At a time when our focus is on health and wellbeing, can the latest interior design trend from Japan and Scandinavia help us channel wellness and tranquility into our homes?
Research at the Mental Health Foundation has found that during the Covid-19 pandemic, 45% of people in the UK had visited green spaces to help them cope. When so much of our time and energy has been spent on prioritising our physical and mental health it is no wonder that Japandi, the home decor trend that brings the outdoors indoors, is the hottest cult aesthetic of the moment.
Japandi is loosely defined as the fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design. Whilst simplicity and functionality are two key components to this style, the third lynch pin, is the incorporation of natural materials used by highly skilled craftsmen to create products that are made to last.
Washi craftmaship, think Washi paper lights, is a fabulous example of why the Japanese place strong emphasis on the use of natural materials and the traditional techniques of crafting. Not only is the finished product durable but buying Washi also sustains the local traditional craft of hand-making paper in Japan.
The significance of preserving this craft became evident in 2014, when Japan successfully registered Washi to UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage cultural items. The underlying purpose and aim of UNESCO’s list is to preserve culture, living expressions, knowledge and skills that can be transmitted from one generation to the next.
Japandi is a decoration style that combines Japanese and Scandinavian concepts to produce a rustic but minimalistic effect. It is inspired by nature, natural lightning, neutral colors and handmade accessories.
Materials Sourced From Nature
The importance of nature to both Japanese and Scandinavian cultures can not be underestimated. It comes as no surprise that this decorative style looks to emphasise how best nature can be incorporated into your living space.
Blending natural materials such as eco friendly bamboo, organic linens and wool is a much loved and subtle way to bring your love of the outdoors back into your inner sanctum. The use of sustainable materials is at the forefront of the Japandi trend, attention is placed on purchasing fewer items that are high quality, durable and will last longer.
You are encouraged to use materials that go easy on the environment, are replenishable and most importantly recyclable.
Plants & The Japandi Colour Palette
Bringing plants indoors is an easy way to connect with nature on a daily basis, but remember, nature serves a dual purpose with this style of decor. Japandi’s traditional colour palette gravitates toward neutral and warm tones, the use of plants gives you permission to break up a neutral colour palette by adding pops of colour to your living space.
Peace Lilys, Monsteras and Pothos are great indoor plats that are widely available, they can thrive with less than 8hrs of light time. You can even find some of the online.
Simplicity Doesn’t Mean Minimalism
If simplicity forms the basis of your core aesthetic then Japandi is your go to style for interior expression. Simplicity does not necessarily equate to minimalism, the key to decorating in this style is to use furniture, sculpture and artwork that project strong outlines and curves.
Japandi and local markets go hand by hand, we encourage you to find a local artist to complement your home deco project. Second hand objects are also very useful and it can reduce your spending by 30%.
Decluttered spaces must use a few statement pieces to project clean, bold lines that bring a feel of airiness and cleanliness to your surroundings.
Functionality, Intent & Purpose
The practice of being selective about what you bring into your personal space is a sign of clear decision making about what belongs in your life right now. Using a space for its intended purposes can help reduce stress and anxiety and can give you a sense of purpose in the moment, it also has the added advantage of keeping your home low-maintenance.
For example, you can start with your furniture to be functional and simple. And then you can also try it with simpler objects like the the soap holder or the shower curtain!
With Japandi every piece in a room should have a purpose and a function. Emphasis is placed on creating an orderly environment that focuses on what is important to you in the present – decluttering is merely an outcome of the style process.
Statement Pieces
Functionality should not translate to boring. Nor should it be confused with a tactical or calculating mood board yielding clinical outputs. Remember, this style encourages you to fuse the functional and beautiful in a home.
As a starting point, accessories that introduce texture such as cushions and throws can be juxtaposed with striking pieces of artwork that create curved or angled silhouettes. Whatever statement pieces you decide to use, the ultimate goal, is to create a harmonious look and feel to the personal space you are styling.
You can find inspiration on sites like Pinterest and eventually purchase a piece that you really like from Amazon, Aliexpress or a local baazar.
Natural Lighting
Where possible strive for naturally well lit spaces. Natural lighting should feel like it is circulating in a room and should bring a feel of airy, cleanliness to your living space. For interiors that are low on natural light there are many useful tricks you can use to to create an illusion of space.
The use of large mirrors, glass furniture or any accessories with a reflective surface will help bring a sense of brightness back into an otherwise lacklustre room. Finally, complement natural light with the softer forms of indoor lighting using candle lights, ceiling lights or even strategically placed overreach floor lamps. Think along the lines of Hyggelig lighting and create the softer, more soothing pools of honey glow that form part of the Scandinavian obsession with indoor lightening.
If you live in a dark apartment that doesn’t get enough sunlight, do not worry. There are smart bulbs that will imitate natural light, these are very cheap, you can get one for only $15.
Tactile Textures
Our primary senses are our connection to the world, they help us perceive our environment, are critical to the enjoyment of our experiences, closely connect us to our memories and have a big influence on how we act and feel. Your final style layout is not just about how your designs look to the discerning eye, but how objects in your space feel to the hand are equally important.
You are encouraged to think about touch and how best to use materials and textiles with different textures such as hemp, linen and cork in the home. A simple trick is to close your eyes, or use a blindfold, and think about how you want your space to feel if you were unable to see the world around you.
Ask yourself, how do you touch Japandi? What does this style feel like in my hands and against my skin and body? Note and quickly execute any changes you want to make to your space. Do not overthink the details, let your gut instinct guide you.
If your budget is tight, you can go with cotton or polyester, these are usually below $4 dollars per square feet. Just try to find one piece that blends well with the rest of the art project.
Neutral & Contrasting Colors
Japandi combines the Scandinavian love for white and neutral tones with the Japanese preference for the warmer earthier tones. The primary colour palette for Japandi is neutral or light. The principal aim of using colour is to generate a warm but bright interior space.
Think whites, beige and oatmeal alongside the contrasting darker colours of blue, green, earth tones – and yes even black is allowed. Black lacquers are a distinct and immediately recognisable part of Japanese design and commonly used as an accent.
Editor’s Final Nook
Clean and uncluttered spaces are coveted by both the Japanese and Scandinavians but this does not mean you have to forfeit a cosy feel-at-home canvas. Scandinavians love their comfy spaces and put a lot of thought and effort into the creation of a hyggekrog – best translated as ‘a nook’. Don’t forget that you are allowed to create a cosy corner filled with cushions, blankets and soft lighting to sit and relax in – the size of space you apportion for your daily comforts is irrelevant. A small corner with a bay window where you can sit and read with a blanket on your lap will do nicely.
The fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design principles makes for interesting style outcomes. However, this can be said of any design principle whether properly executed or not. What makes Japandi stand out is the serious consideration you must give to the functional use of space.
Japandi is an exercise that forces you to pay attention to how you inhabit and use space in the here and now. Its true test of value does not hinge on mastering the visual elements but on whether you have created and designed a space that gives you moment-by-moment awareness of yourself and how you live in the present, it is after all the architects ultimate test in mindfulness.
Refences
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/ideas/japandi-style-pub47764360
https://oishya.com/journal/japandi-merging-japan-and-scandinavia-in-your-home-decor/
