5 Lessons Japandi Style Teaches Us

Japandi style interior design has been trending and continues to be a popular interior design trend in 2022. But what exactly is japandi style design? And why should you consider it inspiration for both your home and your day-to-day life?

Japandi style interior design is a perfect combination of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian simplicity. Japandi encourages us to reduce clutter in our homes and create spaces that are functional yet serene. Keep reading to learn more!

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What Is Japandi Design Style?

Japandi style interior design is a trend that came from a merging of both Japanese and Scandinavian interior design. Also known or sometimes referred to as Japa-Nordic style interior design–is a merging of both Scandinavian and Japanese design elements. But when we break them down even further, we can see just what the design nuances are of both interior styles. Both interior styles have a lot in common such as the use of natural and organic materials.

Clean lines, and minimalist design and an easy flow in spaces are also characteristics. Both design styles also speak to a way of life that involves embracing natural beauty and function.

Scandinavian japanese design draw from the same principles of minimalism and clean lines. Natural materials such as wood, stone and textiles are key elements in Japandi decor. When it comes to color palette, whites, neutrals and earth tones play a big role to achieve that natural calming atmosphere but you can also incorporate some deep colors like navy blue or black for contrast.

Both design styles incorporate cultural and lifestyle aspects to their home spaces and we see the combination of the two in Japandi. In Japandi interior design we learn that how you decorate your personal spaces is an extension of a lifestyle.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian interior design or Scandi interior design, as it’s often referred to is an interior design movement that was born in the 20th century. The design style had gone through a long history of evolution that traversed several other movements that shaped it today. Scandi interior design is characterized by minimalism, functionality, simplicity, and clean lines.

A connectedness to the environment as well as maximizing natural light and airy spaces are also aspects of this design style. Scandi interior design tends to favor lots of neutral and muted tones.

Japanese Wabi-sabi

Firstly, when we think about Japanese interior design we have to understand that it’s intertwined with the mantra wabi-sabi. The Japanese mantra wabi-sabi centers on the concept that one can find beauty in the imperfection that exists in our surroundings.

Wabi-sabi is characterized by embracing and accepting naturalness and rawness which in turn creates a sense of ease and flow in a space. Perfection is not the means to an end in Japanese interior design, far from it. In this Japanese zen style you’ll often see muted and dark earthy tones.

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Now that we have an understanding of what each interior design style is made up of, it’s easy to see how a combination of both styles can be truly impactful to a space and even day-to-day life in those spaces. You can draw inspiration from both design styles in japandi design and create a space in a way that allows those nuances to shine in your home.

The Japandi Lifestyle

There are several things we can learn and takeaway from the merging of the Scandi and Japanese interior design style. Japandi style and japandi decor inspires beyond decorating. It teaches us how to create meaningful spaces to enjoy in our homes. Creating that feeling of peace and mind both in living and home is amongst one of the many lessons to take away.

#1 Teaches Us About Intentional Living & Decorating

An integral part to decorating your home with the japandi interior design is being intentional towards your space and the way you want to live in it. Intentional living and intentional decorating are important especially if you live in a small living space.

We talk about intentional living and decorating a lot on this blog because often times our homes are filled with stuff. And the goal is to always live in a space that is filled with things that we love. Elevating the space you live is possible no matter how big or small as long as you consider these two things.

#2 Teaches Us That Less Is More

Less is more when it comes to drawing inspiration from japandi. Decluttering and adopting a more minimalist attitude in relation to your homewares and furnishings is a great way to approach this design style. Everything from japandi kitchen design to japandi living room design is sleek, minimalist, functional in design. Clean, modern and simplified home furnishings is the way to go if you want to decorate japandi.

If you live in a small living space then embracing this simplified lifestyle and decorating style is important. It can help elevate and allow for more air flow through your space. Aside from simplicity, avoiding clutter is also really important to create that japandi home. Being cognizant of your space and the items that occupy it is important if you want to make this interior style work.

#3 Teaches Us To Appreciate Natural Materials & Textures

Both styles tend to favor the use of more natural materials and we see it often in japandi. Stone, concrete, linen, rattan, cast iron even, are often times the sort of materials you’d notice in Japandi decor. Natural materials help to create that calming ambiance in a space.

For example, when it comes to japandi bedding go for a fabrics that are sustainable like this organic flax linen bedding set. These sort of materials you’re likely to find in seating, headboards, japandi bedding.

A japandi bed frame or a sofa set can be the perfect addition to any home. Furniture pieces in Japandi style are usually simple and focus on functionality, but with some added design details like curved lines or handmade crafts.

The texture of these natural materials are also what really make the japandi style flourish. You may notice a lot of unfinished wood textures or bamboo and cane in japandi decor. A

Using sustainable materials in furniture like in this japandi bedside table and these jute and maple japandi bench–is also a key element of this interior design aesthetic. The juxtaposition of textures really make this interior design style what it is. But it doesn’t just stop there. Even in japandi paint colours you’ll find texture on the walls with the use of limewash paint which is currently quite popular. If painting isn’t for you, try out japandi wallpaper.

#4 Teaches Us To Play With Layers of Muted Tones

Playing with japandi paint colors and tones is another lesson we learn from japandi aesthetic. Subtle contrast and layering is an important perspective to understand. The blending of Japanese and Scandi interior styles and the combination of both interior styles does this perfectly. As a result you’ll often get a sense of serene and calming in these spaces.

While Scandinavian interior design calls for lighter woods, and brighter neutral colors; Japanese interior will bring in a bit of that earthiness to the space. Those earthy tones might be a bit more muted and a bit darker on the neutral spectrum.

However, japandi colours are not restricted to just your wall paint. In fact you can find these tones all across the board in this interior style. From japandi style bathrooms, to japandi bedding and even japandi wallpaper–maintaining that cohesiveness is important when it comes to colours and tones.

#5 Teaches Us About Imperfection and Acceptance

Drawing more from the wabi-sabi side, japandi decor is all about embracing the imperfections you might find in organic shapes. You might notice less than perfect decor objects that appear to have that handcrafted sort of organic silhouette. Grooves, and cracks and roughness that might appear unfinished bring an element of beauty in their own right.

Handcrafted and definitely higher quality items are more sought out after in japandi interior decor. Look for items that are handwoven that illustrate craftmanship. Incorporate handcrafted organic shaped vessels that might be mishappen. Japandi decor teaches us to accept the imperfect as a form of beauty and that striving for perfection should not be the goal.

Why It Works For Small Space Living

Japandi style interior design takes two interior styles that are both perfect for small space living, and elevates it. The focus should be on achieving an aesthetic that compliments the functionality of the space, but that is also feels relaxed and natural. And that is what you get with japandi style interiors.

Japandi style embraces a minimalist aesthetic that promotes serenity and peace. To create a Japandi bedroom, aim for a tranquil and serene space. For a Japandi living room, prioritize comfort and brightness through the use of natural light. Lastly, for a Japandi dining room, focus on a clean and uncluttered look.

When it comes to living in smaller spaces the need to use interior spaces intentionally becomes great in this interior design style. It shows us that the items that fill the space are equally important. Japandi style furniture will typically be low profile and have simple silhouettes that don’t cramp up your space.

For example a japandi sofa will be a minimalist and clean design, usually earthy and neutral in color. In a japandi style bedroom, you’re likely to find simple, natural wood bedframes, sleek in design and perhaps with a rattan headboard or no headboard at all. Allow for lots of light in spaces for maximum air flow and try using earth tones to evoke calm ambiance.

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