Quick Guide to Japandi Style: Japan Meets Scandinavia
If you’re drawn to peaceful, minimalist spaces that feel calming and inviting, you’ll love Japandi style. This design trend combines the best of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics with clean lines, natural materials and neutral tones to create peaceful, functional interiors. A Japandi style house is all about simplicity, warmth and creating a sense of balance. In this quick guide, we’ll explore what Japandi style is all about, from color palettes to furniture styles, plus our top tips for decorating in this timeless, East-meets-West design.
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What is the Japandi Style?
Japandi style brings together the best of two worlds: Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian design (Japan + Scandi). Though these cultures are oceans apart, they share core values of simplicity, functionality and a deep respect for natural materials and craftsmanship. From Japan, Japandi borrows low-profile furniture, organic materials like bamboo and wood, and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There’s also a strong influence of Wabi Sabi — the idea that imperfection is beautiful, which shows up in natural textures, handcrafted elements and earthy, muted tones like deep browns, soft beiges and warm greens. But more on that later.
What Are the Rules for Japandi Design?
The Scandinavian influence shows up in clean, uncomplicated shapes and a thoughtful minimalism that allows light to flow through spaces. While traditional Japanese design might lean toward darker, richer earth tones, the Nordic touch brings in lighter woods and some softer pastels that make spaces feel airy and bright. What makes Japandi style work so well is how it balances the following elements to create a consistent set of rules that prioritize functionality and beauty.
1. Creating Calm With Color
The first rule of Japandi color palettes is to keep it simple. Stick to just three to four colors throughout your space, using black mainly as an accent. This restraint is key to maintaining that serene vibe you’re after. If you're drawn to the Scandinavian side of Japandi, lean into warmer whites and soft pastels. On the other hand, if you prefer the Japanese influence, feel free to embrace deeper earth tones like clay, stone and forest green. Either way, the palette should feel natural and calming instead of jarring or synthetic.
Bright pops of color aren’t really a thing in Japandi interiors and if you love bold shades, you’ll need to use them sparingly. For instance, instead of a vibrant throw pillow, bring life to your space with houseplants. If you go for white, choose a warm shade to keep the space inviting rather than sterile. Dark walls can also work, as long as they’re in muted, earthy tones and balanced with lighter elements to maintain a sense of harmony.
Of course, the magic of Japandi style happens when these approaches merge, creating interiors with a balanced foundation of neutrals like beige, cream, oatmeal and stone. You can then add gentle dimension with soft blues and greens, while occasional touches of indigo, charcoal or deep brown create just enough contrast to keep things interesting without disrupting the calm atmosphere.
2. Materials That Ground and Inspire
One of the most notable features of Japandi style interior design is the layering of different textures and materials. Wood is the backbone of this design approach, appearing in everything from furniture and floors to wall details. What makes it interesting is how Japandi blends both light Scandinavian woods and darker Japanese tones in the same space to create a beautiful contrast.
Beyond timber, you'll want to incorporate other natural elements like bamboo, rattan, paper, wool, linen and hemp. Even terracotta pots and stone accents find their place here. For architectural details that really elevate a space, consider combining shiplap walls with exposed raw wood beams for a subtle way to add visual interest without cluttering. The goal is to create that perfect balance: minimal yet warm, simple yet textured.
3. Architectural Must-Haves
Japandi style isn’t just about the furniture, it’s also about the bones of the space. Think oak ceiling beams and generous floor-to-ceiling windows that invite nature inside; a nod to both cultures' deep connection with the outdoors. Sliding screens, a traditional Japanese feature, help create flexible living spaces while maintaining that clean, uncluttered look that defines the style. Textures play a big role, too. Limewash walls, hand-cut stone and wooden wall slats are all fantastic ways to add subtle depth without overwhelming the overall vibe.
When it comes to flooring, natural wood is key. Whether you prefer a dark stain, a soft natural finish or a light oak look, the choice is yours. Another easy way to bring in texture in Japandi style is through wood slat walls. They’re a modern, more streamlined version of traditional beadboard. Japanese interiors often feature bamboo or cedar panels, so a wood accent wall fits right in with the Japandi aesthetic. You can DIY it for a budget-friendly upgrade or grab pre-made panels like these ones from Amazon for an instant high-end look. Either way, it’s a simple way to bring that Japandi style into your home.
4. Soft, Natural Lighting
Lighting is another key design element in Japandi style interior design that sets the mood and enhances the balance of the space. Statement lighting often comes in the form of organically shaped pendant lights, woven bamboo pendants and sisal fixtures. These lighting elements cleverly balance out the low-profile furniture by drawing the eye upward to give the room a sense of height and dimension. On the Scandinavian side of the equation, you'll find sleek, adjustable lighting with clean lines and matte finishes in black or white. These jointed floor, wall and table lamps add that perfect hint of modern functionality; they can pivot where you need them while maintaining the uncluttered look that Japandi style celebrates.
What’s more, strategically placing mirrors — especially round or asymmetrical ones — can work wonders for natural light. They bounce light around the room, creating the illusion of more space. If you're looking for an easy way to achieve this, Ikea mirror hacks are a great place to start. A well-placed mirror can transform any room, whether it's a DIY frame upgrade or a grouping of smaller mirrors for a modern, organic feel.
5. Indoor Outdoor Harmony
To maintain an indoor/outdoor flow, window treatments are kept minimal through sheer linen curtains, cotton muslin or simple bamboo blinds that allow natural light to filter through while preserving privacy. When it comes to wall décor, less is definitely more and the goal is to select art pieces thoughtfully, favoring watercolors, abstract designs or cultural pieces in slim wooden frames. It’s all about bringing the outdoors in, whether through plants or natural materials.
If you have access to a terrace or garden, you can use sliding glass doors to create an effortless transition between spaces. Adding elements like a vertical garden or a bamboo screen is another way to enhance greenery while providing a sense of tranquility. For those without outdoor access, incorporating indoor plants such as bonsai, bamboo or hanging vines can mimic this effect without overwhelming the space.
For an added touch of tradition, consider Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement. Rooted in Zen principles, Ikebana focuses on balance, movement and harmony, using cut stems, blossoms and branches to create meaningful compositions. While these thoughtful arrangements are appreciated year-round, they take on special significance during Christmas in Japan, where the fusion of Eastern traditions with Western holiday celebrations creates uniquely beautiful seasonal displays.
Is Japandi Style Expensive?
A Japandi style bathroom or a Japandi style living room doesn’t have to break the bank. While some Japandi style furniture pieces can be pricey, the beauty of this aesthetic is that you don’t need a lot to achieve the look. Prioritizing quality over quantity means you can invest in a few well-made essentials while keeping the space uncluttered and budget-friendly. Plus, with plenty of affordable options available, it’s easy to mix high-end finds with budget-conscious pieces for a stylish and balanced home.
What Is the Difference Between Japandi and Wabi Sabi?
Japandi and Wabi Sabi are similar in that they both embrace natural materials and simplicity, but they're coming from different places philosophically. Where Japandi might opt for a sleek ceramic vase with clean lines, Wabi Sabi would treasure a piece of handmade Japanese pottery with its uneven glaze and slight irregularities. Japandi seeks harmony through intentional design, while Wabi Sabi finds it in embracing the natural cycle of growth, decay and the authentic imprint of time.
Japandi Style Examples
1. Japandi Style Living Room
For a Japandi style living room, you want to keep things simple yet cozy. Focus on clean lines and incorporate natural materials like bamboo, rattan and raw wood for an organic feel. Japandi-style elements you can decorate with in this space include books, branches, stones, candles and incense.
2. Japandi Style Interior
Japandi style interiors typically embrace the idea of letting go of anything that doesn’t serve a purpose or bring you joy. A clutter-free space is essential to this style, with the focus being on choosing thoughtful pieces made to last. Essentially, Japandi style interior design is all about minimalism with warmth, simplicity with soul; giving you rooms that are not just beautiful, but actually feel good to live in.
3. Design Japandi Style Kitchen
Japandi style kitchens usually feature clean-lined cabinets that create a calm, uncluttered space. If you’re going to mix materials, do so thoughtfully. You also want to stick to a neutral color palette of whites, beiges, grays and blacks, letting the deeper wood tones add warmth and ground the space.
4. Japandi Style Bedroom
Create a Japandi style bedroom by layering soft, neutral-toned textiles and add depth with cushions in calming muted colors. You can mix up your textures with options like linen, velvet, chunky wool, jute and hemp for a sense of coziness.
5. Japandi Style House
When bringing Japandi style into your home, focus on creating spaces that feel both peaceful and purposeful, starting with soft and calming colors. Choose furniture with simple silhouettes that showcase craftsmanship rather than ornate details and bring nature indoors through both materials and plants. A Japandi style house also prioritizes open floor plans for efficiency to maximize natural light and air circulation.
6. Japandi Style Furniture
One of the hallmarks of Japandi interiors is the use of simple, low-profile furniture such as low benches, futon beds, pedestal tables and wishbone chairs to make the space appear visual, open and expansive. However, even Ikea desk hacks can transform into Japandi pieces with thoughtful modifications like minimal hardware or floating wooden legs.
7. Japandi Style Bathroom
To decorate a Japandi style bathroom, focus on a mix of natural materials like wood and stone. Stick to a neutral color palette that includes white, beige, taupe, olive, muted red, brown or black for a calming yet earthy feel. Storage should be smart and subtle, using baskets, basic shelves or folding screens to keep clutter out of sight. For an effortless way to achieve this look, explore Ikea hacks for space-saving storage that blends seamlessly into your design.
Simply put, Japandi style beautifully blends the cozy, inviting nature of Scandinavian Hygge with the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, which embraces imperfection and natural beauty. By merging the earthiness of Japanese design with the bright, functional elements of Scandinavian style, you create a space that feels grounded yet airy — a perfect retreat from the demands of modern life. The key to mastering Japandi is simplicity. Focus on fewer, carefully chosen items and clean, minimalist designs. When in doubt, always prioritize quality over quantity for a serene, balanced space that stands the test of time.
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