How local materials are reclaiming modern interiors

When Tanjina Rashid began designing her living room, she incorporated a cane sofa and seaters — a long-time dream of hers. A small, warm corner filled with products made by local artisans would add the perfect sense of comfort to her home.

"If you walk around my home, you will find bamboo and cane furniture, light shades, terracotta planters, jute rugs and plant hangers. These are inexpensive, sustainable and warm — all handmade by local artisans," said Tanjina.

Like Tanjina, décor enthusiasts and interior designers are increasingly opting for local materials. And this is how a quiet yet powerful shift is unfolding in Bangladesh's interior landscape. For years, urban homes embraced imported laminates, engineered woods and glossy ceramics as markers of "modernity". 

"Clients today want authenticity. Materials like cane, bamboo or terracotta carry a sense of place — a Bangladesh-ness you can't recreate with imports. They soften hard interiors and make modern spaces feel grounded." Farzana Karim, founder, Studio Aurum

But a new design language is emerging — one that finds luxury not in synthetic perfection but in the warmth of handmade textures, natural fibres and the stories embedded in local crafts.

Bamboo partitions, cane lounge chairs, terracotta tiles, planters, jute rugs, mats and shitalpati wall panels are once again at the centre of contemporary interiors, not as nostalgic artefacts but as expressions of identity.

Interior designer Farzana Karim, founder of Studio Aurum, says this return was inevitable. "Clients today want authenticity," she explains. "Materials like cane, bamboo or terracotta carry a sense of place — a Bangladesh-ness you can't recreate with imports. They soften hard interiors and make modern spaces feel grounded."

Adding warmth, texture and colour to Bangladeshi interiors

For designers, this revival is less about trend and more about recalibration. Sleek, globalised interiors had dominated for years, often at the cost of warmth and cultural resonance. The resurgence of handmade materials restores character — the cool feel of shitalpati underfoot, the dancing shadows of a cane lampshade, the earthy scent of terracotta tiles in the summer heat, the texture of jute rugs. These sensorial experiences are difficult to replicate with industrial materials.

Farzana believes this shift reflects a deeper cultural instinct. "If we want our interiors to feel rooted," she says, "we have to invest in the crafts that shaped our culture. These materials are not just décor — they're part of who we are."

Using bamboo, cane, terracotta and shitalpati in interiors today requires a thoughtful balance between tradition and modernity. Experts recommend incorporating these materials as focal points rather than filling an entire room, allowing their textures and natural tones to shine.

For example, a bamboo partition can subtly define living and dining zones without disrupting the flow of light, while cane chairs or a woven lounge can add warmth to minimalist seating areas. Terracotta tiles or murals can form accent walls, hearth surrounds or balcony floors, blending earthy charm with contemporary geometry.

Jute brings a different kind of warmth with its golden sheen. Incorporating jute rugs, planters, tissue boxes and baskets can shift the mood of an interior during winter, adding a soft, comforting glow.

Shitalpati, with its cooling and tactile qualities, works beautifully as a floor covering, headboard panel or framed wall art, introducing pattern and texture without visual heaviness. Interior designers also recommend mixing materials — a terracotta planter on a cane side table, or a bamboo shelf against a shitalpati backdrop — to create layered, sensory-rich spaces.

The key is restraint: each handcrafted element should feel intentional, celebrating its artisan origins rather than appearing as accidental decoration.

Craft clusters regaining momentum

The renewed interest in these materials has brought fresh energy to rural artisan clusters where these crafts have been practised for generations. Cane workers in Ghoraghat and Manikganj now receive orders for sleek, modern silhouettes instead of traditional heavy frames. A pair of well-made cane chairs can cost between Tk4,000 and 12,000, depending on weaving density and finish.

Shitalpati weavers from Narsingdi and Sylhet, including families like those of Bhaber Ali and Momena Begum, are seeing new demand for customised wall panels and headboard accents.

"There was a time when artisans produced just a few particular designs," said Momena. "But now people can easily access sites like Pinterest and send us photos. As a result, designs have improved."

Terracotta's revival is also being shaped by brands such as Shilpobari, Ronger Bari and Terracotta Bangladesh, which work directly with potters in Kushtia, Rajshahi and Dhamrai to bring handcrafted earthenware into contemporary homes. Beyond tiles and planters, these studios have seen a strong rise in demand for terracotta murals — large, sculptural pieces that serve as focal points in living rooms, courtyards and balconies.

Terracotta makers in these regions continue to supply burnt-orange tiles, murals and sculptural planters, with tiles ranging from Tk45 to 120 per sq ft. Subtle variations in tone and texture — those slight imperfections — are exactly what urban buyers now seek.

Alamgir Kabir Evan, marketing head of Shilpobari, says the shift reflects a growing confidence among urban homeowners.

"Terracotta murals are something our clients feel comfortable incorporating into their lifestyle," Evan explains. "They add character without overwhelming a space. People love that each piece carries the touch of the artisan — the slight variations, the hand-cut textures, the warmth you can't get from manufactured finishes."

These pieces can also be customised according to religious beliefs or personal preferences.

He adds that customers now request custom motifs — abstract compositions, botanical patterns, or reimagined folk forms — allowing terracotta to function as both art and architecture. The material's breathability and ability to stay cool make it especially suited to Bangladesh's climate, further boosting its appeal.

Online platforms bringing craft to urban doorsteps

What has changed significantly is how these crafts reach city homes. Alongside established stores such as Aarong and Jatra, online retailers are transforming how people discover and embrace local materials.

Sylhet-based brand Griho Golpo, which began with small-batch cane and bamboo furniture in 2019, has become a vital bridge between artisans and urban households. Their offerings — from rattan flower chairs listed at around Tk4,200 to handmade stools priced near Tk850 — have opened the market to younger, design-conscious buyers.

"We're seeing a steady rise in clients who want pieces that feel human, handmade and culturally rooted," says Rajaul Hasan, founder of Griho Golpo. "Many content makers and social media page owners that are focused on home decor are our customers", Hasan proudly added. According to him there is a place called 'Beter Bazar' in Sylhet where almost every household is connected to cane furniture making.  "Our goal is to take our products to every place of the country and abroad", he further said. 

"Younger homeowners are driving this trend," Tanjina Rahman, another small cane business owner adds. "They want warm, textured interiors, and they're choosing craft-based furniture over mass-produced imports. Online platforms have made it easier for artisans' work to enter Dhaka and Chattogram apartments — and that visibility is helping keep these crafts alive."

"Cane loungers, bamboo shelves, woven lampshades — these are no longer seen as 'rural' objects. Customers now appreciate the craftsmanship and sustainability behind them. Our most requested items are modern takes on traditional forms, and we work with artisan families in Bogura, Manikganj and Sylhet to ensure each piece carries their signature weaving skill," she said.