By Bed Threads Interiors 16.08.2023

Simple Ways to Bring the Japandi Aesthetic into Your Home

East meets west with this calm, casual, and organic interior design style.

Blending Japanese artistic elements and wabi-sabi philosophy with Scandinavian comfort and hygge, Japandi focuses on simplicity, natural elements, comfort, and sustainability.

While it may sound like a new trending buzzword, Japandi style has been permeating the interior design space for centuries.

For those looking to inject tranquility into their minimalist space, ahead are eight ways to incorporate Japandi into your home’s interior style.

What is Japandi style?

As interior designer Anna Giannis tells Bed Threads Journal, “Japandi is a design fusion incorporating elements from Japan, a very sophisticated country, and the Scandi style of minimalism.”

This fusion creates the perfect blend of function and form, with a calming and cool tone, emphasised by clean lines and bright spaces.

“Adopting the popular Japandi style, you enter a world of well-crafted intentional spaces where the design principles and values have a certain minimalistic focus,” Giannis notes.

What are the elements of Japandi style?

The key is using minimalistic designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and intentional.

The focus is on high quality and handmade furniture, which is paired with neutral colours and paint choices that promote calmness and tranquility. Brighter colours can be incorporated, but must be executed in a subtle and meaningful way.

What also sets Japandi apart from other minimalist trends is the focus on sustainability and eco-friendly aesthetics, which is partly responsible for the style’s popularity.

“Equally important to know is the Japandi style often emphasises sustainability and the vital use of natural materials. They have a natural harmony and a shared respect for artisans and craftsmanship, which work together perfectly,” Giannis explains.

How to incorporate Japandi into your interiors

If you’re a fan of ‘hygge’ (the Scandinavian concept of cosiness in design) and Japan’s ‘wabi-sabi’ (the idea there is beauty in imperfection), there’s a good chance you’re already well-versed with Japandi style. Here are seven design tips to consider when executing the hybrid aesthetic into your interiors, according to Giannis.

1. Focus on handmade

“Japandi style features quality, handmade furnishings and interiors that envelope beautifully hand crafted items,” Giannis explains. “These principles respect the craft and the use of materials to create a heirloom piece.”

2. Use simple clean lines

“To incorporate the elements of Japandi is to understand that your home is very sacred and it only contains items you truly use - again, functionality - and not merely decorate for the sake of decorating and accumulating.” Remember, less is always more.

3. Use of natural materials

Natural materials are the focus of Japandi’s principles. “There are a plethora of nature and wood accessories like bamboo, rattan and jutes that create a beautiful and calming aesthetic,” Giannis says.

4. A neutral color palette

“The world of colour is best seen in the contrast of the Scandinavian and Japanese colour palettes. Scandinavian interior style is known more for its light, neutral palette including warm greens and light greys. The Japanese colours are much deeper like darker chocolates, black and deep greens.”

5. Organization

Everything – from the coffee table book to the vase on the side table – serves a purpose.

“Every item is well positioned with a purpose and function, and overall the home is well organised.” What you get is a space that has very little clutter but is still inviting.

6. Quality and bespoke furniture

“The Japandi furniture is easily distinguishable with its clean lines and a low profile. One of its key principles is its functionality and of course the craftsmanship quality.”

7. Elegant plants

“The Japandi style has a very close connection to nature and eco-friendly principles. Hence, it is essential when styling or completing a Japandi interior that plants are strategically placed within a space.”

Try a bonsai, bamboo hanging planter, a Yucca Cane plant or a delicate terrarium.

Anna Giannis is an internationally acclaimed interior designer and stylist. Follow her on Instagram @annagiannis_interiors.

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