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What Is Japanese-Inspired Interior Design?

What Is Japanese-Inspired Interior Design?

While some like taking a look to the north for the execution of their home interior design project through the Scandinavian approach, others prefer an eastern interior. In fact, Kanye West has been known as one of the people to carry out a comprehensive home renovation inspired by Japanese design.

Japanese style is becoming increasingly popular among celebrities and regular folks alike. It has a number of very distinctive and specific characteristics that make the execution of such a project highly desirable.

So what exactly is Japanese-inspired interior design and is it the right concept for your home? Let’s try to answer these important questions in the next sections of the guide.

The Japanese Interior Design Philosophy

Every Singapore interior design company has executed at least a couple of Asian-inspired projects. Japanese style, however, comes with its very distinctive characteristics.

The word that can be used to characterise Japanese interiors most accurately is zen. It is very balanced and highly centred around peacefulness.

Through Japanese décor, an interior designer aims to create peaceful simplicity. Very often, these decors are modest and they have a pronounced focus on natural materials. Japanese style also addresses clutter in the most effective ways and enables unburdened living that’s not overloaded by belongings.

A couple of specifics will be present each time a Japanese interior design project is carried out.

For a start, natural and light tones will dominate the colour scheme. Surfaces are smooth and natural materials are employed to the maximum. Every single piece featured in a room has a function and a purpose. All Japanese decors embrace balance, harmony and an appreciation for natural beauty. Thus, extensive ornaments and decorative work are unnecessary.

Most Pronounced Japanese Interior Design Elements

You can bring the Japanese zen feel to your home through a couple of interior design choices and décor selections.

Sliding doors, screens and partitions are very common in Japanese interiors. These can be extended to just about any modern residential concept because of the flexibility they guarantee.

Through the use of screens, you can easily section a part of an open floor apartment in order to guarantee some privacy and seclusion.  Japanese sliding doors (traditionally known as shoji doors) are another great choice. They’re perfect for small apartments because they don’t occupy space whenever open.

Wooden and bamboo elements are also very prominent in Japanese interiors.

These can come in the form of screens, frames, flooring and various home décor items. Bamboo is an excellent choice because it’s durable, it’s lightweight and it also happens to be one of the most sustainable materials available on the market right now.

Finally, you can consider traditional Japanese décor elements. These include Japanese silk pillows, futons, hand-painted fans, tatami mats, lanterns, kanji slate plaques for the walls, Japanese furoshiki cloth (beautiful, often hand-painted pieces that can be hung on a wall or used in the bedroom) and even bonsai trees.

Implementing the Japanese Décor Concept in Different Rooms

Tell the interior design team you’re working with on your Singapore home that you’d like to execute a Japanese-inspired project in your apartment. Professionals will know exactly how to implement the idea in every single room.

The living room, for example, will feature simple yet comfortable décor. While furniture is ergonomic and thrill-free, you can still have a beautiful focal piece. A Japanese calligraphy piece for the wall or an intricate furoshiki cloth will give you that authentic feel without burdening the interior design.

A Japanese-style ceiling is the finishing element. It’s usually square or rectangle-shaped and crafted from wood. In terms of flooring, tatami mats will be ideal. Not only do they give you an authentic feel, they also ensure noise reduction and create surfaces that aren’t slippery.

In the bedroom, you should once again feature traditional elements like tatami mats. Since they’re made of natural fibres, these mats are an ideal choice for barefoot walking.

Traditional Japanese furniture is low, which applies to the bed. Some bamboo and wooden details like a headboard or a slightly raised platform will complete the authentic implementation of the bedroom concept.

Some designers will go even more minimal than that. The placement of a quality mattress directly on the floor or on a raised platform will serve as an excellent substitute for the bed.

Moving to the kitchen and dining area, make sure that you’re using space in the best possible way. You don’t need a ton of knick-knacks, opt for the items and the appliances you’re really going to use.

A couple of the decorative and the finishing touches you may want to feature in the kitchen and the dining area include vases made of glass or stone, bamboo mats, Japanese-style dishes, a traditional lantern and rice paper shades or curtains.

As you can see, there’s a lot you can do with Japanese interior design elements.

If you don’t want to adopt a full-on Japanese interior design, you can always play with a hybrid concept.

Taking the best of the Japanese style and combining it with other décor elements you like will give you an eclectic and fun home décor.

To execute such a project, however, you may want to employ professional interior designers. Otherwise, you risk doing too much and ending up with a cluttered or kitschy execution.

Home Guide will be glad to guide you through the realisation of a Japanese or a hybrid project. We have the experience to make your East or West-inspired interior design shine and stand out.

Check out our residential portfolio to acquaint yourself with the work that we do or contact the Home Guide team today to begin your apartment’s transformation.

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