Japandi is an interior design style that has been trending continuously over the past couple of years. Known as a calming fusion of Japanese and Scandi design styles, it is a minimalist interior design that creates cosiness within simplicity. If you have seen Japandi images online, and want to create a Japandi style living room, kitchen, bedroom (and everything in between) then read on! In this post we’ll be looking at guidelines, inspiration and example products that you can incorporate to create your Japandi haven.

• Content Overview
• What is Japandi style?
  • Colour scheme
  • Textiles & materials
• How to create a Japandi kitchen
• How to create a Japandi living room
• How to create a Japandi bedroom

Japandi style overview

Japandi as the name infers, is a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian styles. It is not only an interior design style, but also a way of life, comprising of the ancient Japanese philosophy of ‘Wabi-sabi’ and the Scandinavian philosophy of ‘Hygge’. Wabi-sabi embraces slow-living and simplicity, whilst Hygge is all about comfort, placing well-being above all, and a focus on cosiness. When it comes to design styles (and personal philosophy) the two blend together wonderfully, finding pleasure and comfort in simplicity.

Japanese style is highly minimalist, with a focus on functionality (‘every item must serve a purpose’. This could sometimes feel harsh, but the mix of ‘Scandi’, with modern furniture and a focus on textiles and comfort, we get a clean, layered environment that can foster well-being at home. The style is all about simple shapes and neutral tones, with Scandinavia and Japan also both having a reverence for the power of nature, so you will find plenty of natural materials being used with wood taking centre stage.

Franco Bertoni says the minimalist style, on which ‘Japandi’ relies, is ‘to take everything to it’s essential quality and achieve simplicity’. This means to achieve the look, you should stick to clean, decluttered spaces with simple shapes and lines. Intricate detailing on furniture is frowned upon, bright colours should be avoided, and the shape of objects should follow clean, modern lines.

Colour scheme

Neutral tones & earthy colours are key in this style of decor. Colours should be muted and natural, with minimal patterns or mixing of colours. Textiles should follow the colour palette, with monochrome pillows, throws and curtains in muted tones. Scandinavian colour palettes usually consist of lighter neutral tones, whereas Japanese favours dark woods and metals. Mixing the two, with light neutrals and dark contrasting furniture/accessories throughout give a lot of depth to a simplistic design.

Materials

The style favours the use of natural materials, as close to their raw form as possible. Japandi homes will consist of eco-friendly, responsibly sourced materials such as wood, stone and concrete for furniture and appliances. Japanese style favours excellent craftsmanship using local materials so furniture should be of excellent quality with clean design.

Textiles should follow suite, with natural fabrics like linen, cotton and wool being favoured over more synthetic materials. Again, fabrics should follow minimalist design principles, with modern, neutral designs favoured over patterned, louder fabrics. Scandinavian styles also often layer fabrics and textures to enhance the ‘cosiness’, which helps the space to feel less bare.

Creating a Japandi kitchen

Kitchens can easily become cluttered, with a items all over the counter and cupboards everywhere. Allowing for space, so you can put items away, will go a long way in creating a calm, uncluttered environment. Cabinets should be made to look sleek with a monochrome colour scheme, and cupboard handles should be minimalistic. To go one step further (if you have the budget and the option to) you can opt for cupboards with no handles at all.

Eco-friendly materials should be favoured, using a mix of light stone or light woods for kitchen counters and flooring, with simple, sleek edges and minimal detailing. Darker woods can be used for display items such as chopping boards, and darker stones can be used for functional accessories. Stone pestles, and a Japanese style teapots always make for a beautiful addition.

In the dining room, you can opt for darker woods and materials. A Japandi dining table, and Japandi dining chairs should be modern looking with a simplistic design. The ‘Klenno’ dining chair from Made.com is a beautiful option, combining natural materials (dark wood and leather) in an elegant shape, which would look great in a neutral room (this article does not contain affiliate links, this is purely my opinion based on searches I have done for my own home). A cheaper option is the Lisabo chair from Ikea, again a beautiful simplistic design in a darker, contrasting colour.

Japandi dining tables should also follow a simplistic design, in a neutral colour and simple shape. Dining table accessories should include green plants (a bonsai would be a great addition!), an oval or square tray for candles, and woven placemats made of natural, durable fabrics. Stone tableware is making a comeback at the moment and is, in my opinion, truly beautiful. It can be found in most stores at the moment, with Zara Home having some beautiful options (such as the black spiral stoneware tableware, pictured above) and is mostly affordable, based on where you shop.

Creating a Japandi living room

Japandi style values sustainability and natural materials above all else, whilst the ‘Scandi’ influence adds in the importance of comfort through mixed materials. Natural materials such as rattan and wicker with paper, glass and stone will create beautiful depth throughout the living area, and brings the feeling of being back to basics, and one with nature. Include some soft furnishings too, as a nod to the ‘Scandi’ concept of comfiness – some throws and a fluffy rug will do the trick.

The styling should be sleek with modern shapes and neutral tones, as mentioned earlier. One or two statement pieces of furniture can be included, either making a statement through interesting design and shape, or a muted pattern, depending on your own tastes.Japanese furniture tends to be lower to the ground (‘down to earth’, if you will) so opt for lowering the height of your furniture and adding comfortable bean bags and cushions on the floor.

A Japandi coffee table is often circular, which breaks the straight lines of the typical Japanese/Scandinavian architecutre, whilst creating interest and a focal point within the room. Circular accessories such as pots and candles on top of the Japandi coffee table help to round off (pun included) the look and establish the coffee table as the centre of the room. I love this black oak & rattan coffee table from John Lewis personally and think it embodies Japandi really well.

Creating a Japandi bedroom

A Japandi bedroom prefers natural, warm fabrics with mixed textures in the space. The colour palette should be largely neutral, with dark contrast mixed in to add playfulness. Mixing tones, textiles and materials should make your home look inviting and cosy, whilst enabling you to stick with a minimalist design.

Again, eco-friendly materials should be favoured, particularly wood in the bedroom. Wood panelling looks amazing in a Japandi bedroom, as long as the pattern is simple without any patterns/intricacies involved. It should be in simple lines against a feature wall (usually the wall that the head of the bed is on, in a bedroom), usually up to half the length.

Bedroom furniture should be low to the ground, in largely matching colours. The bed itself should not have a headboard, nor should it be made of fabric, if you wish to go all in on the style. The beds below illustrate a Japandi style the best – and the good news is that these beds are typically cheaper than their fabric counterparts, as they are using less space and material.

Things like bedside tables and chest of drawers should be matching (or close in colour and style). The aim of Japandi is pleasure and comfort in simplicity, therefore artwork should be simple (if there is any at all), and the talking should be done through accessories such as bowls, plants, candles and textiles.

If you love the calming, serene environment that Japandi style brings, you should read my post on creating a relaxing home here.