Japanese interiors design has a deep root in tradition, which deeply connected to the ancient Zen philosophy. It brings a quiet and meditative feel that encourages those in the space to take a step back to enjoy the simpler things in life. It is all about peaceful simplicity and modest designs, which goes beyond clean aesthetics or materiality.
Japanese interior features distinctive and specific characteristics in bringing simplicity aesthetic and cultural design, which some are evolved from traditional elements that adapted for modern lifestyles.
Here we have listed these elements and be inspired with some incredible ways that you can incorporate Japanese interior elements into your home design.
1. Sliding Door and Screens
Sliding shoji walls or Japanese screens are one of the most recognisable elements in Japanese interiors. They are traditionally made by translucent rice paper framed by wood, and used as traditional Japanese houses’ internal walls.
As time goes by, more modern version is created using glass panels for the sake of easier maintenance, while giving the Japanese home a modern design style. You could incorporate these sliding panels into window designs, or use large sliding glass doors inside the house, such as for balconies, backyards, kitchen door, etc.
You could also replace a large expanse of wall with a glass-panelled sliding door, to create an open space. The sliding doors fit in with the rest of the ambiance, and opening them wouldn’t cause any substantial visual disruptions within the overall aesthetic of the space.
2. Genka – Japanese Style Entryway
Genkan is traditional Japanese entry way. It features a slight split in levels, where the entrance area is lower than the rest of the house. Even today, many Japanese house always have a Genka space in front door.
You can mimic the Genkan-style entryways by designing a raised platform to create an isolated space at the entrance, or small passage near the door that leads to the living room.
You could install a shoe-racks, or cabinet for storing other essentials like umbrella in the Genkan. And the flooring is mostly covered by stone tile. Also, you could place doormats or tatami mats around, and decorate with some plants along to create an illusion of an entryway.
3. Raised Platform
Tatami is Japanese traditional straw mats that are used to cover the entire flooring. It is used to regulate interior humidity during the hot summer and cold winter. As nowadays, tatami tend to appear as raised elements in a room to enhance seating comfort and to optimize the available floor space.
Raised platforms can be functional, which can help divide up spaces, add dimension, turn your room multifunctional, define areas in an open plan, and used to add extra storage. You can create a Japanese-style lounge area by designing a raised platform with a pop-up tea table. Still, if you like traditional tatami flooring, you can roll out tatamis on your space and easily add that Japanese touch.
4. Platform Bed
Traditional Japanese furniture is low, which also applies to the bed. So, platforms can also be used in lieu of bed frames, and it’s becoming popular in modern Japanese interior design. It helps to tie the look in a bedroom together as the laminates used on the deck can match the ones on the wardrobe, giving the room sleek aesthetic and more uniformed appearance.
You can choose bamboo or wooden details for headboard for a Japanese-style bedroom concept. Or you can go even more minimal by just placing a mattress directly on the floor or on a raised platform to serve as an excellent substitute for the bed. Platform bed marks out the sleeping area without adding too much height, and it would give your bedroom the illusion of a spacious and airy feel.
5. Bring in Nature
Japanese interior design always has a strong respect and connection of nature. The best way to maintain a strong connection with the natural world is to bring nature indoors.
Some common natural features include simple internal rock gardens, courtyards or houseplants. Japanese homes also bring nature inside through large, expansive windows that allow a view of nature from every angle. So, you can open up your home by having large sliding glass door, to bring serene, natural views indoors.
If you don’t have outdoor space, you can choose to integrate indoor plants instead. You can add traditional Japanese plants, such as bonsai and bamboo, to give it a small Japanese cultural touch. Always consider sleek plants that are simple, natural and green, as it’s not typical to see a lot of colourful floral arrangements in a Japanese home.
6. Wood Slats
Most traditional Japanese houses predominantly use wood as the main material, from walls, floors, to furniture pieces. Wood is an amazing medium that not only makes the home feel more inviting but effortlessly mixes with a variety of design styles, such as modern, traditional and transitional. The texture of the wood can be seen everywhere in a Japanese home, and you can easily find walls recovered in bamboo, cedar panels, and especially wooden slats.
Wooden slats are the perfect way to add Japanese touch to any space. It creates architectural interest while remaining visually very neat and pleasing and quite minimal. It’s a great way to add some character and charm to a fairly minimal space, and infuse a warm and comfortable vibe to the overall space. You could incorporate wooden slats in many places, for example on a small section of a wall to create an accent wall, or make it as a divider in an open space, or a TV backdrop, or even on your kitchen island design.
