The Japandi Style: 5 Key Elements Of A Minimalist Interior

2023 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 21:10

As a result of approaching aesthetic notions of beauty and good taste in Japanese and Nordic cultures, the Japandi style is born. Through the furniture, architecture, decor and interior design, it is a style that merges elements of minimalism, functionality and beauty. How to create a Scandinavian-style bedroom or take inspiration from the Japanese-style layout of an architect's house, we are always on the waves of a trend of the interior Japandi style. Focus on its 5 key elements!

Japandi style: a new trend, old friends

At the origin of the natural harmony of the Japandi style intersect the long-standing cultural ties of Denmark and Japan. It's an influential relationship that began over 150 years ago, when Danish architects, artists and designers began to travel to Japan in search of new inspiration. By the way, they were among the first Westerners to visit the country which had recently lifted its 220-year border closure policy. As a result, many believe that traces of this early Japanese influence can be seen in today's Danish ceramics, furniture, open architecture and minimalism. In any case, admiration is mutual, Danish design has been sought after throughout Japan for many decades.

Finally, there is the common respect of the two nations for artisans, crafts and natural materials, mainly wood. While the Japanese philosophy of "wabi sabi" and that of Danish hygge decor are both based on a deep appreciation for simplicity. With a minimal, functional, warm and soothing look, the Japandi style embraces the touches of enthusiastic imperfections of wabi-sabi. To make sure you embrace the principles of the hybrid style, we've put together some tips to help you integrate it into the home.

Purity in worship: the house Japandi style

At the focus of the Japandi style is minimalism. Fortunately, the way to design a Zen interior does not require you to sell your furniture, but to create fluid floor spaces, without clutter. Choosing furniture with clean lines and avoiding patterns with a lot of ornamentation is to submit to the first principle that the cleaner the better. How about a Japanese panel for a Zen atmosphere?

Having been a timeless trend for a few years, this new style (a fusion of two words, Japanese and Scandinavian) mixes Nordic design with Japanese influences.

Nature is the key: Japandi furniture style

Revered for millennia as a source of warmth and construction, wood finds a central place in Japanese and Danish design. Integrate it into your home with key furniture, ideally minimizing surface treatments. The wood wall paneling offers superb functionality. Next, introduce natural accents with striking houseplants, preferably in terracotta pots.

The Japandi style features beautiful craftsmanship with an emphasis on quality and handmade pieces on disposable and inexpensive structures. In addition, the Japandi style often emphasizes durability. The predominance of natural materials and simple designs make this an excellent style of green decorating. With more and more consumers seeking an eco-friendly aesthetic, Japandi's popularity comes as no surprise.

Japandi interior design style through natural colors

It is here that the camp of followers of the Japandi style is divided. Those who lean towards the Scandi expression will likely go for a palette based on white or neutral with rich accents. Others will choose large bands of rich colors on the walls and other items. In both cases, work with natural tones like blue, green, brown. Black is also a favorite in Japandi style bedrooms.

You'll also see plenty of neutral colors and paint choices to complement Japandi furniture and accessories. Soothing, tranquil and peaceful palettes are usually chosen. When brighter colors are incorporated, they are incorporated in meaningful and subtle ways.

Choose accessories carefully

By prioritizing functionality over decoration, the philosophies of both countries imply simple and minimalist accessories. Think unglazed ceramic tableware, vases, and a few books. Finally, combine the warm comfort of Scandi with Japanese imperfections with contrasting cushions and throws.

Although this interior trend is only at the beginning, we are seeing more and more a fusion between Western and Eastern design. The trend became even stronger due to the pandemic, when a growing awareness of the importance of well-being during lockdown brought many traditional Eastern values into our homes. Just think of popular terms like Yoga, Feng-shui, Ayurveda.

When it comes to interior design, Japanese home decor and interior designs certainly influence our homes a lot, as well as furniture and decor companies that are increasingly drawing inspiration from the Far Eastern country.

What are the interior trends of the Japandi style? - 5 terms to know about Japanese design

Back to our roots, to nature, preservation of the environment, sustainability, family values, the handmade: in a word, everything that gives us back the soul and the spirit, purified of the harmful consumer effect.

Kanso design

Namely that Kanso is the equivalent Japanese word of feng-shui, the ancient Chinese art which aims to use energetic forces for a better harmony with the environment. Coming from Zen Buddhism, Kanso is also based on taking into account the movement of energy before designing a piece. Kanso is also the term of Japanese minimalist aesthetics which encourages keeping only what is necessary, to leave more space in the house. In fact, the more objects there are in a room, the harder it is for energy to flow freely, creating a hectic and stressful environment.

Noguchi lamps

Do you know that the proper name of the rice paper lamps that are so common today in our homes, thinking of those from IKEA, is Noguchi. This name comes from a famous Japanese-American sculptor, Isamu Noguchi, who during a trip to Gifu was inspired by the lanterns used by night fishermen. He learned the traditional paper making method from Gifu and created his lamps which he called Akari, which means "light" in Japanese.

Noguchi lamps consist of two basic elements, a bamboo frame and handmade paper. The paper is then cut into strips and glued to the bamboo structure, giving a delicate and airy light effect which has subsequently inspired many lamp designs. Round or with other geometric shapes, extra large or in a group, from the floor or from the ceiling, rice paper lamps are certainly the most fashionable these days. Needless to say, people are rediscovering a Zen approach to interior design following a particularly stressful and difficult historical moment.

Ofuro bathtubs

With a clean, geometric design, the small and deep wooden bathtubs are particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand. Made from hiroki wood, the Japanese cypress, Ofuro bathtubs have been used for centuries in Japan while keeping the same design.

However, the Japanese concept of the bath is very different from the Western one. More than just a way to cleanse the body, for the Japanese, bathing in hot water is a kind of spiritual ritual that cleanses, rejuvenates and heals the mind and body.

In fact, before entering the bathtub, one should shower because Japanese bathing rituals focus on relaxation and warming the body, not just hygiene. Ofuro tubs are smaller and deeper than a standard tub and feature a bench seat for relaxing.

Yakisugi wood

As wood has always been the protagonist of traditional Japanese houses, today more than half of family residences in Japan are still made of wood.

Lately, this eternal trend has led to the rediscovery of a traditional Japanese method of preserving wood, called Yakisugi (or Shou Sugi Ban). In particular, by charring the surface of the wood with a hot flame. Traditionally, it was performed on Sugi wood, the Japanese cedar, and it is a method that improves the durability of the wood without resorting to chemicals, paints and other treatments. Besides being 100% durable, this method also gives a nice blackened finish.

Kintsugi and Raku ceramics

When exploring the wabi-sabi trend, Kintsugi ceramics are mentioned. In fact, the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics using lacquer mixed with powdered gold reflects the philosophy of "finding beauty in imperfection" typical of Japanese culture. So, Kintsugi teaches how cracks and scratches can make an item unique and irreplaceable and that the story is part of an item. This method has become very popular in recent times in Western ceramic art.

The other word you need to know is Raku, a type of Japanese pottery traditionally used in tea ceremonies, most often in the form of tea bowls. It is a type of low firing process for making ceramics that provides beautiful cracked glaze surfaces, black smoky unglazed clay or even beautiful metallic effects.

How do Japanese and Scandinavian styles work together?

If you are familiar with Scandi design, you are sure to have encountered the notion of "Hygge". It is the Scandinavian concept of comfort and coziness in design that has found increasing worldwide popularity in recent years. Basically your home should be your sanctuary and provide a cozy feeling every time you walk through the front door.

Now, merge this idea with the Japanese notion of "wabi-sabi" or the idea that there is beauty in imperfection, and you create the harmonious marriage that is Japandi. Japanese and Scandinavian design styles work so well together as they are both steeped in simplicity and comfort. The common aesthetic of the two come together to create a style that is both relaxed and sophisticated.

If necessary, where the two approaches diverge, their differences complement each other. Where Japanese interiors are stylish, Nordic interiors are rustic. The richer (but still neutral) colors of Japanese design keep the crisp palettes of Scandinavian homes from feeling clinical or cold.

Want to embrace the Japandi style? No problem

If you are a fan of minimalism and “Hygge”, chances are you have already started experimenting with the Japandi style. To really play with this look, favor natural materials such as unfinished woods or bamboo pieces which bring a natural feel and simplistic beauty. It is recommended to use soft colors with hints of pale green or to bring plants and greenery into your home to give it a feeling of outdoor living.

Reducing the bulk is also essential to achieve the Japandi style. This design aesthetic focuses on clean lines and open spaces. But if you have an active home and are struggling to find that minimalist look, the pro recommends trying 'faux minimalism' with natural containers such as boxes and baskets, built-in or folding screens to hide the look. excess stuff and keep your space clutter free.

Leveraging both worlds

In conclusion, to get the best of both worlds, tap into the comfort of Scandi design with warm textures and soft pieces while maintaining the elegance of Japanese decor. While both styles emphasize utility, it's important to maintain a sense of Zen calm in your space.

Because the Japandi design is all about craftsmanship, it is not meant to be disposable. Look for pieces that will stand the test of time and adapt to your decor for years to come. It's a clear antidote to the single-use culture that we have embraced for so long. Instead, focus on sustainable parts that preserve our planet.

Although Japanese and Scandinavian decors are not new, the combination of the two is sure to be an upward trend over the next few years.

The famous bench in the Japanese bathroom

Clutter-free, utility equipment

Plants, cushions and crisp colors

Sketch of a bathroom in Japandi style