Table Of Content
- How Japanese and Scandinavian Styles Work Together
- Everything You Need to Know About Japandi Interior Design
- What is Japandi design?
- Downsizing Dilemma: Understanding the Trend of Shrinking Spaces
- Top Home Interior Design Trends: Exploring Modern, Transitional, and Farmhouse Styles
- What Are the Elements of Japandi?
- Seamless Transitions: Blurring the Lines Between Indoor and Outdoor Living

For the Japandi aesthetic, I always recommend sticking to a neutral Japandi color palette with muted earth tones. I find a serene garden or patio has qualities of minimalist landscaping, natural materials, and a balance of plants, water features, and simple, low furniture to encourage relaxation and connection with the outdoors. In Japandi design, I find that lagom is reflected through the careful balancing of different elements, from colors and textures to the arrangement of furniture.
How Japanese and Scandinavian Styles Work Together
Japanese furniture brand Ariake organized an exhibition at the former Mexican embassy in Stockholm. Clean wooden furniture perfectly complemented the textured and crumbling walls and ceilings. The authentic and ancient craftsmanship of Japan displayed in the stunning pieces was further accentuated by the raw and rustic Scandinavian architecture of the location. The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection.
Everything You Need to Know About Japandi Interior Design
While the base of the Japandi color palette is neutral, occasional pops of earthy colors, like deep greens, burnt oranges, and dark blues, can be used to add warmth and depth to the space. These accent colors are also typically inspired by nature, and they further emphasize the connection to the natural world so integral to Japandi style. However, Scandinavian style is known for its bright, cozy interiors with an emphasis on white spaces, natural light, and pops of color. I always gravitate towards natural materials like wood and stone in all my Japandi style rooms, and I try to pair this with energy-efficient kitchen appliances to create an eco-friendly and visually appealing space (even though they can be expensive). Japandi spaces prioritize the use of natural, renewable materials, as well as objects and furniture that are built to last, supporting a more environmentally conscious and sustainable way of living in line with Scandinavian design principles which I love. It’s a natural marriage between two cultures that privilege minimalism and tranquility, and their differences also complement each other.
What is Japandi design?
So, bid farewell to the noise and clutter of the outside world, and embrace the tranquility and harmony that await within the walls of our own homes. For in the embrace of Japandi style, we discover not just a design trend, but a philosophy of living well – one that reminds us to cherish the beauty of simplicity, and to find joy in the art of less. Interestingly, even the interiors are a fusion…of Japanese and Nordic design. Raw natural materials which are seen in Nordic design such as concrete bricks, Douglas fir flooring, and yellow glass were used.
Japandi: This design trend is all over TikTok. What does it mean? - NorthJersey.com
Japandi: This design trend is all over TikTok. What does it mean?.
Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Downsizing Dilemma: Understanding the Trend of Shrinking Spaces

"Considering where the natural light source is in a project and how you can work around that so it can stay unobstructed—that’s the true jewel of any space." While Scandi style is known for pops of colors, such as rust, green, and blue against a neutral backdrop, the Japandi palette allows the neutrals to stand alone. "Choosing whites, off-whites, beige, and taupes for a minimalist palette allows other design details to stand out," says Wong and Gunawan.
The Kinuta Terrace in Tokyo has a muted, discrete colour palette of beige walls and curtains that match the wooden floor in the living room. Here, a grey stone table with a wooden frame complements a wooden sofa with grey cushions. Architecture studio Marià Castelló designed this retreat in Ibiza using cross-laminated timber (CLT) to keep the volumes lightweight. A historic Montreal house was given a contemporary update by design studio Talo Studio, which played with textures to create the home's minimalist aesthetic.
Together, I think these philosophies encourage the celebration of life’s simple pleasures and the acceptance of imperfection, adding depth and character to Japandi interiors. I choose Japandi furniture for utility and comfort, with clever storage solutions keeping clutter at bay and making the most of every square inch. At the heart of Japandi lies a strong emphasis on minimalism and simplicity derived from Japanese culture. And an emphasis on eco-friendly materials gives you greater peace of mind that you’re living harmoniously with the planet. Practicality that clears your mind as much as the minimalist designs do. The result is an irresistible blend that brings harmony, balance, and a sense of calm to my space.
If you’re ready to embrace a more balanced and serene living environment, I encourage you to explore and incorporate modern Japandi style in your own home. Your bedroom is the ideal room to mark your personal stamp – if you’re stuck, pick some decor and Japandi artwork that you love and that resonates with you. I’d say that Japandi does this mainly by using soft textiles and warm lighting, and that’s the easiest way to create this feeling. Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of embracing imperfections and is a cornerstone of Japandi design. It favors simple, unobtrusive forms that showcase the inherent beauty of the materials and craftsmanship. I think this is mainly where Japandi draws its focus on minimalism from, ensuring everything serves a purpose and contributes to a harmonious living environment.
Japandi design combines the light, bright, and functional aspects of Scandinavian design with the warm, sophisticated elements of Japanese design. "Japandi is more than just design elements; it is a way of living," says Wong and Gunawan. "Supporting a healthy and meaningful lifestyle—prioritizing elements that mean the most to those specific homeowners." Japanese design meets Scandinavian in this marriage of complementary styles. “Opt for vintage or reclaimed pieces or something original or handmade rather than mass produced,” Wijaya recommends. Huset, “the house” in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, is a one-stop shop for the best in modern Scandinavian design.
It’s a modern and urban living space inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. At its core, Japandi-style interior design is about intentional living. Rooms should generally be free of unnecessary items to embrace the “less is more” philosophy of minimalism. In a Japandi living room or kitchen, most (if not all) items have a purpose, and there’s a purposeful place for everything. If your home’s architecture allows, keep south-facing windows or doors open to let ample natural light to illuminate the Japandi color palette’s contrasting hues.
Shop for high-quality vintage furniture made of wood or clay for a stylish moment that won't get lost in a crowd of accessories. Finally, you can indulge in your favorites without settling or feeling overwhelmed. “Japandi fuses the comfy rusticity of Scandinavian design with the Japanese celebration of imperfection as beauty," says Spalding. "It is crisp and clean, but not sterile. "We're seeing the Japandi style manifest in limewash wall finishes and rich midtone woods to bring a sense of calm and ease to balance people's everyday living," says Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager at Moen. In the open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen, a table and chairs by Danish designer Finn Juhl share the spotlight with Japanese pottery and woven mats sourced from Tokyo.
In a sophisticated main bathroom in Seattle, sea-green concrete floor tiles with a geometric pattern provide a lawn of color against wood walls and white tile. The paper lanterns are also a clear homage to the building’s Japanese inspirations. Birch plywood floating cabinets line the wall, carving out room for a painting that commands the dining room. The rest of the decor is quiet with subtle pops of greenery to echo the striking piece. Inspired by a homesteading commune he documented in Western North Carolina, photographer Mike Belleme built the Nook, a minimalist retreat in the woods that draws from both Japanese and Scandinavian design.