How to incorporate Japandi design in your home

If you’re looking for ways to create functionality, simplicity and a calming atmosphere in your home, ‘Japandi’ design might just be the interior design style you’ve been searching for.  

Fusing the best design elements from two sides of the globe, ‘Japandi’ is a beautiful mix of Japanese and Scandinavian styles, that focuses on effortless design and creates a serene yet cosy environment with a minimalist layout. Read on to learn how to effortlessly incorporate Japandi design into your home.  

Declutter  

Japandi design is built on the foundations of minimalist design principles. As a rule of thumb, minimalist design involves taking everything to its essential quality, avoiding the unnecessary and achieving simplicity through the concept of ‘less is more’. 

Decluttering doesn’t have to mean throwing out everything you own; it’s about removing items from your home that no longer serve their purpose or no longer bring you joy. Start with decluttering the spaces in your home that are used most. Focus on reducing the items that you keep on your countertops and in your living room and create a designated zone in your home from everyday items such as shoes, bags and keys.  

By ‘embracing fewer things’ in your home, you’re already on your way to embracing the Japandi way.  

Create clean lines  

Create harmony in your home by investing in hardware and that encourages clean and crisp lines. Cabinetry with ‘flat-front’ doors that are solid and have no panels, framing or handles are a simple look that work well in any Japandi-style home. 

If you’re considering painting the interior of your home to hone into the Japandi style, focus on choosing neutral colours such as white, beige and pearl grey. These colours will create a sense of ‘cleanliness’ and will help better reflect daylight throughout your space.  

Invest in functional furniture and accessories  

You can also create clean lines and elevate Japandi design through furniture and accessories in your home. Clean lines don’t always have to mean ‘straight’ lines. You can play around with textures and shapes that work well in your space. Scandinavian furniture pieces typically feature simple lines, while in Japanese design, it is more common to include pieces that are curved and wood-stained.  

Natural materials such as wood, rattan, bamboo, cotton and hemp work particularly well in a Japandi space. Choose furniture and accessories that help create a sense of unity and cosiness but do not take away from the simplicity of the space. For accessories, ‘earthy’ toned vases, rugs and paintings help to add a calming and warm feel to a space. Indoor plants can also brighten up any space but be sure to not ‘overdo it’ with indoor plants.  

When it comes to choosing the colour of your furniture and accessories, opt for neutral, muted tones and avoid anything too bright. To add some depth to your space, use contrasting colours such as pale pink, blue, green and grey.  If you’re hoping to create a rich colour palette, play around with black and grey items in your home.  

Alongside choosing materials and colours that will complement your home, be sure to invest in quality items that will stand the test of time. Again, less is more, and this includes reducing waste! 

Utilise soft lighting 

Complement your space with warm and inviting lighting. Simple changes such as utilising warmer light bulbs can greatly change the look and feel of any room.  

Alongside adding warmer light bulbs, industrial-style lights and floor lamps are reminiscent of Scandinavian style, while wooden ‘sculpture’ style lights or lanterns are more common in Japanese style.  Even making a small change to your lighting can really lift your space.  

Key things to remember if you're adopting the Japandi way in your home:

1. Declutter your space - start with the areas in your home that are used the most 
2. Create clean lines through hardware and furniture 
3. Invest in quality furniture and accessories that will complement your space and stand the test of time 
4. Utilise warm, soft lighting

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