What Is Japandi Design Style and How Can It Transform Your Living Spaces?

While thousands of miles separate Scandinavia and Japan on a map, they’ve never been closer in terms of design. Japandi, a fusion of the two styles, is the latest design trend to inspire new builds and modern home renovations. The two may seem like a surprising pairing, but they actually have a lot in common, like their use of similar natural materials and reliance on comfort and functionality. 

Read on to find out why designers everywhere are combining these two different aesthetics, plus how you can easily incorporate Japandi design into your own home.

What Is Japandi Design?

Japandi is a hybrid of Japanese and Scandinavian design. Both of these styles have a lot in common—like how they prioritize natural elements and rely on minimalist principles—but even their differences complement each other. For example, the smooth, polished finishing of Japanese design pairs perfectly with the raw, minimalist wood features of Scandi design. And the use of sustainable practices in Japanese decor, such as relying on local and recycled materials, is right in line with Nordic furnishings. 

Key Elements of Japandi Interior Design

There are a handful of points where Japanese and Scandi design intersects, and these cross-sections have come to define the rising trend. Here are all the characteristics that make Japandi design unique. 

Minimalism

Japanese and Scandinavian designs are extremely similar in their approach to minimalism, but there are a couple of subtle differences. Though both embrace a no-visible-clutter approach, Japanese design often takes it a step further. That includes slim, no-frills furniture and limited decor or wall art. Hardwood and concrete floors are favored for their polish, and colors are limited to strictly earth tones, like slate gray and sage green. 

On the other hand, Scandinavian design doesn’t shy away from bold patterns, bright decor, and larger furnishings. Though hardwood flooring is almost always used, large, cozy rugs soften the hardness. Color use is equally limited, but the employed colors are vibrant, like bright blue wall art and mustard-yellow sofas. 

Japandi finds a compromise between these two approaches by combining minimalistic elements from both of them, like pairing streamlined furniture from Japanese designers with bold, patterned rugs from Nordic ones. 

Natural & Sustainable Elements

Natural elements are another common feature of Japandi design. Raw wood, organic textiles, and decor like handmade tiles make frequent appearances and are inspired by similar characteristics from both Scandi and Japanese designs. Japandi design relies heavily on natural, local, and recycled materials for everything from furnishings to appliances to decor, like bamboo and teak flooring and marble or stone countertops. 

Neutral Palettes 

Much like the two styles from which it stems, Japandi design is primarily composed of neutral color stories, except the occasional pop of colorful decor. Earth tones like beige, sage green, and slate blue are common, as are lighter shades like creams and bright whites.  

Color Contrast

While Scandi design uses bright or light shades almost exclusively, Japanese design isn’t afraid of a little contrast. Japandi design combines light and dark tones to create depth and provide comfort to airy spaces. 

Functional Decor

Because clutter-free living is so important in Japandi, the decor is limited to only the practical and functional. That includes things like artisan-made ceramic teapots or sleek and stylish coffee table books. Multipurpose objects are prioritized over all else—if it can’t do at least two things, it probably doesn’t belong in Japandi design.

How to Incorporate Japandi Design into Your Home

Infusing your home with a Japandi-inspired design approach is easy to do if you know where to start. These tips will walk you through the basics of this exciting, new design pairing. 

Cut Down on Clutter

First thing’s first: Establish designated, out-of-sight zones for all your day-to-day items, like your keys or wallet, and reserve the remaining shelf space for only your most prized decorations. Invest in multipurpose furniture like pull-out tables and beds, stools that double as chic coffee or end tables, and functional storage systems that camouflage into the rest of your decor. Streamline your closet so that all your favorite clothes and accessories are front, center, and easily findable.

Embrace Earth Tones

Japandi draws a lot of inspiration from the outside world, which is especially true for color stories. When in doubt, mix and match shades and textures that you’d find in nature. Pair black slate with raw wood furnishings, or decorate with natural elements like seashells, branches, or local rock species. Remove doors to create airiness with an open floor-plan, or switch to a bi-fold window or French door set-up to maximize natural light. Making the most of the colors and materials that already surround you will help your home feel more rooted in your environment. 

Invest in Plant Life

Speaking of earth tones, plant life is an essential element of Japandi design. Once again, the key here is to keep it minimal. Place a single stem into an artisan vase. Or finish a space with one large potted olive tree. And remember to highlight the plants outside your windows, too. For example, consider switching to a bifold window set-up to capture the perfect view of your secret garden. 

Focus on Texture 

Because there aren’t many decorations in Japandi design, a lot of focus is put on texture. Assess your space and try to figure out what textures are missing from your existing set-up. Then, take a tip from some Japandi interiors to switch it up. Already have a lot of metallic elements? Bring in some raw wood furnishings or woven textiles to ground your space. Or, pair your plain white walls with a gorgeous green plant and a simple yet impactful painting to make them feel alive. There’s no reason your home can’t feel satisfying and complete with limited decor.