Japandi – Design Style

What is Japandi

Japandi has taken the interior design world by storm. It’s a blend of Japanese Zen and Scandinavian interior design styles and has some unique features that a lot of designers love to use. I will have a look on what are the main characteristics of this hybrid style and how it can be incorporated into our living spaces.

Elements of style

Japanese Zen	Scandinavian
Simple Furniture	Simple Furniture
Darker, Earth Tones	Lighter tones with lots of White and Neutrals
Feeling of Calm	Maximise Natural Light
Wabi-Sabi – a way of life that values slow living, contentment, and simplicity	Hygge – practice that embraces comfort coziness and well-being

How to decorate in Japandi?

When designing in Japandi style keep it simple. Furniture have basic shapes, are minimalist in style, and are kept lower to the ground. Think :

• Clean and modern lines,
• Organic and natural shapes.

Décor items should be brought with an intention to the space. This is a style where “less is more” rule should be applied. Japandi is light and fresh, it embraces natural tones to calm and relax the space.

Use materials like:

• Cotton and linen for upholstery,
• Wood, and stone for the interior,
• Rattan wicker, bamboo, terracotta, and clay for accessories

Throw pillows and blankets will add to the cozy feeling we are trying to achieve. Putting screens and sliding doors can help create zones.

Colour palette

The colour palette is muted to evoke the feeling of zen and relaxation. A calm and peaceful colour pallet with warm neutral tones is a staple in this design style.

What is different about Japandi décor

It is about embracing imperfections and focusing on the quality of the materials, handcrafted items, and uniqueness.

The relationship between objects and negative space is unique to the Japandi style, as it focuses on the minimalist and curated approach to furniture placement and decorations. That’s why special attention should be put into how the elements interact with one another and create a feeling of calmness. It can sometimes be difficult to achieve in our modern lives when there is so much stuff in our homes.

Because Japandi is simple in the furniture shapes with no ornaments you can add the personal touches to the accessories. However, the main thought behind this style is to let the eye rest and not over-clutter the space. So if we want to add the accessories they should be in a neutral, earthy colour palette and interest can be achieved through texture.

Japandi is very eco-friendly due to the use of organic, natural materials. That’s why it has a potential to be a timeless style . It blends the outside with the inside and it’s very focused on comfort.

Where to shop?

• Shop local artists
• Take a pottery class and make décor yourself
• Muji

For me the best thing I can take from Japandi style is the philosophy of imperfection and applying it to my home. Not everything has to be perfect to create a good home environment. I will also take use of natural materials as they are the most environmentally friendly to the planet. This design style is definitely one of my personal favourites.