Embrace Japandi style in your home
Japandi is a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian design styles. Influenced by the ancient Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi which is a way of life that values slow living, contentment and simplicity and combines this with the Scandinavian concept of Hygge which embraces comfort and cosiness as well as well-being.
Japandi blends the smooth, modern lines of Scandinavian design with the sleek functional elegance of the Japanese aesthetic. It is minimalist but welcoming and is all about using neutral tones, lots of textures and natural materials. So far, this trend is standing the test of time after emerging in the summer of 2022.
Japandi style embraces a neutral colour palette using whites, browns, blacks, greys, beiges and taupe, with accents of light and warm greys inclusive of different wood tones in the natural material.
Having a shibui lifestyle is where the Japandi style really lifts off, shibui is a Japanese adjective that describes a Japanese aesthetic of organic minimalism and restraint. Shibui is a concept of inner meaning rather than superficial adornment of simplicity and tranquillity, naturalness with unobtrusive beauty. Japandi decor is currently a very popular decor choice with the term reaching around 6.6 million mentions across social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
What does a typical Japandi room look like?
All Japandi rooms include soft layers and natural materials that pair well with simple, timeless designs, this includes high-quality pieces of furniture that are built to last. In a Japandi-style home decor, you are likely to find soft, cosy elements with clear linear designs. Layered textiles often bring cohesion to the decor and help to create a homely feel.
Openness is also a key element of the Japandi trend. Let your space feel larger with a few key functional pieces that help to create a stylish architectural expression that you’ll use every day that also celebrates sustainability and natural materials throughout. Our Balto sideboard makes the perfect addition to a clean and calm living space.
Fusing a harmonious blend of functionality and style, a Japandi interior design creates the restful home that we all crave.
How do I begin to implement a Japandi style into my home?
The very first step in creating a Japandi-style home decor is to make sure that the pieces you choose are of top quality. Both light and dark-toned woods can work but try to make the colour of your wooden furnishings match as much as possible as this will help to bring the room together and will create a modern harmonious feel.
Try to avoid anything too white or bright as nothing should jar the decor or dominate the space, you are after all aiming to create a calm, harmonious atmosphere. Light-coloured natural fibres and sustainable materials such as rattan, bamboo, cotton or paper can all be key components of the Japandi style.
Alongside rattan and bamboo, wood is another obvious choice for furniture. Scandinavian pieces typically have clean, simple lines. While in Japan it’s more common to have stained or painted wood and curved-shaped furniture like our tambour oak coffee table, so don’t be afraid to mix the styles together to create an interesting visual overall.
To play with this style focus on unfinished woods that bring the feeling of nature into the home and add simplistic beauty. For example, our parquet oak wardrobe brings in rustic Scandinavian elements and pairs them with the clean lines of the Japanese decor style.
The lovely thing about this particular decor style is that it works outdoors too, just follow all of the same principles as you do indoors and you will soon have a Japandi-style outdoor area to enjoy as much as your interior design choices.
Reducing clutter is also a key element in achieving the Japandi home design you crave as this style really does focus on clean open spaces. However, active lifestyles sometimes don’t suit this type of living and it can be harder to achieve a minimalist look. Instead, try faux minimalism with boxes or baskets adorning your shelves to hide your clutter ad keep your space feeling clean and fresh.
Why do Japanese and Scandinavian designs work well together?
Japanese and Scandinavian designs work so well together because they are both so rooted in minimalist design and comfort. The shared aesthetics of the two come together to create a style that is easygoing and sophisticated. Where the two approaches begin to separate the differences have a tendency to complement each other well. For example, where Japanese interiors are sleek nordic interiors and quite rustic.
Japandi design is exactly this, the combination of Scandinavian rustic minimalism paired with Japanese functionality to create a feeling of art, nature and simplicity. This fusion creates the perfect blend of function and form, focusing on light and bright spaces.
You may not have thought that Japan and Scandinavia had a lot in common but when it comes to design elements they’re much more similar than you think. Each one focuses on sustainability and natural design elements, so it’s really no surprise that we’re seeing more homeowners combine the two looks together and calling it ‘Japandi.’
What are the key elements of Japandi style?
The key components of a Japandi home design are really not that complex. Japandi styles feature beautiful craftsmanship with a focus on quality and handmade pieces. Colour palettes are thoughtfully and carefully chosen and subtly injected into the design.
There is also a key emphasis on sustainability. The prevalence of natural materials and simplistic design make this home decor style a fabulous addition to an eco-lifestyle, one that many consumers are looking towards.
You should look for pieces that you can invest in which will stand the test of time and work well with your decor for years to come. To get the best of both worlds draw on the Scandinavian design with soft, warm textures while maintaining the elegance of Japanese decor. While both styles have a focus on the utilitarian aspects it is important to maintain a sense of calm throughout the space.
