, characteristic of dry bamboo stems, or resembles bleached oak. But in some cases, craftsmen use natural dyes, saturating the material with them before weaving begins.

When making mats, stems of different shades and sometimes widths are used. This allows you to vary the appearance of bamboo curtains and makes it easier to select the desired element of room decoration.

New trend

The “plastic boom” has gradually become obsolete. People give less and less preference to polymer and synthetic materials, which negatively affect their overall health. Synthetics are being replaced by natural and organic products. Ecological materials are “in price” today; they are the peak of perfection, a sign of refined taste and luxury. They not only decorate rooms, but also use them as decorative elements and style accessories.

Pros and cons of bamboo roller blinds

Bamboo roller blind is made from plant material. Even for the threads that weave the lamellas, natural fiber is most often used. Thanks to this, a static charge does not accumulate on the surface of the product. Dust is not attracted to the mat. The product does not need to be washed; it is enough to wipe it occasionally if dirt appears on the surface.

Bamboo roller blinds are easy to install according to the instructions included with the product.

In addition to hygiene, bamboo roller blinds have other advantages:

• bamboo with a dense and smooth texture does not collect or produce dust, which is why it is considered hypoallergenic;
• the lightness of the canvas makes it convenient to use;
• good light-shielding abilities: to reduce the flow of light (in the bedroom, children's room), you should hang blinds made of wide slats with a dense weave;
• the ability to pass air is due to the structure of the mat itself with small gaps between the straw;
• the versatility of bamboo canvas is that it is suitable for almost any design style, except classic ones, which require other materials;
• Possibility of use in a dry room;
• low price (the cost of a product 180x180 cm is most often up to 1000 rubles);
• Most models are easy to install on a window using above-the-opening mounting methods.

Disadvantages include the ability to absorb odors. When using the product in the kitchen, bamboo can smell like burnt food for a long time or emit other unpleasant odors. If there is no hood, the room should be well ventilated.

Other disadvantages include:

• limited color palette and lack of bright shades in the design;
• the maximum width of the canvas is 180 cm; curtains with a width of 240 cm are rarely sold;
• undesirability of use in damp rooms: despite the resistance of bamboo to moisture, products can change color and lose strength faster than in optimal conditions.

How to install?

You can install such curtains on the windows yourself, or you can call a professional. A specialist will cope with the task in a matter of minutes. There really is nothing complicated in this matter. In theory, any owner can do this himself.

Usually the fastening mechanism is simple and straightforward. A good manufacturer always comes with a bag of fasteners for the curtains, so you don’t have to run around the store looking for a suitable screw.

The curtains have a bar at the top on which fastening mechanisms are attached. They have holes drilled in them for fastening. Depending on the type of frame, screws or dowels may be needed. If the curtain needs to be hung on a regular plastic window, a simple small self-tapping screw will do.

Installing such curtains consists of only one step - you need to secure them to the frame with self-tapping screws where the holes are drilled. Of course, you must first attach them to the window, unfold them to their full length, in order to make sure that they “sit” as they should. Moreover, you can vary the mounting height within the frame width (if, for example, the curtain is too long).

You can mark with a pencil the points where the fasteners should “hit” so that the curtain hangs straight. It is advisable to attach the curtains to the window together so as not to make mistakes and not lose anything.

Please note that there are models with weighting at the bottom. Such curtains can be equipped with magnets - two magnets are mounted on the curtain itself, and two you will need to attach to the frame below. Fastening with magnets at the bottom will prevent the curtain from dangling on the window from the wind. This is very convenient for the sash, which folds back like a window - the curtain will remain in place in any situation.

Types of construction and design of curtains

In most cases, 3 main types of design are used:

1. With mechanical lifting via a system of cords and rollers. In narrow versions of mini-mats (for installation in a glass opening, on a frame), only 2 cords are used at the edges of the mat; on wide ones there may be several. They are combined, and when lifting such a curtain you need to pull 1 cord on the side. Under its action, the canvas will curl into a neat roll. The direction of rolling such products is on the outside of the mat. The fastening is carried out on a metal frame with tape or hung on bracket hooks (above the window opening).
2. Manual lifting is carried out by rolling the web manually. Such varieties are mounted on a wide wooden baguette. It is more convenient to roll them away from you, i.e. the curtain rolls towards the glass, and the roll is invisible on the front side. Garter cords help secure it.
3. A number of products are assembled according to the type of Roman blinds. Wide and flat lamellas with rings through which cords are passed are woven into the fabric at regular intervals. As in the first option, they are combined, lifting is done by tensioning 1 cord. After this, it is fixed on the holder. Unlike roller blinds, Roman blinds are assembled in regular folds about 7-10 cm wide.

On the left are roller blinds with manual lifting, on the right is a roller Roman blind made of bamboo.

Among the curtain design techniques, weaving with threads is used that contrasts with the main tone of the mat. Thanks to this, the front side of the product looks striped (with vertical bright stripes) or decorated with colored rectangles arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

But non-natural shades are rarely used in products: the main range consists of a combination of colors that can be obtained using natural dyes (greenish, yellow, burgundy, etc.).

Another technique involves coloring the material and combining horizontal stripes of lamellas of different colors.

How to choose?

When choosing curtains made of bamboo fabric, it is important to consider the quality of the weaving and the lifting system with which they are equipped. Everything is clear with blinds - they are made of plates and fold up and down using a side cord.

Curtains can have two lifting options:

• Rolling.
• "Roman" mechanism.

In the first case, the canvas, like roller blinds, neatly rolls up if you pull the cord. The system can be open or closed. When the system is open, the roll hangs in plain sight, and when it is closed, it is placed under a special bar that covers it. There is not much difference between them. The open version looks more natural and therefore is suitable for stylized interiors (ethnic, tropical design, eco-style), and the closed version is for a more restrained and strict design.

The “Roman” lifting mechanism will fold the curtain upward in waves that will seem to creep one on top of the other. This is how textile Roman blinds are assembled. It looks more beautiful, more suitable for elegant design (classic, country style). It is worth considering that this folding mechanism is more complicated, so the curtain itself will cost more.

When choosing, it is important to consider the quality of the canvas itself. Pay attention to the weaving. The straws may be located close to each other, or perhaps sparsely. Accordingly, it will transmit more or less light. It is logical that for a bedroom or nursery it is worth choosing thick options, but you can also hang a “rare” curtain on plastic windows in the kitchen.

The quality of the threads is important - whether they stick out or fall out of the product. When comparing different options, evaluate the weaving pattern - there are beautiful “checkerboard” curtains, there are plain curtains, and there are those where different shades of straws are intricately intertwined.

If you spend a little time, you can find a very nice option that suits your interior.

Vertical bamboo curtains are usually used for decorative purposes. They work well for decorating a doorway or for decorating large floor-to-ceiling windows (for example, in a dining room or living room). Pieces of bamboo stems on special cords are attached to a horizontal strip, which is attached above the window or doorway. When choosing, you should pay attention to the length of the curtain, the thickness of the cord (or the reliability of another fastening: there are, for example, curtains where pieces of bamboo are interlocked with hooks) and the very bottom of the product. There should be tight knots or other “stoppers” along the bottom to prevent the bamboo from flying off. Due to constant swinging and friction, such curtains very often fall apart, so the more securely the bottom edge is decorated, the better.

Curtains can be made exclusively from stems, or they can have inserts with artificial leaves, beads, and bugles. Such items can sometimes fit very well into the decor.

Features in the design of different rooms

Light curtains made of bamboo straw look good with delicate curtains made of tulle, silk, and lawn of similar shades. A combination of white curtains and beige, golden natural color of the material is appropriate.

An example of a light bamboo roller blind.

Other options:

1. The use of curtains in a natural palette typical of bamboo in colonial, Mediterranean, Californian styles with their light interiors. Light textiles on the windows correspond to the styles. The ornament of curtains is often chosen to be made in natural plant shades, and any such fabric is successfully combined with straw.
2. The Japanese style is suitable for bamboo curtains of any color and design. When decorating a house, it is necessary to choose a harmonious combination of interior elements (wall decoration, curtains, furniture upholstery and textiles) with the coloring of bamboo mats. There will be no other restrictions.
3. For strict minimalism, free industrial styles or modernism, a bamboo curtain will be an interesting addition: such an interior requires the use of discreet shades and natural materials.
4. Compliance with ethnic styles of any orientation is what all fans of eco-interiors value bamboo for. Roller blinds will successfully complement the African or Asian motifs used in ethnic design. Choosing a shade will be easy: hand-made ethnic fabrics are dyed using the same dyes as when decorating curtains. Wooden, straw, wicker or rattan pieces of furniture will go well with the new curtains and will create the effect of being in a reed hut.

The possibilities of combining bamboo and other design elements allow you to use curtains to decorate a living room, a nursery, a bedroom or kitchen, a hallway, or an insulated balcony. Indoor plants, as well as products made from natural or artificial straw, will fit into such an interior.

Stylish vases made from newspaper tubes will look impressive: with a well-chosen dye color, they look like bamboo stems.

Minimalistic bamboo roller blinds fit almost any light interior.

Why do you need curtains on a doorway?

An important part of the interior of any room are doorways. Many refuse doors. They take up space and can be inconvenient. In this case, it is better to close the doorways with curtains. They regulate the light flux, protect against the penetration of insects and close the room space from prying eyes, providing privacy. Curtains instead of doors have the following advantages:

• they help zone the space;
• separate rooms without taking up space;
• do not interfere with free air circulation;
• in a small room they help visually increase the space;
• They serve as interior decoration and give it a finished look.

Curtains on the door hide the room from prying eyes and bright light Source profdekor.ru

Installing a bamboo roller blind

The curtain can be hung in 2 ways:

1. Above the window opening. During standard installation, holes are drilled in the wall above the window and along its sides, into which dowels are driven and special hooks are screwed in for hanging curtains or other types of brackets (for massive wooden cornices). The width of the curtain is chosen so that it completely covers the side parts of the frame, and the length when closed should be enough to reach the bottom border of the window sill. To ensure proper installation, installation instructions are included with the finished product.
2. Inside the opening. To avoid drilling window profiles, use tape mounting. A double-sided adhesive strip is installed on the underside of the top bar. The frame is mounted above the glass, on the frame. The width and length of the mat are selected exactly according to the dimensions of the glass. This type of bamboo roller blind involves the use of light translucent curtains if they are required in the interior design.

Design tips

Bamboo curtains can be installed on window openings in absolutely any room:

• bedroom;

• living room;

• dining room

The material is natural, which means it is completely adapted to natural conditions and elements. Water is not a death sentence for bamboo, so curtains made from this material can be safely used in the bathroom.

Proper care

The only requirement that must be observed when cleaning is that it is not advisable to use wet sponges or rags for wiping. Cleaning is done dry using a vacuum cleaner or dust brush.

Dirt (for example, in the kitchen) should be wiped off with a slightly damp sponge. The use of chemicals is not recommended by the manufacturers of such materials. Grease stains are removed with laundry soap.

When operating the lifting mechanism:

• do not jerk sharply the cord that raises the curtain;
• Do not pull on the bottom bar (children or animals can do this) - broken threads or broken straws will cause the fabric to warp, disrupt the rolling with the help of cords, or lead to the destruction of the mat.

Caring for and using bamboo curtains is simple. When using the product, you need to take into account only the requirements of the material itself (lack of moisture) and the peculiarity of the fabric (solid lamellas intertwined with threads).