Why interior designers love bamboo blinds
Bamboo blinds or ‘chik’ blinds were originally invented in north India and traditionally used for protection against direct sunlight. Fine strips of bamboo are horizontally attached, often with intricate latticework decoration. Ancient Chinese communities were also said to have used bamboo blinds to trap heat and to create private, partitioned spaces within rooms. The beautifully designed pieces let in some natural light, creating a wonderfully dappled effect.
This style of natural blinds – and bamboo more generally – rose in popularity in the West in the middle of the 20th century. Mid-century interiors were all about creating a cool, calm environment using simple shapes and natural materials.
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The trend circled back in the early noughties in the UK, with legendary antique dealer Joss Graham using bamboo blinds to shade the valuable pieces in his Pimlico showroom whilst still letting light in. He is now one of the biggest suppliers of the classic ‘chik’ blinds in the UK, with all the products made by hand in Delhi.
Interior designer Pallas Kalamotusis of Krokalia loves the versatility bamboo blinds bring her paired back, tranquil, but still dynamic, schemes. “Not only are they reasonably priced and easy to fit, they also go with everything,” she says, adding that she often uses them in kitchen and bathrooms as they keep it light and airy, whilst still being practical. She puts their current popularity down to a collective move away from “the heavy fabric decorative look” and towards something more earthy and light.
Chik blinds are used throughout the House & Garden canon, either on their own or as an alternative to a sheer blind. They can also be backed by a fabric roller to add fuller coverage to a window treatment. Our interior designer of the year, Rita Konig used her favourite Indian split-bamboo ‘chik’ blinds from Joss Graham in her farmhouse, but added off-white Scottish Holland roller blinds by The SH Blind Company behind them to block out light fully. “When you pull the roller blind down, the bamboo becomes opaque, creating a warmer look,” says Rita. Here are some of our other favourite ‘chik’ moments.
Miguel Flores-Vianna1/8Rita Konig uses light-coloured bamboo blinds in the dining room of Deborah Needleman's upstate New York cottage. The bamboo picks up the natural vernacular of the 18th-century Dutch Colonial house, with jute, bamboo and woven materials throughout the room creating a unified aesthetic. The white border and stitching fit neatly with the white framed window treatments, bringing brightness into the room. Having the blinds rolled up two-thirds of the way means you can still see out into the lush greenery beyond. Whereas some bamboo blinds are more paired-back and modern, these are more decorative and 'cottage-y'.
Boz Gagovski2/8Chik blinds are a popular choice for kitchens – here designer Georgie Hodsoll has used them as a breezy backdrop in the kitchen of her west London house.
Joachim Wichmann3/8Interior designer Pernille Lind's London flat blends of natural woods, earth tones and Scandinavian influences. These simple, natural bamboo blinds are the perfect addition to the scheme. The flat is on the ground floor, meaning natural light is essential, something the blinds do easily, whilst still adding texture. The kitchen is by DeVol and painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Cord’ and the natural woven window blind was made by Color & Co.
Simon Bergström4/8Here, Sebastian Bergström uses bamboo as an alternative to sheer roller blinds in his stylish Stockholm apartment. The natural blinds and linen curtains are a unique combination that feels charming but still classic.
Paul Massey5/8A L Ercolani desk, a 1960s Stilux floor lamp and Joss Graham chik blinds furnish this study overlooking the garden on the ground floor of this west London home designed by Joanna Plant. She heavily references the mid-century language here, picking up neutrals and brown tones all through the room – from the floor to the blinds to the dog portrait.
Boz Gagovski6/8Lucy Mayers uses these geometrically stitched chik curtains to contribute to the bohemian feel of her small London flat. The space is very theatrical, combining Art Deco influences with antique pieces. The heritage of the blinds is picked up throughout the room, like in her 19th-century Kanduri shrine cloth from Uttar Pradesh, India which hangs on the wall.
Dean Hearne7/8Another great place to use natural blinds is by the sea, where reeds, bamboo and rope all subtly reference the seaside aesthetic. At the back of Nicola Mardas' home in Deal her nautical seating area is covered in Ian Mankin's bold ‘Devon Stripe Peony’ fabric, and the rattan chair is by Sika Design.
Boz Gagovski8/8Stella Weatherall offsets her colourful palette with natural materials in her Notting Hill home, like in the sisal carpet on the stairs, the jute rug in the living room and the use of wood throughout. Her bamboo blinds do a similar job in the bedroom, providing a nice sheer option when she doesn't want to draw her heavy organic weave curtains. The bamboo blinds here are from Color & Co.
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