A new furnishing style combinedScandinavian cosinesswith Japanese purism. The Japandi living trend has captured the hearts of interior designers worldwide. It brings together the functionality of Northern European furnishings with the reserved elegance of Asian interiors. In the article we will tell you what characterizes the mix of styles and how you can implement it in your own four walls.
The Japandi living style presents a successful mix of two, at first glance, very different living worlds. TheJapanese minimalismrelies on dark colors, sculptural furniture and subtle lighting. The rooms are furnished with only the bare essentials, making them look “empty”. This conscious turning away from consumption is supposed to liberate modern people from consumer-oriented thinking and develop a special appreciation for it. Which items are necessary and which are superfluous are decided using the Mari Kondo method. This is more of a feeling than a practical assessment.
TheScandinavian living stylerelies on functional furniture, light colors and strong direct lighting. Coziness is very important. Interior designers in Northern Europe are also trying to break the throwaway cycle. The Scandinavian workshops restore old furniture and in this way give them a new life. New and old are cleverly combined in Scandinavian interiors.
Japandi living trend 2021: The basic principles of furnishing
The Japandi living style (the word is made up of the word Japan and the English abbreviation for Scandinavian, scandi): As the name itself suggests, the two living styles clash. And the end result is surprisingly successful. Maybe it's because both Japanese purism and Scandinavian chic rely on natural materials, color accents in dark shades and a...reduced formal languageset. The houseplants are also an element that connects the two styles. If you like the subtle elegance, then you can easily implement the style at home. You must adhere to several basic rules:
Japandi living trend 2021: minimalism with a touch of coziness
Walls and floor in non-colorsGray and white create the perfect neutral backdrop for Japandi style decor. Exposed concrete is preferred for the floor, while the walls are plastered and painted white or light gray.
Set up minimalistically.The two living styles are known for their reduced and simple aesthetics. So it's better to set up sparingly. First, think about whether you really need the side table or new vase. Leave as much space between individual pieces of furniture as possible. The sculptural beauty of the retro armchair, the industrial lamps or the dining table is particularly highlighted.
Japandi living trend 2021: Reduced sophistication
Combine furniture with simple shapes.From the puristic dining table to the wall shelf: the Japandi living style is characterized by clear lines. Such pieces of furniture have two decisive advantages: they never go out of style and they can be perfectly combined with each other. Despite the minimalist look, there should be no lack of comfort at home. Hygge-style bedspreads and carpets loosen up the interior.
Japandi living trend: The natural materials in the spotlight
Rely on natural materials.Wood, wool, jute, rattan weave and linen fabrics create a relaxed indoor climate. The decoration should also appear as natural as possible: vases made of smoked glass or porcelain stoneware, flower pots made of ceramic and picture frames made of wood add the finishing touches to the interior. What is most important is that all pieces of furniture harmonize with each other.
Japandi living trend 2021: Opposites attract
The Japandi living style is an exciting combinationLight and dark. A dark brown carpet goes well with a light floorboard, while retro chairs made of dark and light wood harmonize perfectly in the dining area.
No glitz, no Gatsby glamour.Straight lines and natural materials with a matt surface dominate the Japandi room. The attractive wood grain and the beautiful wicker work of the pendant light are more effective. The feel also plays a major role in the otherwise reserved interior.
Japandi living trend 2021: functionality in the foreground
The choice of furniture depends on theFunctionality in the foreground.You should also choose your home accessories carefully. Decorations in strong colors are an absolute no-go. Instead, choose vases, pictures and houseplants so that they fit harmoniously into the interior. It is important that the overall living image is correct.
A low but deep sofa, a low coffee table or a low bed: this is what traditional furniture in Japan looks like. The Japandi living trend 2021 honors this tradition but reinterprets the design. The small-format pieces of furniture impress with their simple construction, which conveys visual calm and sophistication. They also allow for a certain degree of flexibility in design, as they can be rearranged with little effort.
In a Japandi style interior they areFurniture not grouped, but are distributed in the room at a large distance from each other. Even the large living area is not divided into different zones.
Japandi living trend 2021: color accents
Exciting contrasts are created not only in the choice of wall color, floor coverings and furniture. Decorating is also targetedBlack accentsset. Whether the carpet in ivory and black or the picture above the bed with floral motifs: black spices up the simple furnishings and brings a touch of the East into your own four walls.
Japandi living trend 2021: vintage furniture and design classics
Clear the stage for vintage furniture! From Scandinavian design classics to flea market finds: tradition is very important in a Japandi interior. Restored pieces of furniture add comfort to the interior and bring a romantic touch from the past into your home. A sparsely furnished room allows them to show off particularly well.
Japandi living trend 2021: handmade tableware
Japanese ceramics enjoy great popularity. The dishes, vases and glasses of the Japanese craftsmen impress not only with their clear shapes, but also with their perfect completion. Each of her delicate pieces is unique.
Craftsmanship is also experiencing a renaissance in Scandinavian countries. However, these are not unique pieces, but rather porcelain tableware that gives off the look.
Deco and Japandi Steel
Decoration should not be missing in the minimalist Japandi living room either. As with furnishing, the rule of thumb applies to decorating: concentrate on the essentials. Choose accessories that not only look beautiful but also fulfill a function. For example, vases that are grouped into stylish ensembles in Scandinavian interiors and attract attention with their sculptural design language. In Japanese interiors, tall vases are staged as soloists.
You can also take inspiration from the Japanese art of Ikebana and display flowers to great effect. In Ikebana, the flowers are arranged including leaves and stems. They are placed in the “Kenzan”, a special plastic plate with spikes. The goal: The flower arrangement should appear as natural as possible. When decorating, you should also concentrate on the essentials and avoid unnecessary ribbons, animal figures and other decorative pieces from the floristry shop. Instead, opt for a reduced and simple ensemble or showcase individual flowers. Choose only seasonal flowers and plants for your ikebana.
Mirror as decoration
A wall mirror is much more than a useful accessory: it diffuses sunlight and artificial light throughout the room and visually enlarges it. A frameless mirror fits harmoniously into the minimalist Japandi interior and creates an exciting play of light and shadow. A round model can break up the clear design language of the purist furniture; a rectangular mirror looks particularly good next to a round vase or a chest of drawers with rounded edges.
By the way, so that the mirror does not disrupt the flow of energy in the room, it should not be located directly opposite the sofa.
Stool instead of chair?
The stool is a piece of furniture that brings together tradition and modernity. It offers several advantages and has therefore become an inseparable part of both Scandinavian and Japanese interiors. When not in use, it can be placed under the table and stays out of sight. It can also be used as a side table or bedside table.
The Japandi living trend 2021 at a glance
The Japandi living trend combines simplicity and sophistication. The living style fuses the minimalist aesthetics of Japanese furnishings with the coziness of Scandinavian interiors. This combination, which seems strange at first glance, creates an exciting mix of styles. Functionality is very important. All pieces of furniture are multifunctional and can be reconfigured in the room depending on your needs. When designing the room, priority is given to “warm” natural materials such as wood, rattan, wool and linen. Stone is only used as an accent, if at all. Vintage heirlooms are combined with design classics from the 60s or 70s with traditional Japanese furniture such as a low table or stools. Pieces of furniture that offer storage space, such as a chest of drawers or a bedside table, are raised and stand on wafer-thin metal legs. The sofas are lower than usual, but have a special seat depth. The floor-level futon beds fit harmoniously into the Japandi bedroom.
Decorating is done rather sparingly. Cozy bedspreads along with hand-woven carpets and paper screens give the interior character. Potted plants and ikebanas bring nature into the home.
The color palette is made up of neutral colors. Grey, beige, black and white form the perfect background for subtle color accents in dark blue or emerald green. Using a neutral color palette will ensure that all furniture pieces fit together. This means you can later supplement the furnishings with new statement pieces or replace old furniture with new ones.