There is a new fusion interior design style that you can try out! Of course, each home has a unique flavor but this is one that is taking off and becoming a new style all in its own right. It is the Japandi style interior and it is delicious!
This certainly wasn’t one of the design styles reviewed in the 28 greatest interior design styles. But if you’re looking for something easy, natural, and unique, you should definitely check out Japandi style interior design.
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So What Does Japandi Style Combine?
Japandi is a fusion of two different design styles. The first, is obvious if you look at the name. Japanese design is a major influence on Japandi style interiors. Japanese design is characterized by a natural flavor and minimalist, warm interiors.
The second major aspect of Japandi style interiors comes from a less obvious source. That source is Scandinavian design. Scandinavian takes a lighter approach than the Japanese style and brings in more knick knacks and decoration.
Scandinavian design still takes great influence from the natural surroundings however it can appear slightly stark for some tastes.
Japandi Style Interior Design Flavor
The combination of these two design styles, Japanese and Scandinavian, puts the best of both worlds in one single and, all-together new, style.
You get the more personalized nature of the Scandinavian design and the warmer overall tone of the Japanese interior design style.
And, since both pull heavily from the natural environment, you get a soft, easy, and natural feel to the Japandi style space.
Japandi Furniture
The furniture you find in Japandi interior is very natural looking. Wood, from light to dark tones, is dominant. The grain of the wood should be understated, more like a birch or a mahogany than an oak grain.
Fabric in Japandi furniture should, again, be very natural. Leather, linen, silk, and cotton are all excellent options. Avoid vinyls, plastics, and other synthetics. You want fabrics to feel comfortable.
Your furniture should be inviting. Your chairs should welcome people to sit in them for hours on end and talk together. Your tables should be understated, yet welcome guests to set a drink on them. Ease and comfort are what you are going for.
Japandi Colors
Japandi design allows for bright and open interiors, drawing heavily from the Scandinavian side of things. Most accents are white with light taupe, sage greens, and light grays also being popular.
Again, simple design elements in Japandi design are complemented best by subtle and natural colors. Don’t pair this interior design style with a bright yellow cabinet or a dark red chair. If you don’t find the color in the woods, keep it out of your Japandi design.
Japandi Kitchen Design
Japandi Kitchen Cabinets
In the kitchen, Japandi design really shines. Though it may not follow current popular trends. Everybody seems to want open shelves right now but Japandi kitchens would only have open shelves if they were kept neat and orderly.
Serving bowls and dinnerware need to be as architectural as the general space.
Kitchens would have closed upper cupboards and all pulls or knobs would be unobtrusive or hidden as much as possible. Cabinet design follows suit as the rest of the space.
Natural and subtle colors and tight grains. No acrylic and no saturated colors. Check out this article on Kitchen Insider if you are looking specifically for Japandi style kitchen ideas.
Japandi Kitchen Flooring Options
Japandi kitchen flooring will be a solid surface and as natural as possible. A beautiful, light maple hardwood may be perfect for a Japandi style interior.
Avoid anything that is exaggerated. If you use a tile, the design needs to be subtle and monochromatic. You may even get away with a calmer cork or linoleum option if you choose.
You should avoid any major patterns or designs. Preferably, keep the flooring softer in feel as well as appearance. Avoid hard surfaces like concrete if you can.
The floors should be comfortable to walk on, so don’t hesitate to put down a warm rug as long as it is a natural fiber in a calm pattern.
Kitchen Sinks in Japandi Interiors
In a Japandi kitchen, keep your sink and faucet understated. Composite sinks are awesome because you can get them in a color that really compliments your Japandi interior.
For a faucet, a high arch in a simple design is recommended because it allows your eye to just barely glance over it.
There is not really a perfect metal option for your design. But similar to other pieces of Japandi interiors, keep it warm. Black, oil-rubbed bronze, and satin brass are all great options.
Anything cold or shiny should probably be avoided. So satin nickel, bright brass, and chrome would not be recommended.
Japandi Bathroom Design
For a beautiful Japandi bathroom design, you should really channel your inner spa. The bathroom is based around the shower or bathtub, the vanity, and the toilet. Check out these Japandi style bathroom designs from the Bathroom Blueprint.
Japandi Bathtub and Shower Design
The bathtub needs to be a basic design, preferably freestanding. Avoid any additional ornate details like an obvious lip or ornate feet.
Get the design style right with a less expensive material rather than compromise the design. This way, your design still looks perfect overall.
If you don’t have room for a bathtub and you only have a shower, choose a frameless shower door for the most cohesive look. If you absolutely must get a framed shower door, choose the thinnest frame possible.
Avoid using a shower curtain since they do not compliment the clean ease of Japandi bathroom design.
Vanities in Japandi Bathroom Design
The vanity should be a simple, rectangular design. Again, avoid any ornate details such as curvy legs or moulding on the cabinet doors. If your cabinet doors have glass in them, it should be a simple glass without a lot of detail. Instead of additional trim or a stained glass look, consider getting a designer glass.
For the vanity top, try a slab of calm stone. The more important aspect to the Japandi bathroom is a stone that is fairly monochrome rather than a specific type of stone.
Avoid anything that has a lot of veining throughout the slab. While wood fits into a Japandi style interior well, it requires a ton of maintenance as a vanity top to keep the wood looking good.
How to Incorporate the Toilet
Toilet design is a crucial element to a Japandi bathroom design. If you can, try to incorporate an in-wall tank or a clean lined option.
If possible, find a toilet that doesn’t have a lot of obvious lines where the bowl ends, the seat begins, and the tank begins. You don’t want your eyes to be drawn directly to the toilet.
You should get a toilet that has closed in sides to cover the plumbing channels. Not only will this keep the style of your Japandi bathroom high, but they are much easier to clean as well.
Near the toilet would be an excellent place to put a houseplant because it would help to disguise the toilet.
Japandi Bathroom Accessories
Other bathroom accessories for your Japandi bathroom should include a frameless or thin-framed mirror. You may also consider a multi tier towel rack or warmer that attaches close to the wall and gives an aesthetic element when empty.
Find room in a few spots for some plants to give the natural element more space in the design.
The bathmat that you choose should fit into the overall Japandi design by being made of natural materials. Consider maybe a teak wood bath mat.
You may also find a great linen, cotton, or wool material for a mat. Since bath mats need to work hard, this is one area where you may want to use a modern, synthetic material. Just make sure that it looks like a natural material.
Japandi Style Bedrooms
If you’re looking for a comfortable place to relax and sleep after a hard day at work, you have got to try a Japandi bedroom design.
You’ll be able to clear your head because, like the rest of the home, there is not a lot of clutter here.
There are family photos in simple frames, some house plants to keep the air clean, and a comfortable bed with calm colors.
Japandi bedrooms are based on a simple bed design. Similar to other Japandi style furniture, the bed should not be ornate. You probably won’t want to include a headboard and footboard.
If you do, make sure to keep them clean and natural. Bed sheets should be a neutral color, preferably white. But if you can’t keep white clean, consider a gray or taupe.
Any dressers in the bedroom should be of basic design as well. There should not be extra mouldings or ornamentation on the cabinet doors or drawer fronts.
Dressers should be made of a tightly grained wood that is not painted. And, if possible, there should be no pulls or knobs. If they are necessary, make them as unobtrusive as possible.
Japandi style bedrooms can be warmed up with a rug on the floor if you feel it needs it. Since the solid flooring is typically carried throughout the house, it’s nice to step on a warmer surface early in the morning.
The rug should be made of natural fiber and it should be a calm color or pattern.
Final Thoughts
This fusion design is really quite simple to replicate and it allows a warmth and effortlessness that many people would find attractive. Japandi style interior design allows the functionality and ease of Scandinavian with the warmth and natural elements of Japanese.
Truly, you should at the very least try to make Japandi style bedrooms because they are just such a calming space. Or maybe you can try a few pieces of Japandi style furniture in a side sitting room to see how it feels to you.
Ultimately, if you decide that a Japandi interior design is not for you, most of these pieces and colors will fit well in other design styles.