Gina Speed
Bamboo is taking over summer decor this year! A natural or brightly painted bamboo chair is just the right thing to perk up your patio or living room. Lightweight and durable, bamboo gives your home instant island charm. Soften up your seating with pillows in cool, tropical prints and throw in a funky side table. We found some great chairs and sofas that work both inside and out. All you need to bring is your favorite cocktail and your eye for style. Don’t forget the drink umbrella!
Update an Entryway
I have a habit for rotating my closet seasonally. I bring my summer clothes front and center around May and then push them towards the back in the Fall. You can do the same thing with your furniture. Pull a bamboo chair out in the open and give your entryway a big dose of Aloha! Bamboo works surprisingly well mixed with uber modern decor, so be fearless in your decorating choices.
A Bamboo Chair + A Sunny Window
We’ve been doing a little nesting and are creating little nooks out of corners and small spaces. A bamboo chair paired with an ottoman turns an empty space by a window into a tropical dream come true! You can go matchy-matchy with a sidetable and keep everything in natural wicker or rattan. World Market is having their outdoor furniture blowout, so now is the time to hunt for that perfect bamboo treasure. We love the Malawi Wicker Chair made with a natural bamboo frame the best. Pair with a Bamboo Wicker Carmen Table Lamp Base for the ultimate island style. They work great in a forgotten corner or on a covered porch.
Press “Listen in Browser” to play immediately.
Dress Up A Desk
If you have a secretary desk that you aren’t sitting at all day long, your seating can be somewhat more decorative. Use a bamboo chair to lighten up the space, naturally. The open back helps take away bulk and makes the space seem more open. If you got on our gallery wall kick, be sure to add a wooden frame or two. It helps tie in the seating choice and looks on point, if I do say so myself.
Always Bet on Black
Whenever I get a piece of vintage furniture on my hands, my instant reaction is to go for the can of black paint. Paint a bamboo chair black and then everybody, step back! Black furniture makes quite an impact and can give something that was once frail and delicate a sense of place and position. Bright colors work especially well against black furniture, so add a bright cushion for greater impact. We recently fell in love with soft Pampa cushions which would add some softer luxury. Bamboo can be quite cozy with the right types of pillows. Take the shape of the chair into consideration when you are choosing a soft or firm pillow.
Swing on By
Can we count a porch swing as a sofa? Sure, why not? A bamboo swing gives a rustic porch just the right touch. Going back to that World Market sale, you can dot the area with a few Crosshatch Weave Bamboo Lanterns for as low as $14.99 a piece! I personally love the Black Woven Bamboo Pendant Shade, which might be too cool for an outdoor patio, I’m not sure. They have it in natural as well, so you decide. My favorite part of summer is any warm night when I can chill on a swing or a hammock and star gaze. Heaven! A variation on the porch swing is the newly popular hanging rattan chair. Check out our article on creating a sunroom and brighten up a corner with one of those, easy.
Smitten By Sectionals
When I was in a moving transition, my friend Kimi loaned me her bamboo sectional sofa as temporary seating. Holy cow I loved that thing! She had the cushions covered in a cool, green fabric and it had so much character. Unfortunately, a bamboo sofa works a little better outdoors and it wasn’t mine to keep anyway. We parted with sweet sorrow and I still have fond memories of that old guy. With a bamboo sofa, the fabric choice is the key! Check out our article on reupholstering furniture for some great ideas and an easy DIY. Remember, modern prints are a great fit with this easy island furniture style.
Final Details
The best place to find O.G. bamboo is online through a few of our favorite vintage shops, Etsy or Chairish. A vintage bamboo chair or sofa can easily be doctored up with new fabric or a coat of paint. Save money and still acquire some quality seating that you can spruce up with pillows and throws. Did you fall in love with our favorite Mexican blankets yet? A World Market Stonewashed Tassel Lumbar Pillow or Ivory Mongolian Faux Fur Throw Pillow would work great with the durable, washable blankets. Try getting out of your seat this time!