There are so many ways to be environmentally conscious, whether you're recycling, decreasing your water usage, turning off your lights when you leave your house, or even antiquing. We like to keep everything environmentally savvy here at RugKnots, even our floors! But, still...that begs the question, what's the big deal about bamboo flooring? It isn't new, in fact, it's been around for nearly twenty years now. As beautiful as any hardwood floor, and more durable because of the new "strand-woven" method of manufacture, bamboo flooring is not only beautiful, it is sustainable and environmentally friendly. That's right! Bamboo flooring is as GREEN as floor can be! Just like Bamboo Silk Rugs, Bamboo hardwoods are a sustainable product because bamboo grows so fast. Whereas a red oak takes 20 years to mature, bamboo can grow in about 5 to 6 years,from the same stalk, no less! For anyone with sustainability in mind, these floors are the perfect choice. And guess what? They happen to go perfectly with oriental rugs! In this post, I'll tell you all about bamboo flooring, why you should choose bamboo, how bamboo flooring is made, different types of bamboo flooring,and why a green oriental rug is the perfect choice to pair with your bamboo hardwood floor!
Bamboo Floors and Oriental Rugs
Like I said before (and I'll say it again), bamboo is so much more sustainable than other woods, but that's not all it has going for it. Yes, really. There's so much more! Oriental rugs are one of those! How many outstanding words can I use to describe bamboo flooring? It's versatile, inexpensive, durable, easy to install, and on top of all that it has that classic hardwood look! You should choose bamboo floors if you want the beauty of hardwood for 1/3 of the cost, with more life and durability than your typical hardwood! (Did I mention it's sustainable? Oh, I did!)
How are beautiful bamboo flooring made?
Bamboo floors are made with a specific type of bamboo, which can grow up to 80 feet tall. Moso bamboo is the most used in flooring, and when it is fully mature, the stalks can have a diameter of up to 8 inches! When manufacturers produce these floors, they slice the bamboo stalks into thin strips which are then bound with adhesives and milled. There are three ways to mill bamboo flooring, horizontal, vertical and strand-woven.
Horizontal bamboo floors make the most use of the stalk. With a classic bamboo look, the strips are adhered edge to edge. These floors come in natural, stained, and carbonized treatments.(Carbonized means that the planks are heat-treated during manufacturing to give them a darker hue)
Vertical bamboo floors consist of thin strips adhered together, with the cut edges facing up. These floors are less likely to show wear and tear, but don't often come stained, as it's hard for the stain to absorb into the thin strips.
Strand woven floors are new and up-and-coming. This milling process is quicker and makes bamboo floors much more durable. Bamboo floors made this way are actually 2-3 times more durable. To make these floors, manufacturers soak strips in adhesives, lay them out together, and press the layers into a solid rectangle, which is then cut into floorboards. Because this method provides a much denser product, these floors are easier to stain than horizontal or vertical bamboo, meaning that you can really get that hardwood look, for half the price!
Things to consider about bamboo floors
Bamboo floors are a great bargain, but that doesn't mean that the quality is always up to par. Like any industry, the bamboo flooring industry has some duds. Some manufacturers of lesser-quality floors use adhesives which contain urea-formaldehyde, which can cause off-gassing in floors, meaning that these harmful chemicals are released into the air of your home.
What finishes/types of bamboo floor are there?
Because there are three ways to make bamboo flooring, and strand-woven bamboo floors can be easily stained, there are countless options for bamboo floor finishes! Remember, the glossier the finish you choose, the easier the floor will be to scratch. These are just a few of our favorite bamboo finishes! Like I said, those are just a few of the endless options! We at RugKnots love the beauty, versatility, sustainability, and durability of bamboo floors, but can you guess what we love even more? We're here to show you how to pair a wool rug with a rug color for wood floor. Let's keep our floors environmentally conscious! Here's a list of examples of best rugs for bamboo floors and things to think about when pairing a rug with a wood floor.
1. Bamboo Silk Rugs
If you want to continue a theme of sustainability in your home, look no further than bamboo silk rugs! (Except totally look further because we have more suggestions.) Like bamboo hardwood flooring, bamboo silk rugs are made with sustainable materials. Not only are they beautiful and soft, they are so environmentally friendly!
2. Overdyed Antique Rugs
Another sustainable rug solution is the overdyed rug. Overdyed rugs are vintage or antique rugs with colors that have faded. Instead of throwing out these rugs, they are desaturated and redyed another vibrant, modern color with all-natural vegetable dyes! Bringing green into space adds an organic touch, making a room feel healthy, vibrant, and full of LIFE. Though green is an amazing choice, especially if you're trying to GO GREEN, there are countless color options available for overdyed antique rugs. Overdyed rugs are a colorful, unique way to bring a modern splash of color into the room. Keep reading to find out more sustainable rug choices
3. Overdyed Patchwork Rugs
Like overdyed rugs, overdyed patchwork rugs are made of old or antique recycled rugs. Instead of overdying one rug in one color, overdyed patchwork rugs include pieces of several rugs, and each piece can be dyed in a different color or different tones of the same color. These rugs are the perfect modern centerpiece for any room, like this rustic bedroom with a grey overdyed patchwork rug. No matter the color, overdyed patchwork rugs are beautiful statement pieces that will quickly become beloved heirlooms! You have to love their eclectic style, smaller price tag, and sustainability!
4. Antique Rugs
Antique rugs are a piece of history to have in your home! If you're looking for the classic oriental rug with all the charm and beauty of a historical piece, an antique rug. Hand-knotted antique rugs have a timeless quality, since they've been in style for CENTURIES! Antique rugs are especially grand, luxurious, and, you guessed it, sustainable! Buying one of the high quality, genuine antique rugs that RugKnots has to offer saves time money and materials! Antique rugs really compliment the vintage, bohemian, eclectic styles that are trending right now. Buying antiques gives you a connection to the past, and something beautiful to look at for years to come! Just imagine the stories these rugs could tell! The antique bamboo floor runner in this minimalist space gives the hallway a classic, fresh look. Its faded colors just make it even more beautiful!.
There you have it! If you're looking to keep your homes, and specifically your floors, sustainable, consider looking into bamboo flooring and an oriental rug, whether it's bamboo silk, overdyed, overdyed patchwork, or an antique. Your floors will thank you! Also getting rugs from RugKnots will make your floors hail you! Quite literally!
