So Your Style Is: Japanese
Peaceful and pure, Japanese interior design style celebrates the ancient customs of the East
Lisa Frederick
4 May 2012
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately... More
What it is: Japanese interior decorating is rooted in traditions that have existed for millennia. Guided by a longstanding canon of symbols and beliefs, it upholds the ideals of harmony, balance and order, and places a high value on the beauty of the natural world.
Why it works: Japanese style conveys a sense of purity and integrity that's like a balm to our frazzled lives. It's ever so slightly exotic and mysterious, yet comforting at the same time.
You'll love it if ... You'd rather have a plate of soba noodles than a bowl of fettuccine. Your shampoo smells like cherry blossoms. You rely on the sound of trickling water to soothe you to sleep. Your pick for movie night is Lost in Translation — again. You've traded your hefty German cleavers for lightweight santoku knives.
Why it works: Japanese style conveys a sense of purity and integrity that's like a balm to our frazzled lives. It's ever so slightly exotic and mysterious, yet comforting at the same time.
You'll love it if ... You'd rather have a plate of soba noodles than a bowl of fettuccine. Your shampoo smells like cherry blossoms. You rely on the sound of trickling water to soothe you to sleep. Your pick for movie night is Lost in Translation — again. You've traded your hefty German cleavers for lightweight santoku knives.
Style Secret: Serenity
If there's one word that sums up Japanese style, it's Zen — a Japanese sect focused on meditation. Interiors that reflect this influence whisper of contemplation, balance, peace. Lines are simple, vistas unobstructed, light abundant and the overall feel calm.
East meets West: Even if the bones of your space aren't strictly Japanese, you can approximate the look by paring down. Strip your space to the essentials: Pack away clutter, undress walls, get rid of superfluous furnishings. Arrange what's left in a way that maintains an open, flowing sensibility.
If there's one word that sums up Japanese style, it's Zen — a Japanese sect focused on meditation. Interiors that reflect this influence whisper of contemplation, balance, peace. Lines are simple, vistas unobstructed, light abundant and the overall feel calm.
East meets West: Even if the bones of your space aren't strictly Japanese, you can approximate the look by paring down. Strip your space to the essentials: Pack away clutter, undress walls, get rid of superfluous furnishings. Arrange what's left in a way that maintains an open, flowing sensibility.
Style Secret: Shoji Screens
Shoji screens, a traditional element of Japanese architecture, are made from translucent paper (or in the modern world, glass or plastic) anchored by a grid of natural wood. Because space in Asian homes tends to be at a premium, shoji screens often slide open and closed rather than swinging out.
East meets West: You can interpret shoji screens for all sorts of different uses: windows, kitchen cabinets, room dividers and more. The key: Don't obscure them with furniture or accessories — you'll block the light that filters through and mar their austere beauty.
Shoji screens, a traditional element of Japanese architecture, are made from translucent paper (or in the modern world, glass or plastic) anchored by a grid of natural wood. Because space in Asian homes tends to be at a premium, shoji screens often slide open and closed rather than swinging out.
East meets West: You can interpret shoji screens for all sorts of different uses: windows, kitchen cabinets, room dividers and more. The key: Don't obscure them with furniture or accessories — you'll block the light that filters through and mar their austere beauty.
Style Secret: Natural Colors
Nature has an immense influence on Japanese style, and the palette is pulled from the world around us, inspired by earth, wood and stone. Use neutral, subtle colors that don't fall at extreme ends of the spectrum. Think creamy whites rather than stark ones, espresso browns instead of black, pale and midtone woods, and subdued greens and grays.
East meets West: If you long for a bold stroke of color in a Japanese interior, you can pull it off — carefully. Limit yourself to one or two hues, in very restricted focal points, or else you risk upsetting the balance that's so vital to Japanese design. For instance, you might group a few sculptural red vases on a mantel or strew deep blue floor pillows in the living room.
Nature has an immense influence on Japanese style, and the palette is pulled from the world around us, inspired by earth, wood and stone. Use neutral, subtle colors that don't fall at extreme ends of the spectrum. Think creamy whites rather than stark ones, espresso browns instead of black, pale and midtone woods, and subdued greens and grays.
East meets West: If you long for a bold stroke of color in a Japanese interior, you can pull it off — carefully. Limit yourself to one or two hues, in very restricted focal points, or else you risk upsetting the balance that's so vital to Japanese design. For instance, you might group a few sculptural red vases on a mantel or strew deep blue floor pillows in the living room.
Style Secret: Water Features
Japanese style emphasizes strong connections with nature, and water — from bubbling fountains to rushing streams — helps to create a tranquil atmosphere. Whether they're in an interior room or an exterior living space, water features also bring a subtly dramatic note that can't help but capture attention.
East meets West: A fountain isn't the only way to bring flowing water indoors. Try a freestanding or built-in water wall, a trough that recirculates water or an indoor-outdoor rain shower. Or get creative and choose artwork that depicts streaming water or waves — it's the next best thing to the actual wet stuff.
Japanese style emphasizes strong connections with nature, and water — from bubbling fountains to rushing streams — helps to create a tranquil atmosphere. Whether they're in an interior room or an exterior living space, water features also bring a subtly dramatic note that can't help but capture attention.
East meets West: A fountain isn't the only way to bring flowing water indoors. Try a freestanding or built-in water wall, a trough that recirculates water or an indoor-outdoor rain shower. Or get creative and choose artwork that depicts streaming water or waves — it's the next best thing to the actual wet stuff.
Style Secret: Plants
Introducing a touch of living greenery infuses a Japanese-style interior with vitality. Choose traditional plants such as bonsai and bamboo, potted in sleek, minimalist containers made of wood, stone or another organic substance. Keep the palette focused — green foliage is more appropriate than a bounty of colorful blooms.
East meets West: Want to venture beyond classic Japanese plants? Bring in specimens that suit the style's sleek, minimalist look: horsetail, ornamental grasses and more. Or explore ikebana, the time-honored art of flower arranging (and there's no shame in having the florist pinch-hit if you're all thumbs when it comes to floral design).
Introducing a touch of living greenery infuses a Japanese-style interior with vitality. Choose traditional plants such as bonsai and bamboo, potted in sleek, minimalist containers made of wood, stone or another organic substance. Keep the palette focused — green foliage is more appropriate than a bounty of colorful blooms.
East meets West: Want to venture beyond classic Japanese plants? Bring in specimens that suit the style's sleek, minimalist look: horsetail, ornamental grasses and more. Or explore ikebana, the time-honored art of flower arranging (and there's no shame in having the florist pinch-hit if you're all thumbs when it comes to floral design).
Style Secret: Rocks and Stones
There's that link with nature again. Rocks are central to Japanese style, and they're most often found in traditional rock gardens. Smooth, polished stones, such as river rocks, best complement the serene and fluid feel of a Japanese space.
East meets West: By all means add a rock garden to your landscape, but extend the use of rocks to your interior too. Use them to accent tile in a bathroom, as a floor surface or even as a wall covering.
There's that link with nature again. Rocks are central to Japanese style, and they're most often found in traditional rock gardens. Smooth, polished stones, such as river rocks, best complement the serene and fluid feel of a Japanese space.
East meets West: By all means add a rock garden to your landscape, but extend the use of rocks to your interior too. Use them to accent tile in a bathroom, as a floor surface or even as a wall covering.
Style Secret: Tatami Mats
Made of woven rushes, tatami mats are the quintessential Japanese floor covering, and they symbolize Japanese style in a way that few other objects can. They're minimalist and sleek, helping to ground the space in serenity.
Traditionally, tatami mats are arranged in very specific sizes and patterns according to the dimensions of the room, but there's no need to adhere to old rules — choose the mat that works best for your space.
East meets West: Think beyond the floor. Hung on the wall in the same way that you might mount a rug or quilt, tatami mats punctuate a space with quiet tone and texture. You can also use them as table runners or coverings.
Made of woven rushes, tatami mats are the quintessential Japanese floor covering, and they symbolize Japanese style in a way that few other objects can. They're minimalist and sleek, helping to ground the space in serenity.
Traditionally, tatami mats are arranged in very specific sizes and patterns according to the dimensions of the room, but there's no need to adhere to old rules — choose the mat that works best for your space.
East meets West: Think beyond the floor. Hung on the wall in the same way that you might mount a rug or quilt, tatami mats punctuate a space with quiet tone and texture. You can also use them as table runners or coverings.
Style Secret: Sculptural Lighting
Natural light drives Japanese style, but fixtures with clean profiles and minimalist lines stand in after the sun sets. Here, a Japanese cricket lamp hangs pendant style above a floating nightstand, instead of a more traditional table lamp. You could also choose iconic fixtures that evoke the spirit of Japanese decor, such as the Nelson pendant lamp.
East meets West: Hanging paper lanterns are quintessentially Japanese, but think beyond garden parties and kids' rooms. Lots of chain and specialty retailers (think Ikea, Crate & Barrel, West Elm) carry simple paper lamps that blend nicely with the Japanese aesthetic.
More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | French Country | Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Cottage | Preppy | Art Deco | Southwestern
Natural light drives Japanese style, but fixtures with clean profiles and minimalist lines stand in after the sun sets. Here, a Japanese cricket lamp hangs pendant style above a floating nightstand, instead of a more traditional table lamp. You could also choose iconic fixtures that evoke the spirit of Japanese decor, such as the Nelson pendant lamp.
East meets West: Hanging paper lanterns are quintessentially Japanese, but think beyond garden parties and kids' rooms. Lots of chain and specialty retailers (think Ikea, Crate & Barrel, West Elm) carry simple paper lamps that blend nicely with the Japanese aesthetic.
More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | French Country | Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Cottage | Preppy | Art Deco | Southwestern
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If your shampoo smells like cherry blossoms, you have a BIG problem, since cherry blossoms are odorless. Where DO they get these hack writers?!
If you've ever been to DC or Japan during the Cherry Blossom Festival, you'll find that most of the Japanese cherry trees do indeed smell sweet and reminiscent of cherries, even though they don't produce the actual fruit.
I have and can confirm that they do.
So you may want to check your facts before criticizing the writers.
Thank you for the article. A few nice ideas.
Cherry blossoms do have a subtle, sweet fragrance..