Adding bamboo to your decor
KAYLEA HUTSON GateHouse Plus

Don't be bamboozled. When it comes to bamboo, there are a variety of ways you can use it as a decorating tool in your home.

Some people chose to grow Ribbon Dracaena or lucky bamboo at home. This plant, a native to Cameroon in tropical west Africa, grows with slender stems and flexible strapshaped leaves. As a house plant, lucky bamboo can grow as tall as 1.5 meters with leaves reaching 15 to 25 centimeters long.

Take note though when choosing to make it part of your decor - it works best in a spot with indirect lighting and soil. Direct lighting turns the leaves yellow and causes them to burn.

Often lucky bamboo is sold in water. The plant will grow best in non-fluorinated or bottled water, which should be changed every two weeks. Tap water can be used when caring for the plant, if the water is exposed to air for at least one day before placed in the plant's jar.

If your thumb is more "brown" than "green" you may want to add a drier version of bamboo to your decor.

You can chose already assembled items like chairs, room dividers and tables. Bamboo baskets can be used for decorative, yet functional storage spaces in a variety of rooms.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you could create a few accent pieces.

With a few bamboo pieces, purchased from an art supply store, hot glue and a way to cut the bamboo you could jazz up a plain wooden picture frame by covering the sides with bamboo.

With a little bit of effort and time, you can add an oriental flair to your home with bamboo.

- Some information courtesy Wikipedia.com.