Bamboo Chandelier

Vanessa Weber Interior Design Expert

Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.

Updated 04/04/2021

A chandelier idea you never thought of because it's just too unique, you might be intrigued by these bamboo chandeliers. They're stylish, sustainable, hypoallergenic, and fully functional. They come in plenty of looks to fit your home and can be painted to match the decor. Take a look at this extensive collection of our bamboo chandelier options.

Buying Guide

A bamboo chandelier almost sounds like a contradiction in terms. After all, a chandelier originally supported candles, providing extra illumination in an age when lighting was difficult and uncertain. Today, however, a chandelier is more likely to support electrical lighting which can manifest in a variety of bulb and bulb cover designs. Bamboo is a sturdy material, highly ecological and quickly replaced with new growth. It is lightweight and can be used to create a variety of designs.

Do bamboo chandeliers come in drum designs?

Bamboo can be used to create simple, drum-shaped shades for hanging chandelier lights. These can range for a single drum shape, rather like a snare or kettle drum to more complex designs such as three cylindrical “drums” in graduated sizes, with the largest hung at the top and the smaller ones in successively smaller sizes hung below it. Three “drums” is a classic design of the latter sort, but they can also be arranged in spirals or in offset star patterns.

Does bamboo pair well with metal?

Another frequently used option is to use bamboo to make an openwork frame for a metal chandelier arrangement. The bamboo is cut into small lengths and wired together to create an elegant framework for designer light bulbs, such as those that imitate candle flames. The bamboo frame is then gilded with metallic paint to simulate gold or silver ornamentation that matches the metal used to house the wiring and the bulb holders.

Does bamboo go with fabric shades?

Bamboo can be used as a framework for other kinds of materials, as well. Silk is an ever-popular choice for lamp shades of any kind because the fine fabric can easily be woven into a translucent covering that diffuses light with a minimal reduction of illumination. Furthermore, the silk can be plain or it can have patterns woven in or be adorned with embroidery, paint or even small gems.

Can bamboo be shaped into spheres?

Young bamboo can be pre-bent into shapes, allowing it to easily be formed into spheres. These can be plain spokes of natural bamboo, slabs of cut bamboo, or even bamboo withies that are threaded through beads or other decorations. They can be sparse, simple suggestions of a sphere or they can be dense or even woven over to create a thicker shade.

Are there any unusual shapes of bamboo chandeliers?

Bamboo can also be formed into what in the art world are known as organic shapes which are shapes that do not conform to geometric dictates. As with most such artwork, there is no real limit to how the forms are configured. They can resemble clouds, driftwood, branching trees and more.