Whether you're a contractor or a DIYer, the type of materials you use in your next construction or home design project will be an important consideration. As you think about the look, feel and practicality of your interior spaces, it's important to understand the impact all of the different materials that are available to you will have. Wood, brick, granite and steel are some of the go-to components for most home projects, but as design has become a major industry in America over the past few years, the options have greatly increased.

Building and design alternatives
While many of the traditional building and design components can and will play a major role in most any project you undertake, there are a slew of newer or repurposed older materials that are taking a larger role in the marketplace.

Beyond expanded consumer demand and awareness of design and construction, people are also more keen than ever to make their homes more sustainable and environmentally friendly. To that end, products made with bamboo and hemp, or that are manufactured from recycled, salvaged and natural building materials have been gaining in popularity over the past decade.

Of those products, bamboo has experienced some incredible growth in its use as a nearly all-purpose solution for some of the most difficult building and design problems. Unlike many of the other alternative materials, bamboo can be used in almost every room of the house, on nearly every type of surface and in a wide variety of styles and colors.

Using bamboo products to build and design a home
Flooring and paneling are the two most common areas where bamboo is being used. However, with new innovations like Plyboo, a bamboo-based alternative to traditional plywood, the options for using durable, pliable, sustainable bamboo in your home are growing all the time.

Plyboo, which is manufactured by Smith & Fong, can be the basis for turning any room of your home, office, restaurant or other space into a sleek yet comfortable environment. It's especially adaptable to surfaces or structures that would normally call for wood, as it can retain the same look and feel while also being easier to install and paint in most cases.

As you begin to contemplate how to go about your next construction or design project, allow yourself to explore different styles and materials. By using sustainable, alternative materials, you can make your project both a showpiece and an example of modern, environmentally friendly architecture and design.