Bamboo Kitchen Floors

By choosing bamboo flooring over standard hardwood lumber, you will discover strong, durable floors that give a unique look to the home and are better for the environment. Bamboo is a great choice for environmentally conscious homeowners. It’s made from a renewable resource. Unlike wood, bamboo is rapidly renewable and matures in around six years (rather than 60). Harvesting bamboo does not kill it: When shoots are cut, the roots are left intact so new shoots can grow. And some bamboo floors contain water-based, solvent-free, low-VOC finishes, which contribute to better air quality in the home.

This eco-friendly kitchen is green both literally and figuratively.green eco spec paint was used on walls and matched with modular bar stools and glass pendant lights.bamboo floors warm the room and top appliances with custom cabinetry make the room pop.

Though it's technically a grass, bamboo is actually harder than many types of wood. Bamboo comes in tiles or planks in a variety of sizes, colors, patterns, and textures.

The eco-chic surface stands up well to water and traffic, and it's quite comfortable to stand on. So you can cook comfortably. Like hardwood, it's available in solid or engineered styles.

This bamboo floor gives a clean, open feel to this combined kitchen and breakfast nook.

Though natural bamboo is blond, it can be stained a variety of colors, either translucent or opaque. For another darker option, carbonized or caramelized bamboo is pressure-heated to brown the sugar compounds. This produces a warm color without using stains or dyes.

Contrast is key in this bright white bar and dining area. Dark bamboo flooring, black barstools and a black dining table create bold focal elements in the space. A mix of dark and light furniture adds visual interest in the space for a sophisticated design.

A natural beige runner rug over the kitchen's bamboo floor between the sink wall and island adds subtle pattern and a bit of texture. But bamboo floors are already known to be extra comfy and soft to walk on.

Proving once again that bamboo does not always have to be blond, this rich, dark horizontal-grain bamboo floor lends drama and elegance in an open kitchen. The fast-growing grass is an eco-friendly floor choice. Shown: Ebony. Photo courtesy of DuroDesign Flooring, Inc.

Bamboo and palm wood products work very well in kitchens because they are tropical woods and are treated to withstand the occasional moisture mishap.

This solid-strip bamboo floor imparts worldly flavor in the kitchen. The eco-friendly surface contributes to good air quality, and it’s easy to clean. Shown: Signature Naturals, flat grain caramelized. Photographer: John Granen. Photo courtesy of Teragren LLC

Warm bamboo flooring contrasts with the cool blue wall color and bright white cabinets in this spacious kitchen. Slim metal barstools allow the focus to remain on the white cabinets and stunning wood floor.

Honey-colored woven bamboo floors add contemporary flair in the kitchen. The hard, durable surface is formed by heat-pressing bamboo with hardening resins. Shown: woven bamboo, Honey. Photo courtesy of EcoTimber

Bamboo is not just for flooring in kitchens. These bamboo cabinets add a unique look to this kitchen. On the back wall, frosted glass and steel cabinets offer visual relief from the texture of the bamboo. Stainless steel appliances help complete the sleek feel of the kitchen.

A flood of natural light beams down on a large island with a built-in microwave in this contemporary kitchen. Bamboo flooring adds texture to the clean lines of the neutral cabinetry and simple fixtures.

"Bamboo has been around for a long time, but what we are seeing lately is an explosion of colors and styles," says Dean Howell, president of Atlanta-based MODA Floors & Interiors. While technically a fast-growing grass, bamboo is as hard or harder than most hardwoods when dried. Newer products called strand-woven bamboo, a highly engineered product using the inner fibers, are twice as hard as traditional bamboo flooring. Dean says that in addition to the common thin-banded styles shoppers have become accustomed to, bamboo is offered in wide-plank styles that mimic the look of classic hardwoods.

This close-up image illustrates the beautiful variety in bamboo floor color. While bamboo is not a wood, but rather a grass, it can be extremely durable owing to the adhesives added to its makeup and the construction of its stalks.