Hanging wind chimes on the porch or in the garden is one way to add a musical element to the decor. While chimes made of tuned metal pipes are soothing and popular, a bamboo wind chime is a natural choice for relaxation.

Bamboo is the largest member of the grasses, in some cases growing to over 100 feet tall. It grows native all over Asia and in southern Africa. Their tubular stems, called "culms," are pleasantly colored, hard, and grow in a variety of thicknesses. Well chosen pieces of bamboo are a natural for producing musical instruments, such as flutes. A bamboo wind chime is another method for creating music from bamboo.

While other types of wood deteriorate when exposed to the elements, bamboo is hard and durable. Bamboo is resistant to damage by insects. The hard tubes of a bamboo wind chime will give you several years of lovely relaxing sound. Because bamboo grows so widely, a bamboo wind chime is usually one of the least expensive types of wind chime. They are available in a variety of sizes and styles, but often have an Asian appeal.

Toppers might be a little pagoda shape, a boat shape, or just a simple rod. In the past, an owl head was a popular design for the topper on a bamboo wind chime. When choosing a bamboo wind chime, or any chimes, it is helpful to hear them first. When hanging them, keep in mind that you will want to bring them in during high winds or storms, or else they can become hopelessly tangled or otherwise damaged.

Feng shui decorators have some ideas about using a bamboo wind chime properly. They say that a wood or bamboo wind chime should be hung on the south or southeast portion of the house, while metal chimes belong on the north or northeast side. They also teach that the number of pipes on a bamboo wind chime will affect the type of luck it brings.

Here, however, Feng shui suggestions differ. Some say to have no more than 4 pipes, and others say to have 8 pipes or tubes on your bamboo wind chime. To the feng shui enthusiast, wind chimes are thought to cleanse negative energy in the home and replace it with more harmonious "vibes." Whether this is true or not, a bamboo wind chime will certainly produce a pleasant quiet sound that encourages relaxation and reflection.