Bamboo Roll Up Blinds

Bamboo Roll Up Blinds Are Known By Many Names

Bamboo roll up blinds (also known as bamboo window shades) are popular in East Asian countries like Japan and China. In Japan, they are called "sudare", which is pronounced like "soo-dah-reh". The western equivalent is the bamboo roman shade, but some people also call them matchstick bamboo blinds. In contrast to Venetian blinds, roll ups are less rigid and convey a soother sense of decor.

The Japanese word sudare itself originally didn't mean blind or sun shade, but was a general term for an object which is woven with silk, bamboo and reeds (yoshi or ashi). All of these objects have been widely used in various ways throughout Japan and East Asia since ancient times. Bamboo roman shades and bamboo roll up blinds vary in size for the different applications. Whereas larger ones are used as window shades, smaller ones are used as sushi mats, coasters, interior decorations, etc.

Bamboo and Reeds

The main material of bamboo roll up blinds is reeds (yoshi or ashi). It's a type of tall grass distributed in temperate to tropical wetlands throughout the world. Because of the nature of reed, which is light weight and sheds rain effectively, it's used as a material for many traditional indoor and outdoor blinds as well as roofing material of Asian traditional houses. Until around 1970, reeds were produced at a much higher proportion in Japan, however, because of the decrease in the natural habitat of reeds due to river industrialization, China has become the major producer.

Two Types

There are two kinds of window shading that belong to the category of bamboo shades. One is a hanging type which is designed to be hanged either inside or outside a house. In this type, the reeds are strung together and hung in a horizontal configuration on the window so that it can be adjusted rolling up the blind from the bottom. The other type is known as a "tatezu", and instead of being in a horizontal configuration, is in a vertical configuration. The stand-up blinds are usually much longer so that when positioned in its vertical configuration, it can rest against the overhang of a roof but also prop itself against the ground. The result looks like a temporary shade wall that encloses one side of the house.

Usage in Japan

It is said that traditional bamboo roll up blinds were invented around 100 years earlier Japanese sliding door. In spite of the spread of western style curtains and blinds, sudares continue to be popular because of ease of use and attractive looks. In modern architecture, sudares are also used as interior and exterior decoration. Besides plain style shades for ordinary houses, more elaborately patterned ones are used for major productions like Kabuki plays or in upscale Japanese restaurants.

Cheap Bamboo Blinds

People interested in cheap bamboo blinds or discount bamboo blinds can consider getting ones made of faux bamboo material. Faux bamboo blinds are most likely going to be made of plastic or other similar synthetic. If guests don't look too closely, these should work fine. Another place to get discount bamboo shades and cheap bamboo blinds is to check out super retailers like Walmart which carry a good selection at low prices.