Japanese culture is heavily romanticised, and many westerners love to copy the clean, fresh and open style of Oriental interior design. The traditional Japanese look is sophisticated, natural and beautiful, making it ideal for any modern home.

Hallmarks of Japanese Design

Traditional Oriental design features neutral colours, with the primary colours being white and pale greens such as Pantone’s 571C and 624C. Browns, black and earthy reds also commonly appear in Japanese designs.

Japanese interior design is always uncluttered and flexible. The ability to make changes to spaces is an essential concept in Japanese design. What little furniture they use tends to be relatively low level. Futons are used for seating and for sleeping on, and in many cases people kneel on cushions around low tables for meals. Floor mats, known as “tatami” are used to protect hard wood floors and to provide additional seating areas.

If you want an authentic Japanese design, then you should try to have round windows, known as “moon windows”. Of course, this is something that is rather hard to implement in an existing property. You can achieve a similar look using round mirrors.

Curtains are a rare sight in Japanese homes. If you can use shutters or shutter-effect blinds, this is a more authentic choice. If you cannot do this, then opt for white voiles, which will add to the clean, relaxed and refreshing feel of the room.

History and Inspiration

The Japanese aesthetic is heavily inspired by Taoism and Zen Buddhism. Taoism is something that spread from China to Japan during ancient times, and has become greatly ingrained in Japanese culture.

Simplicity and minimalism are hallmarks of Japanese interior design, but that minimalism does not mean that aesthetics are completely neglected. In fact, Japanese designers subscribe to the idea that emptiness can be a part of an aesthetic ideal. This was a part of the teachings of the philosopher Laozi, who founded Taoism.

The Japanese make use of shoji screens bamboo blinds, tatami mats and lots of cloth to create fluid and simple spaces that can easily be repurposed. This design paradigm has been around for many centuries, and is still important even today. However, western ideas have influenced some elements of Japanese design. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to a lot of exchanges of ideas between Japan, Europe and America, and this caused Japanese homes to become more westernised. One of the biggest changes to occur following the Meiji restoration was the incorporation of western furniture into Japanese homes. Chairs, sofas and modern beds began to become more commonplace by the 1920s, and this meant that some of the flexibility of Japanese interior design had to be sacrificed. However, in recent years there has been something of a backlash towards western design, as people in both Japan and the west choose to embrace the more simplistic ideals of the orient.

Japan is currently in the Heisei era. This era started in 1989, and marked some major changes in Japanese culture, and in Japanese architecture. Famous designers from this era include Toyo Ito and Tadao Ando. Heisei-era architecture and interior design can be recognized because of its fluid dynamics and highly expressive forms. The creative use of wood is an important part of modern design, as is the ability to maximise the use of small spaces.

Tips to Get The Look

If you want to turn an existing room design into something with an oriental twist, you can do so with just a handful of changes. The Japanese favour open plan living – in part because their homes are smaller than the average Western house, so they need the extra space. The open-plan design means that living spaces are more flexible, and you’ll find that your home feels much more spacious if you use sliding doors.

Other small changes that are clearly Japanese design-inspired include:

• Bamboo and paper – use screens to divide up the area.
• Neutral materials – use natural, neutral-colored materials for lampshades (bamboo is a good choice) and soft furnishings.
• Paintings and decorations – Japanese vases, hanging decorations such as paper lanterns and other accessories can add flavour to your room. However, these work best if the room is un-cluttered.
• Plants – a bonsai tree or some reeds make a good accent, and will add a splash of colour and a calming touch of nature.
• Hard flooring – the Japanese rarely use carpets, preferring hardwood flooring or sisal, with mats sparingly positioned around the room.
• Sliding doors – if you can’t install sliding doors or screens, opt for internal french doors or internal bifold doors to keep the feeling of fluidity and space.

You may not be able to completely recreate a Japanese living room in your home, but if you de-clutter your existing space and incorporate some of these elements you will end up with a brighter, cleaner and more spacious living area.

If you love to be inspired by world décor, why not take a look at our Interior Design Trends from Around the World Infographic, which provides style tips for recreating world themes in your own home. If you’d like to have a go with the interactive International Interior design tool then click the button below.