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Meet Japandi Style: A Modern Look With Ancient Roots

The look is simple, functional, warm, and calming. It’s the minimalist style you’ve been looking for.

Amanda Scott
Amanda Scott
Japandi

Sometimes two styles are better than one. Japandi interior design pairs the simplicity of Scandinavian or “Scandi” design with the sleek Japanese aesthetic to achieve a unique style with the best of both worlds. It’s an eco-friendly home design where minimalism and elegance come together.

What is Japandi Style? It’s a combination of two design styles: “Japanese” and “Scandinavian”

What is Japandi Style?

Japandi interior design combines the modern elements of Scandi and the timeless, ancient elegance of Japanese decor. Minimalist home design is at the core of both Japanese and Scandinavian, emphasizing the importance of function in a space. You’ll find very few decorative objects in a Japandi home. Picture a clean white interior, enriched with deeply-stained wood and touches of black.

Simplicity is at the heart of Japandi style. You’ll find touches of wabi-sabi imperfection as well as aspects of hygge, the Scandinavian trend that aims to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Sleek Japanese design is softened by the rustic Scandinavian style, resulting in clean lines and lots of contrast. Read on to discover Japandi style ideas.

Japandi Kitchen

Black fireclay kitchen sink and black faucet, light wood flooring.
Harmonious contrast defines Japandi style.

There are two keys to capturing a Japandi style look in the kitchen: establishing clean lines and using neutral tones. Japandi stems from two styles which emphasize simple design and function-driven spaces, perfect for the kitchen. Even a classic white kitchen can become a Japandi kitchen with a few adjustments.

Begin by anchoring the space with wood flooring. Nothing speaks Japandi interior design more than wooden floors. Light or darker tones, whatever suits the space best. Luxury vinyl tile or hardwood capture the modern look of Japandi while keeping it a simple design as well.

Contrasting neutral color palettes is a great way to create interest in the Japandi style. While Nordic design is known for light, natural wood shades, and neutral hues with pops of pastel accents, Japanese style is characterized by richer tones, stained woods, and splashes of black and red.

Most Japandi style rooms start with a darker base in a saturated neutral shade. Insert texture by incorporating a mix of light woods in counter tops, cabinetry, and furniture. Introduce black into the palette with a matte black faucet and sink made of natural material such as fireclay.

Add color with natural sources such as plants. Japandi is all about harmonious contrast, so incorporate lighting fixtures with both curved and straight lines. Doing so adds a unique sense of texture to the room, which helps make it visually interesting.

Japandi style creates color harmony by combining the pale hues of the Scandi style with the deeper Japanese palette.

Japandi Bathroom

Wood floating vanity. Gold bathroom faucet. Black organic light fixture.
Keep spaces free flowing, counters kept clear, and fixtures simple.

What better place to celebrate bamboo, wood, and neutral hues than the bathroom of a Japandi home?

From ceramic bathroom accessories and humidity-loving plants, to floating vanities, Japanese soaking tubs, and neutral-colored flooring options, there are endless Japandi style bathroom ideas.

Clean and clear is the perfect mantra for a Japandi style bathroom. A wall-mounted vanity and undermount sink is best for a minimalist home design, or consider a modern vessel sink to make a statement.

Choose contemporary finishes like matte black or brushed gold as a nod to the Japanese color palette. Establish a free-flowing countertop space by clearing toiletries and other bathroom products and storing them in a lighted vanity cabinet. Draw on Scandinavian spaces for inspiration and consider a wooden bench or stool.

Choose Japandi lighting to illuminate the space and add depth. Finally, add texture to your space. Streamlined shapes and durable natural products should be used whenever possible to achieve a Japandi vibe and eco-friendly home design in your bathroom.

Japandi Lighting

Bathroom with modern light bar over vanity, white and gold pendant light.
Minimalist and modern lighting fixtures work well here.

Because Japandi interior design is all about harmony, it’s important to create a balanced Japandi lighting design. The spaces in a Japandi home should feel comforting and never have sharp or bright illuminations and lights.

Select modern bath bars or sconces to light your bathroom and consider undercounter lighting.

Less is more and so is the case with lighting. Lighting sets the mood and the Japandi aesthetic is peaceful. Minimal shapes with clean lines, like wall-mounted toilets and hidden storage, never overpower the space and are a perfect fit.

Though they come from different sides of the globe, they share similar principles. Both are exercises in minimalism.

Japandi Style Ideas

Marble tile flooring, black slate tile, modern brass cabinet pull, plant.

Japandi is an eco-friendly home design. Whenever possible, use natural fibers and sustainable materials. Look to indoor plants as decorative pieces for your Japandi style home, choose simple green foliage in lieu of colorful flowers. Focus on raw materials like marble, wood, brass, and slate.

Stay Neutral.

Neutral bathroom, floating vanity, soaking tub, open shower with cream tile
A neutral color palette is the best way to start.

When adding color, favor a muted palette of dusty greys, pale blues, and soft pinks. Some prefer to inject richer Japandi colors in tones such as teal, indigo, emerald, and black. Start with neutral shades of white and beige, then create contrast by adding a mix of other Japandi colors. Keep the palette fairly basic, but don’t be afraid to incorporate vibrant tones using lighting fixtures or vases.

Keep it Simple

Kitchen with natural wood and black cabinets. Dark gray tile. Black pendant

Both the Japanese and Scandinavian design aesthetics are focused on minimalist home design. A Japandi home is not purely about aesthetics, it’s also a way of life. Scandi style adds comfy rustic touches, while Japanese design brings a more varied color palette. Japandi style combines these styles in a perfectly cozy harmony.

Summary

Japandi style is one of the most versatile blends of decor styles. It’s simple design puts an emphasis on functional spaces that offer comfort along with respect for the beauty of imperfection.

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