The Essentials
- Japandi is a contraction of the terms “Japan” and “Scandi” for “Scandinavian”.
- It combines Japanese wabi-sabi, “finding beauty in imperfection”, with Scandinavian hygge, “intentional intimacy”.
- Its codes can be summed up in three points: clean lines, low profiles and natural materials, based on light shades brought to life by deep colours.
- Adopt it by letting light flow around a pared-back arrangement, keeping furniture to a minimum and adding a few touches of black and greenery.
- The most common mistake is confusing minimalism with an empty room: Japandi remains a warm style.
A major trend in decorating and furnishings for the coming decade, Japandi style is a true manifesto for a return to the essentials.
More than just a trend, Japandi is a true way of life, whose influence is highly likely to become a lasting part of our lifestyles and interiors. Let’s take a closer look at this new wave sweeping through the world of décor and furnishings like Hokusai’s famous wave!
What Is Japandi Style?
Japandi is a contraction of the terms “Japan” and “Scandi” for “Scandinavian”. It is therefore a style halfway between Scandinavian comfort, the famous hygge, and the zen minimalism of Japanese interiors. Japandi is the happy marriage of two continents and two concepts:
- Japanese wabi-sabi, which means “finding beauty in imperfection”;
- Scandinavian hygge, generally translated as “intentional intimacy” and sometimes summed up by the idea of cocooning.
A touch of Japanese restraint, a hint of Scandinavian cocooning, and you are transported into the heart of Japandi décor. This trend moves between two approaches to decorating that were made to meet: they share a love of minimalism, which excludes superfluous elements in favour of functionality. Every piece of furniture and decorative object is carefully chosen, both for its aesthetics and its purpose.
Japanese Influences in Japandi
Clean lines, extreme refinement and noble materials: these are the first words that come to mind when Japanese-inspired décor is mentioned. Traditional Japanese interiors must also convey honour, duty and a love of nature.
Think of a zen, almost monastic atmosphere, created by wooden panels that slide silently instead of slamming doors, zataku-style seating and coffee tables, very low beds such as futons, dark-coloured walls that create depth, and calligraphic elements that lend a sense of calm and spirituality to the décor.
This Japanese-inspired décor also features the undeniable omnipresence of nature, with the use of natural materials such as:
- bamboo,
- washi paper, naturally made from mulberry fibres and found in many light fixtures,
- traditional ceramics,
- and motifs such as cherry blossoms, koi carp and cranes, which respectively celebrate the earth, water and air.
Scandinavian Influences in Japandi
Scandinavian style has been at the heart of our interiors for several years, celebrated for its gentle art of cosiness: soft lines, light wood, bouclé wool, and clean, functional and timeless design, creating bright and comfortable interiors with an already distinctly minimalist character.
It is dedicated to offering the best of a lifestyle centred around natural materials and fibres. Light wood takes pride of place: combined with cane, it also blends beautifully with rattan, rope and materials that delight designers with a passion for craftsmanship. Japandi adds the highly formal and functional elegance of Japanese décor to these already streamlined lines.
What Are the Hallmarks of Japandi Style?
Japandi style focuses above all on the importance of spaces and their functions, while keeping comfort in mind: overly superficial décor and clutter are left behind, making simplicity, usefulness and zen at the heart of our homes, while remembering that this apparent simplicity will bring warmth and comfort. Functionality is the cornerstone of Japandi, but it must also create calm, serenity and kindness within the home.
Lines and Proportions
Japandi favours clean lines and soft shapes, with low profiles inherited from Japan: zataku-style coffee tables and beds close to the floor. Space matters just as much as furniture, so furniture is kept to a minimum to allow the room to breathe. Wabi-sabi also embraces raw and irregular pieces, whose imperfection is precisely what gives them value.
Materials
Wood takes centre stage, complemented by cane, rattan, rope and bouclé wool on the Scandinavian side, and bamboo, washi paper and ceramics on the Japanese side. All these materials share the qualities of being natural and developing a beautiful patina over time. Simple-lined wooden chairs are often enough to establish the look in a dining room.
Colours
The foundation remains light and neutral, in keeping with Scandinavian style. It is enlivened with deep colours: burgundy, navy blue, celadon green or ochre yellow. A few touches of black provide contrast and highlight the furniture.
How Can You Bring Japandi Style into Your Home?
Whether in your living room, kitchen or bedroom, Japandi furniture will fit perfectly into your interior. Three steps are enough to establish the style:
- find the subtle balance between the light, neutral shades of Scandinavian style and deep colours such as burgundy, navy blue, celadon green or ochre yellow, while keeping wood tones within the same colour palette;
- create a small storage niche directly in the wall for your books, next to a comfortable reading chair, rocking chair or corner sofa with soft shapes and neutral colours;
- add a simple touch of greenery to evoke Japanese gardens.
For a successful décor, remember to let light flow around a pared-back arrangement, using light tones or even pastels. To highlight furniture and objects, rely on contrast by introducing touches of black or dark colours. A few discreet plants will enhance the warm atmosphere. On the walls, lengths of wallpaper with botanical motifs gently help create a natural ambience.
Discover the furniture and objects that make up this style in our Japandi Collection.
Japandi: Which Mistakes Should You Avoid?
Japandi is a demanding style because it is based more on subtraction than addition. Five pitfalls occur most often:
- Confusing minimalism with an empty room. Japandi removes the superfluous, not the warmth: natural materials, textiles and soft lighting remain essential.
- Accumulating decorative objects. Every object should be justified by its usefulness or inherent beauty, never by filling an empty space.
- Mixing too many types of wood. A single colour palette, maintained from one piece of furniture to the next, is better than combining woods that clash.
- Using only light shades with no contrast. Without a touch of black or a deep colour, the overall look becomes flat and the furniture disappears.
- Choosing tall, bulky seating. It disrupts the low profile that gives Japandi its visual calm.
FAQ: Japandi Style Questions Answered
What Does the Word Japandi Mean?
The word Japandi is a contraction of the terms “Japan” and “Scandi” for “Scandinavian”. It refers to a decorating style halfway between Scandinavian comfort, hygge, and the zen minimalism of Japanese interiors.
What Is the Difference Between Japandi and Scandinavian Style?
Scandinavian style brings comfort, soft lines and light, neutral shades. Japandi adds the zen minimalism of Japanese interiors: clean lines, noble materials, low profiles and the philosophy of wabi-sabi.
Which Colours Should You Use for Japandi Décor?
Japandi décor starts with a foundation of light, neutral shades, brought to life with deep colours: burgundy, navy blue, celadon green or ochre yellow. A few touches of black provide the necessary contrast.
Which Materials Characterise Japanese Décor?
Japanese-inspired décor is based on natural materials: bamboo, washi paper made from mulberry fibres, and traditional ceramics. Cherry blossom, koi carp and crane motifs respectively celebrate the earth, water and air.
What Is the Most Common Mistake in Japandi Décor?
Confusing minimalism with an empty room. Japandi removes the superfluous but retains warmth through natural materials, textiles and soft lighting. A successful Japandi room is pared back, never cold.
Is Japandi a Lasting Trend?
Japandi style is a major trend in decorating and furnishings for the coming decade. More than just a trend, it is a true way of life, whose influence is highly likely to become a lasting part of our lifestyles and interiors.
