JAPANDI STYLE: YOUR GUIDE TO ACHIEVING THE LOOK
An intriguing fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, Japandi style design is all about creating a positive, warm and pleasingly functional vibe in your home that speaks to the calming qualities of both cultures. Japandi interior designs also lean heavily on the appreciated imperfections of the wabi-sabi philosophy and how a peaceful natural living environment can be obtained from this apparent interior design imbalance.
Whether it’s a Japandi living room, Japandi bedroom, Japandi bathroom or a Japandi dining room, we have explored all facets of the home to suggest how you could transform your personal space into the (im)perfect embodiment of Scandinavian Japanese design.
WHAT IS JAPANDI STYLE?
Japandi style combines the interior design cultures of rustic Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality. This idealistic fusion hinges on a neutral colour scheme, a certain natural coherence, and the tranquillity derived from simplicity. The beauty and laidback comfort of imperfection is also a major allure of Japandi.
JAPANDI DESIGN LIVING ROOM
In Japandi minimalist-style interiors, every item has a purpose – nothing is surplus and left to chance. The best way to promote this lifestyle is to declutter your space by throwing out (or donating) anything that conflicts with this philosophy. With Japandi, your living space should promote a warm and natural openness that invites clarity with a casualness that doesn’t feel cold and clinical.
And it’s more than just evoking minimalism into your living space. You have to try and bring some of the natural environment into your home too. The principles of biophilic design indeed work well here, particularly with furniture that utilises raw materials. It’s about appreciating the beauty of naturalism. Additionally, it’s about trying to incorporate one or two statement pieces into your living room design to provide an intriguing focal point.
JAPANDI DINING ROOM
Due to its natural openness, dining rooms already endorse the toned down sensibility of Japandi interior design. Your dining room could celebrate treasured family heirlooms or some other raw and rugged pieces. One of the Wabi-Sabu philosophies appreciates what you already have rather than replacing items with pristine substitutes, so displaying characterful crockery and an array of other chosen trinkets in a glass cabinet certainly chimes with the Japandi sense of style.
This should also extend to the Japandi dining table. Respect for fine craftsmanship is one of the other hallmarks of Japandi interior design, and particularly black accent pieces offer a throwback to traditional Japanese decor. Natural hand-woven cane chairs made from painted black elmwood, for example, will undoubtedly provide a compromise between both the airy minimalism and simplicity of Scandinavia and the more contained but no less nuanced Japanese interior design.
JAPANDI BEDROOM DESIGN
As a more relaxed space, Japandi bedrooms are where you can go to town with this Scandinavian Japanese design. You want to compliment those clean lines by choosing neutral colours for the walls and fabric that help bring in the daylight and promote a sleeping haven.
Your bed could be low level to bring out the Japanese style. Beige coloured materials for your bed linen and natural wood for any other accompanying furniture also contribute to this Japandi interior design.
CHOOSING JAPANDI FURNITURE
As mentioned, it’s all about choosing minimal but functional furniture made out of natural materials that speak Japandi. You can undoubtedly add individualistic touches with accessories that provoke intrigue. Just don’t overload your furniture with them to avoid clutter accumulation.
The layout should always veer toward providing a minimalist statement, highlighting any generous spaces. A Japandi rug, piece of art or tastefully appointed coffee table will certainly accentuate this mindset.
JAPANDI KITCHEN
For the kitchen, it’s all about stripping back on what you don’t need and highlighting what you do. Organisation is key. Clutter doesn’t have a place here. It’s about promoting a place of warmth and reassuring contentment.
Contrary to the timeless quality of Country Style Kitchens, Japandi kitchens are all about providing some understated contrast and evoking a splash of modernism into the space. Dark woods for cabinetry with light worktops promote this distinction. Again you can highlight some personal trinkets or other carefully positioned characterful accessories but don’t be tempted to overpopulate your space with these pieces. And don’t forget to let a bit of the natural outside world in with some plants; a splash of green is sometimes just what a kitchen needs to revitalise this environment.
JAPANDI BATHROOM
With naturally soothing qualities and an often muted colour scheme that promotes a calmer, more organic environment, the simplicity of a bathroom already blends seamlessly with the Japandi interior design. And there are copious opportunities to reinforce that style throughout this space imaginatively.
Selecting the perfect freestanding bath is a great place to start, and then there’s the allure of a beautiful basin sink, floating bathroom vanity, mirrors or a mirror cabinet and other bathroom accessories that can all help capitalise on what space you do have. Naturally, you should aim to keep accessories to a bare minimum while highlighting those carefully selected, regularly used toiletries in interesting ways. Whether this is showcased on a handy wooden bath caddy or in a recessed wall niche (if you’re lucky to have one!), getting imaginative with your space means you could transform your bathroom into a Japandi paradise.
GETTING ADVICE FOR YOUR JAPANDI STYLE INTERIOR DESIGN
To achieve the Japandi interior design throughout your home, we recommend speaking to our team of professionals. They are available to help you achieve this look, and you can even book a free design consultation directly here.
We have an array of kitchen, bathroom and powder room fixtures and fittings available in a broad range of colours including brushed brass, brushed nickel, brushed gunmetal, brushed copper, matte black, white, and traditional chrome. Keeping your colours consistent throughout your space will help maintain the refinement that is key to Japandi interior design.