One of the most popular design trends that have lasted throughout the years is Japanese Interior design’s beautiful and simplistic style. People have been enjoying minimalistic and sleek ideas for a long time, and there are so many ways you can incorporate Japanese design into your home. If you want a touch of zen and nature in your life, keep reading to see some great tips on incorporating Japanese design into your home.
What is Japanese Style Interior design?
One overall concept that you can take through every room is the Japanese idea of the “Kanso concept.” This is said to have come from Zen philosophy, and the basic concept is to create a space free of clutter where every item has its own purpose, even if the purpose is to make you smile. This has increased in popularity in the last few years, with many shows translating the concept in their own ways, and it’s a great idea that you can use for any space in your home.
Why is it becoming popular in the US?
Current events have made people start to crave more from their homes and switch up their interior designs to create a calming and peaceful space. Minimalism has also been on the rise with people interested in de-cluttering and keeping their homes purposeful and Japanese design has all of these elements. It’s the perfect way to make your home feel clean and serene, which is precisely what people have been longing for.
How to add some Japanese design styles to your home:
Color
Japanese interior design uses earth tones colors to give the room a sense of being closer to nature. You will rarely see something like a lime green accent wall so if you want to use some Japanese ideas, then stick to tones linked with trees, sand, and rocks. An overall color palette of neutral mixed with very subtle color shifts (think of a beige room with small touches of light moss and terracotta) is a great way to make the room feel calming and welcoming.
Texture
The texture is crucial when it comes to designing a space, and in this case, you want to look for things that are smooth and sleek to keep with the softness of the room. To stick with the minimalist design, avoid bold textures like faux fur, snakeskin, or anything too thick, and look for light materials. Linen, bamboo, and light grain wood are all popular choices for your furniture or rugs as you want the design look to be light and cohesive.
Space
Part of Japanese design is creating a room full of purpose, which means getting rid of things that are cluttering up the space. Keep things like art pieces or table decor to a minimum and make some space between your furniture. For rooms with a focal point like bedrooms, keep the furniture low to the ground, adding space to the areas above instead of floor space.
Flow
If you want to create multiple rooms with a Japanese design style, you want them to flow into each other gently. You can do this easily by sticking with an overlap of accent colors. If your kitchen is white with hints of gray and beige, use the beige as an accent color for the nearby dining room and continue with the rest of the rooms by adding a new accent color as you bring in a previously used color to create a nice flow.
Symmetry
Keeping the room symmetrical is one of the simplest ways to add some Japanese flair to the space. Symmetry and balance make the room look well-tailored and maintained while giving each item a sense of purpose. Two well-placed end tables with matching lamps can quickly add an erratic room.
Simplicity
Japanese design ideas are typically baked on smaller spaces and what you can do to make those spaces feel calming, despite the size. You can do this by removing excessive furniture, wall art, and decorative rugs and leaving the necessary things. We’ve already talked about how each item in the room should have a purpose, and that applies to everything from the wallpaper to the carpet, so keep the entire design as simple as possible.
Lighting
Adding or subtracting lighting from a room can change how it looks overall, and the Japanese style is all about natural light. Large windows and open rooms let in natural light, but if you are in a space where windows aren’t around, create a natural look by using lower-wattage bulbs and placing your lighting at a low level. Chandelier-style lights are not used often, but when they are, they are usually accented with a beautiful shade made with natural materials to keep with the minimalist theme.
Wood
Wood is a theme that you will see throughout homes that are designed with Japanese decor, and it’s more common to see a room with all wood furniture as opposed to the metal and glass some design styles go for.
It’s all about the natural look, so using bamboo, wood, and jute for accents will give the illusion that you are in a dense forest surrounded by silence. Speaking of silence, lots of wood also absorbs sounds very well instead of reflecting them so that you can have a quieter overall home.
Plants
Plants have become a massive deal in the design world in the last few years, but Japanese designers have been using well-placed plants for years. Instead of creating an indoor garden, look for plants that thrive on little sun or plants that have important meanings. The most obvious choice is bamboo (which is easy to find and care for), but you can also use different plants to add a bit of nature to the space without going overboard.
You can use as many or as few of these tips as you’d like to create the Japanese zen oasis of your dreams right in your home. No matter what you do, adding some Japanese design elements to your home is a great way to make it look amazing. It’s easy to take some sleek and simple design ideas and add some serenity to your space or set up a spare room for an extra calming area that you will love to spend time in.