Of course, over 1000 bamboo things are possible if you have carpentry skills.
The growing popularity of bamboo uses is beyond the trend and invasive due to its versatility, durability, and eco-friendliness.
Bamboo can offer a wide array of possibilities for those who want to live in a natural setting or practice DIYs.
History of Bamboo Uses
Bamboo is native to subtropical regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.
China, Japan, India, the United States, and Australia heavily use available bamboo for several purposes, such as construction, gaming and recreational tools, household essentials, food, textiles, and crafts.
Bamboo dates back over 30 million years and is one of the oldest plants on Earth.
People have used it since the Stone Age, when they made survival tools (splinters) from bamboo stems.
Paper made of bamboo was recorded around 105 AD in China.
Bamboo also serves as a traditional or cultural heritage in China, Japan, and other countries. For example, Japan’s called kadomatsu (New Year’s decorations) is made of bamboo.
So, here are 1000 things to make from bamboo for natural or sustainable living.
1. Bamboo Furniture
Bamboo is lightweight, durable, and aesthetically appealing, making it eligible for producing sustainable home furniture pieces.
You can use them anywhere indoors or outdoors, from the bedroom to the bathroom.
Chairs, tables, stools, benches, stands, Bed headboards, sunbeds, sofas, and shelves
Bed frames, Cabinets, Nightstands, table legs, side tables, toilet stools, canopy bed
Storage solutions (basket, tray, box, bookends, ottoman, storage bench, hat stand, desk organizer, key holder, mail organizer, storage jar, all-mounted storage)
Racks for kitchen, footwear, clothes, book food and drink
Tip: You can place bamboo chairs and tables on the patio and garden to relax outdoors.
2. Kitchen Items
Bamboo is naturally moisture resistant, making it ideal for kitchen uses. They are also non-toxic and easy to clean.
Bamboo items are widely used in the kitchen, from sitting on a chair to food holders and cooking assistants.
Cutting boards, utensils, and serving trays
Kitchen storage containers, canisters, coasters, forks, hardwood cups, platters
Tea infusers, strainers, stirrers, water pitchers, trivet, beard boxes, napkin holders, jar lids, salad tongs, salad bowls, saucers
Knives and spoons or spatula, chopstick, rolling pin, whisk, ladle, colander, placemat,
Utensil holders, knife block, lid stand
3. Construction and Building Materials
Road reinforcements in India and use cases for bridge building in China are only a few contributions of bamboo.
Do you know bamboo can act as supporting stakes or trunks that weigh about 16 tons?
They are also pest-resistant and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Bamboo does not only help to build a skyscraper building, but you can also make a complete home made of bamboo. WOW!
Flooring options (solid and engineered): tiles, Decking, Flooring trim, Floor borders
Plywood for building structures: Columns, Joists, Trusses, boards, sheets, Framing studs, Rafters, Purlins
Paneling for walls and ceilings: Partitions, Privacy screens, Cladding, Siding, Soffits, Louvers, Wainscoting
Beams and supports (Stakes): Eaves, Roof ridges, Studs, Bridge supports, Pillars, frames, Fence posts, poles
Bamboo furniture is always used in the tropical and coastal regions. But you can also make bamboo homes to have a natural and eco-friendly style.
4. Garden Tools
If not all, bamboo poles are used for fencing properties such as gardens or any other cultivated lands.
Don’t worry if they decay after use. You can use them as compost or organic fertilizer in your backyard garden.
Whether you want to manage the land or grow vegetables and trees, you can use bamboo for all purposes.
Plant stakes, trellises, fences, rakes, hoes, garden forks,
Watering cans and compost bins, compost stirrer, compost tea brewer
Garden markers, rose support, rainwater diverter, plant hanger
Raised garden beds, garden tool holders, vegetable baskets
Birdhouses, climbing frames, irrigation channels, tomato cages, pails,
5. Clothing and Fashion Accessories
Bamboo pulps are often used to produce plant fabrics for sustainable clothes and wearables. These wearables are soft, durable, breathable, and antibacterial.
The antibacterial properties remain in the bamboo fabrics even after 50 washings.
Microbial, moisture recking, and hypoallergenic properties also boost comfort.
You can feel more comfortable against the skin than wearing linen or other chemical-processed clothes.
Fabric clothing (shirts, socks, pants, undergarments, wrap dress, warmer, trench coat, shorts, vest, nappies)
Blanket, bed sheet, pillow covers, leggings, bathrobe,
Scarves, coolie hats, gloves, masks, purses,
Jewelry (necklaces, earrings, bracelets, folding hand fan, headband, hair tie, watch, sunglasses, walking stick, handbag)
Shoes, sandals, loafers, slippers
Oriental rugs are often made of exotic woods like mango. So, choosing the bamboo rugs not only makes you feel comfortable but also helps you have several trees.
6. Household Items
You may be surprised to know that bamboo makes great home decor and utility items that not only add natural charm but also replace several plastic items.
Scaffolding is also applied on bamboo products, especially over metals, making the items readily available and cheap.
So, you can use them as eco-friendly alternatives to everyday items at home.
Laundry baskets
Blinds and curtains
Serving dishes and cutlery
Drinking straws, salt, and paper grinder, dinnerware, steamer, pot brush, cloth hangers, mortar and pestle
Clothes pins, charcoal air-purifying bags, hampers
Tips: Organize your bamboo products against light colors, including white or pale blue. It can increase the aesthetic of the living space.
7. Art and Crafts
Bamboo has soft wood, making it great for several DIY projects. This makes it easy to cut, curve, and shape for carpenters.
Wind chimes and sculptures
Picture frames, lampshades, and wall art
Baskets and storage containers
DIY home decor (vases, planters, etc.)
Items for children’s play ( toy swords, puzzles, swings, dolls)
electronics (speakers, mouse, phone case, digital clock, stylus, wireless charger, calculator, airport case)
Sports and recreation (helmets, skateboards, paddleboard paddle. golf tees, cornhole game, bicycle, bottle, luggage carrier, baseball bat, ski poles, fishing rods, martial arts essentials)
Decorative items (centerpieces, party backdrops, and ornaments)
8. Musical Instruments
Thanks to its hollow form, bamboo is an ideal choice for making traditional instruments like the flute.
But instruments, including modern guitars, are possible because of the sound properties that solid bamboo panels produce.
Struck Instruments: Xylophones, Marimbas, Drum sticks (used to strike drums or percussion), Slit drums, Chimes, Saxophone Reeds,
Shaken Instruments: Rainsticks, Angklung, Maracas, Castanets
Plucked Instruments: Guitars, Ukuleles, Zithers, Chapman sticks
Bowed Instruments: Violins
Blown Instruments (Wind): Flutes, Didgeridoos, Pipe organs, Saxophones, Clarinets, Kazoos, Whistles, Trumpets, Piccolos
Others: Lyre Harp, Thumb Piano, Guiro
9: Personal Care Items
Bamboo is used to make personal care items thanks to its biodegradable, nontoxic, and antibacterial properties.
They are durable, natural and eco friendly and easy to use.
Toothbrushes, combs, hairbrushes, and soap dishes
Toothpaste holder, body scrubber, scrubber, cotton swabs, reusable makeup remover pads
Soap, toilet seat, toothpaste, massage sticks, bathroom accessories
10. Pulp and Paper
Bamboo has been used in papermaking for centuries. It is durable, acid-free, and high in tensile strength, ideal for several works.
After pulping the bamboo, you can make papers for printing, packaging, household, and stationery.
Coffee filters, disposable paper cups, paper towels,
Toilet paper, cardboard, kraft paper, bond paper, baby diapers, copy papers,
This helps reduce the use of trees in papermaking and prevent deforestation for a green environment.
11. Items for Pets and Livestock
When starting a homestead or farm, you need to rely on cheap and sustainable resources.
In this case, bamboo is flexible, versatile, and durable to use for several purposes, from creating stalls to fencing grazing areas.
Also, it supports all kinds of farm or homestead animals, from small birds (quail, chicken, duck) to giant livestock (cows, alpacas, horses).
Cat tree, scoop, bird perch, bedding, hutch, cage, pet hair remover,
Nesting box, bird or animal feeder, pet mat, hideaway, animal food tray, feeding station,
Pet treat dispenser, grooming cape, training pouch, harness, pet crate, ramp, collar,
Besides, Livestock, including goats, sheep, and cows, enjoy eating bamboo leaves.
12. Decorations for Special Occasions
You can imagine the events or occasions where everything is made of bamboo, from tables and chairs to papel picado.
The use of bamboo stems, leaves, and shoots can provide a natural theme to the event.
And these types of occasions are preferably adopted for awareness programs, especially, Save Earth, Reforestation, Natural or Sustainable Living.
You can consider bamboo decorative items such as centerpieces, party backdrops, and ornaments.
13. Foods and Beverages
Bamboo shoots are edible so Asian countries have used them for different types of cuisines and food preparation.
These shoots contain rich vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, vitamin B6, and copper.
Also, they are low in calories and high in fiber. This makes them a healthy addition to any meal, such as stir-fries, soups, and salads.
You can make organic tea out of bamboo leaves. Beer and salt are other edible products of bamboo.
As bamboo has antioxidant properties and prevents bacterial growth, people also use it as a natural food preservative.
Charcoal is the best option for this.
After using bamboo, you can also use it as bioenergy through chips, charcoal, briquettes, and pellets.
Final Thoughts
Possibles are limitless from bamboo, even beyond 1000 items.
Designs, fashions, arts and crafts, constructions, and innovations inspired by bamboo suit rural settings and fit urban spaces.
When the use of bamboo increases in the modern world, the plantation of bamboo also grows, hence creating a sustainable environment.
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