Easy Ways to Create Japandi Style at Home

5. Though low bed designs are more Japanese than Scandi, Japandi has taken on this design element. 

Japanese people have a long history of sleeping on tatami mats – straw mats made of rice – and continue to employ this habit even today. These mats are lightweight and breathable, making them perfect for climate regulation. Many experts believe that sleeping on them is better for the spine, though someone unused to the habit may not think that! As an evolution from the tatami mats, Japanese beds are very low to the ground and tend to have a wooden platform surrounding the mattress, mimicking the tatami mat.

As with most of the Japandi style, stay away from metals when looking for a frame. Try to stick to wood or other natural materials. If you prefer, you could go with the mattress and low box spring, though you will want to make sure your comforter hides that. Some experts claim that lower beds are healthier and can eliminate back pain, improve blood circulation, and even create a sense of motivation and lead to positive change. No guarantees, but it might be worth a try! 

4. A significant element to incorporate from the Japanese style is the Shoji wall or panel. 

A shoji screen is a translucent folding or sliding screen usually used as a divider or partition to offer privacy and still provide light through the room. It is typically made of a wood frame covered with paper, wicker, or a piece of thin fabric. More ornate ones may have artwork of blossoms or bamboo covering the panels, though that is not the standard style. More Westernized shoji screens would be considered room dividers, though shoji screens are typically placed on tracks and slides.

Shoji acts like curtains and offers visual privacy but does not block sounds, encouraging a home’s inhabitants to speak and move softly, calmly, and gracefully out of consideration for the other inhabitants. If you are considering a Japandi style, you most likely do not have ready-made Shoji screens, but you can buy them almost anywhere online these days. Though they may not be entirely authentic, consider yourself lucky – original shoji were the exterior walls too, which meant no central cooling and heating!

3. Multi-functionalism is not only fun — it is a necessity in Japandi design!

Having a minimalistic viewpoint is great for the wallet and the soul, but you still need a place to put your earthly possessions, right? Storage is one of the most important things when considering a space to live, especially if you watch any of the shows on the home design network, but there is only so much storage money can buy. If you are trying to keep a space free of clutter, you will need items to serve more than one purpose. Remember, we’re looking for quality over quantity here! 

Multi-functionality serves a great Japandi purpose because it also addresses a few other Japandi components: eco-friendliness and wabi-sabi. Don’t forget to look for something with clean lines and natural materials to make it fit perfectly with your newly chosen aesthetic! There are so many ideas out there of transformational furniture that can serve multiple purposes. The sunflower chair, a bookshelf, or a storage ottoman also serves as a table or a bench. Interestingly, the multifunctional aspect can also apply to spaces, not just your items. That is where a Shoji screen, or a room dividing panel, would be useful. 

2. Art in Japandi style can follow either of the inspiring designs – Japanese or Scandinavian – but it should be displayed very thoughtfully.

Japandi’s marriage of Japanese and Scandinavian styles isn’t entirely out of the blue. Danish architects and artists began traveling to Japan over 150 years ago, searching for new inspiration, which was then incorporated into their work. This early Japanese influence can be seen in Scandi’s open floor plans and their love of minimalism. The two styles highly respect artisanal handiwork and local craftsmanship, so their combination into a hybrid style makes sense on many levels.

Art can be a perfect finishing touch in most rooms. It adds something you might not have known was missing until it was there. As we discussed with craftsmanship, it could be valuable to look for unique or local art pieces instead of canvas prints or mass productions of an image. That can only add to your home’s individuality and make it more special to you. And remember, art does not necessarily mean paintings! Your art could mean a wall tapestry, a sculpture, or a handmade pottery piece – any special accessory that speaks to you. 

1. Japandi is more than a design aesthetic; there are philosophies connected to the designs. 

We have mentioned hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), but let’s explore it a bit more. It’s essentially the concept of creating happiness in your everyday life and making your home a sanctuary. It is a state of mind. Though we would all love for our homes to look like magazine covers, that seems like it would be devoid of happiness and full of stress – nothing could be out of place. Hygge allows for family, friends, and memories to take up our space. But with less clutter, it maintains that open and clean atmosphere. 

If you want more hygge in your life, add soft, comfy cushions and large, fluffy blankets. That will make it impossible to walk into your home and not think, “I want to live here!” For the ultimate hygge, however, you will want to create a spa-like experience in the bathroom. That means going all-out: rainfall showerheads, plush rugs, giant garden tubs, candles to set the right ambiance, fluffy towels, and all the best aromatherapy smells to make your stress melt away! 

Sources:

https://jayscotts.com/blog/plants-in-interior-design/

https://morettiinteriordesign.com/blog/interior-design-trends/japandi-style-2020/

https://www.luxdeco.com/blogs/styleguide/texture-in-interior-design

https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/decoration-design-ideas/ways-to-bring-natural-organic-elements-into-your-interiors/

https://www.contemporist.com/10-common-features-of-scandinavian-interior-design/

https://decorinteriorsus.com/blog/in-depth-articles/eco-friendly-interior-design-guide/

https://bowerbird-home.com/blog/what-makes-a-statement-piece/

https://www.sleepadvisor.org/sleeping-mattress-on-the-floor-bad/