Decorate your home, Japanese style
Let me come clean right from the start: I flat out adore Japanese home decor. It is something about the simplicity and clean design, attention to detail and use of materials that tickles my fancy. If I had my way, the inside of my home would look very Japanese – that’s for sure!
I would guess that my life long attachment to Japanese martial arts have paved the way to some degree. However, I can clearly remember to have had this oriental style fascination for as long as I can remember – way before I took up martial arts.
The thing I like the most about the principles of Japanese decor, gardening etc. is the way they allow space to exist. In the West we tend to fill up empty spaces with all kinds of colors, gadgets, decor items, furniture, pictures and what have you not.
If you watch a typical Japanese garden or traditional room, then what strikes me the most is all the empty space and the simplicity. Traditional Japanese ink and wash painting/calligraphy (called sumi-e) is a beautiful art form in itself.
But what is it? Mostly black ink on rice paper … and lots of space. A few "simple" strokes, black and white, and plenty of space – so simple, so effective and yet so strikingly beautiful!
Being a martial arts buff I tend to see the same thing in the traditional Japanese weapons of old also. The mystic and to some even spiritual traits of the katana (the main sword of the traditional and feared Japanese warrior, the bushi) is reflected in its simple, yet complex and extremely resilient and strong design.
Very old, very modern
Because the traditional Japanese style of decorating is based on simple design, few colors (like, black, red white and some brown, blue, green and yellow), and the trend of having few but very select items – the style lends itself perfectly to many modern, western homes. The clean lines of modern interior design is in essence very much similar to the old home decorating ways of Japan. Also the color palettes will fit into most other styles because of the basic color schemes in use.
Even if I don’t like to mix this style too much myself – I like to keep it clean after all – I have seen great examples of the opposite, mixing "East and West" in perfect harmony.
Natural colors and light
You will find that these designs are made in such a way as not being too intrusive. The lamps and shoji (sliding doors and panels) are most commonly constructed with paper in order to let natural light shine through. This tends to give an open and warm feeling to your room.
Combine these interior decor items with white or cream colored, soft curtains and very little or no details or decor around your windows. You will be amazed how this opens up and adds a great natural ambiance to any room in your home.
Being floored, Japanese style
One thing you should consider is to use the typical Japanese mats on your floor. These mats are called tatami, and they are much more than "something you put on the floor".
The best tatami will help cleaning the air in your home by absorbing nitrogen dioxide. Also, they are hygroscopic; meaning, they absorb moisture during high humidity periods – and then equally discharge moisture when the air is dry. Furthermore, these mats act as insulator as well, keeping your room warm in cold weather and cool when it’s hot outside.
No clutter
Most importantly is to watch how there are not much filling up the walls, tables and other furnitures in a classical, Japanese home decor style. A table is a table – plain and simple, but oh so nice… Open space, clean, straight line, natural colors and natural materials like wood, grass, stone and rice paper.
An added ecological bonus
The trend today lean more and more on using woods and material that are sustainable and eco friendly. Fortunately, this is the case with lots of the furnitures and home decor items from Japan. You will find material such as bamboo and rice paper – both fitting the eco bill perfectly.
This is Japanese home decor when it’s at its best! In the following we will present various tips, ideas, items and articles to guide you on your way.
Enjoy!
Feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Futon – Japanese Wall Fans – Japanese Woodblock Print.
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