what can you do with bamboo

Get Creative: 12 Fun DIY Projects Using Versatile Bamboo

Bamboo is an incredible natural material that has so many uses, both indoors and outdoors. It’s sustainable, durable, versatile, and beautiful. With just bamboo and a few basic tools, you can create all kinds of functional and decorative projects for your home and garden.

In this article, we’ll look at 12 awesome DIY bamboo projects you can make today. From room dividers to wall decor, headboards to planters, there are so many possibilities when you work with this amazing plant. Read on for bamboo project inspiration!

1. Room Divider

One of the best ways to use bamboo is as a room divider. Bamboo room dividers instantly add visual interest and a touch of nature to any space. To make one, simply join pieces of bamboo together into panels using rope, cable ties, glue, or hardware pieces. Stand multiple panels side by side to cordon off different functional areas of a room. Or place one large panel to separate spaces without fully enclosing them.

1. Wall Décor

Decorate your walls with handcrafted bamboo art pieces. Some ideas include:

• Bamboo sunburst mirror
• Bamboo ladder with air plants
• Bamboo photo or memo board
• Bamboo sheets arranged in geometric patterns
• Bamboo branch hooks for hanging art, coats, towels, etc.
• Bamboo windchimes

You can leave bamboo décor pieces natural or stain, paint, or decorate them to match your room

1. Headboard

Make a stunning bamboo headboard as a focal point for your bedroom. Choose several bamboo poles and arrange them side-by-side securing with rope twine, or cord. For extra support, mount the bamboo pieces to a plywood backing. Finish with clear gloss for protection.

1. Coat Rack

Bamboo makes a perfect material for a funky, earthy coat rack. Choose one thick bamboo pole or several thinner poles bundled together. Mount horizontally with the ends anchored to the wall. Add circular bamboo pieces as coat hooks. This project takes just minutes to complete.

1. Coffee Table

A bamboo coffee table brings nature inside and makes a bold style statement. Arrange bamboo poles or boards on top of a simple wooden base. Or make an entire bamboo table by lashing poles together to form the legs and a square or rectangular surface on top. Finish with polyurethane for protection.

1. Garden Edging

Use slender bamboo poles laid horizontally to create a borders and edges in garden beds and pathways. This looks neat and tidy while keeping mulch, soil, and plants contained. For extra strength, pound short vertical stakes into the ground to anchor the horizontal edging pieces.

1. Planters

Turn bamboo segments into charming planters for your garden. Use a drill or knife to punch drainage holes. Nestle plastic nursery pots inside the open bamboo planters to hold potting mix and plants. You can make simple cylinders or get creative with conical, spherical, or geometric shapes.

1. Plant Trellis

Bamboo is ideal for building lightweight trellises to support climbing plants, vines, and espaliered fruit trees. Cut and lash together bamboo poles into A-frames, teepees, obelisks, grids, and other structures. Position trellises along fences and walls or anchor freestanding in garden beds.

1. Serving Trays

Craft versatile bamboo serving trays for food, drinks, toiletries, office supplies, and more. Cut bamboo pieces to size and use dowels spaced evenly across the bottom to attach legs for elevation. Stain or seal trays for durability and water resistance.

1. Kitchen Utensils

Did you know bamboo can replace plastic and metal in kitchen tools? Make your own bamboo spoons, forks, spatulas, mixing spoons, chopsticks, cutting boards, and more. It’s naturally antibacterial and heat resistant. Add a personal touch by burning or carving designs into utensil handles.

1. Wind Chimes

Harness the hollow nature of bamboo tubes to make musical wind chimes. Cut tubes to varied lengths and arrange from longest to shortest. Hang vertically with fishing line and add a clanger made of wood, metal, or seashells. Position outside windows and doors to create soothing sounds when breezes blow.

1. Bird Feeder/House

The open tubes of bamboo make perfect tiny homes for birds. Just hang bamboo segments outside, with or without bird feed inside, and watch feathered friends take up residence. Make more elaborate feeders by adding perches, seed compartments, and overhangs for shelter.

Bamboo is such an incredibly diverse material. It lends itself well to so many different Do It Yourself projects, both simple and more advanced.

Whether you have a bamboo grove in your backyard or purchase materials from a craft store, this sustainable grass offers unlimited possibilities for creation. Arm yourself with a saw, drill, sander, scissors, glue, cordage, and other basic supplies and get crafting your own beautiful bamboo masterpieces.

The projects on this list are just a sampling of what’s possible. Incorporate your own personal style and custom design elements to make them your own unique creations. Have fun unleashing your inner artisan with bamboo!