All About Japandi Design, a Mix of Japanese and Scandinavian Design (2024)

Design Styles

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Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

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Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

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All About Japandi Design, a Mix of Japanese and Scandinavian Design (4)

Japandi style (Japanese and Scandi) refers to a fusion of traditional Japanese and Scandinavian styles, both of which are centered around simplicity, natural elements, and comfort. Below, you will learn more about Japandi design's origins and key characteristics, so that you can introduce this increasingly popular aesthetic into your own home.

What Is Japandi Design?

Japandi design combines the light, bright, and functional aspects of Scandinavian design with the warm, sophisticated elements of Japanese design. As a result, Japandi is minimalist, earthy, and organic.

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What Are the Elements of Japandi?

The perfect fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian, Japandi design focuses on minimalist designs that are aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional.

"The biggest focus is to stay with subtleness," says Julee Wray, founder of Truss Interiors. "Less is more!"

Japandi styles feature beautiful craftsmanship with a focus on quality and handmade pieces over throwaway, cheap structures.

You'll also see a lot of neutral colors and paint choices to complement Japandi furniture and accessories. Calming, tranquil, and peaceful palettes are typically chosen, and when brighter colors are incorporated, they are done so meaningfully and subtly.

Additionally, Japandi styles often emphasize sustainability. The prevalence of natural materials and simple designs makes it a great green decor style. With more and more consumers looking toward eco-friendly aesthetics, Japandi's popularity is no surprise.

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History of Japandi Design

Japandi design came to fruition when Scandinavian designers began traveling to Japan roughly 150 years ago, once borders became open and the country became accessible to tourists.

How Japanese and Scandinavian Styles Work Together

If you're familiar with Scandi design, you're sure to have come across the notion of "hygge." This is the Scandinavian concept of coziness in design and has found increasing popularity in the United States over the past few years. Basically, hygge means that your home should be your sanctuary and provide a feeling of comfort every time you walk in the front door.

Now, fuse that idea with the Japanese notion of "wabi-sabi," or the idea that there is beauty in imperfection, and you create the design marriage that is Japandi. Japanese and Scandinavian design styles work so well together because they are both rooted in minimalism and comfort. The shared aesthetics of the two come together to create a style that is both easygoing and sophisticated.

And where the two approaches diverge, their differences actually complement each other. Where Japanese interiors are sleek, Nordic ones are rustic. The richer (but still neutral) colors of Japanese design help to keep the stark, crisp palettes of Scandinavian homes from feeling clinical or cold.

"By combining the two, we are elevating Scandinavian design and making Japanese design more accessible," explains MarkCravotta, the founder of ofCravotta Interiors.

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How Can I Decorate in Japandi Style?

It's easy to incorporate Japandi style in your own home. Below are a few designer-approved ways to get started.

Incorporate Natural Materials

Focus on natural materials such as unfinished woods or bamboo pieces that bring in the feeling of nature and simplistic beauty. Leni Calas, the founder of Ward 5 Design, recommends using muted colors with hints of pale green or bringing plants and greenery into your home to give it a sense of outdoor living. Wooden pieces also fit well in Japandi style spaces, says Eilla Adi, the founder of Eilla Adi Design, who recommends oak wood furniture in particular.

Cut the Clutter

Reducing clutter is also key to achieving the Japandi style. This design aesthetic focuses on clean lines and open spaces. But if you have an active household, Calas suggests trying "faux minimalism" with natural containers such as boxes and baskets, built-ins, or folding screens to hide excess stuff and keep your space feeling clutter-free.

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Use Lots of Texture

To get the best of both worlds, draw on the coziness of Scandi design with warm textures and soft pieces while maintaining the elegance of Japanese decor. Adi advises decorating with boucle fabric and ceramic accents. While both styles have a focus on the utilitarian, it's important to maintain a Zen-like sense of calm in your space. With Japandi style, there is "an emphasis on creating a cozy atmosphere," Adi says.

Keep Color Variation to a Minimum

Now is not the time to go all in with various color combinations.

"The simplicity of a mostly monochromatic palette is key," Truss says. She advises selecting one lead color and one accent color but not expanding beyond those two hues.

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Invest in Quality Items

Because Japandi design is focused on craftsmanship, it's not meant to be throwaway. Look for pieces that will stand the test of time and work with your decor for years to come. It's a clear antidote to the one-time-use culture we have embraced for so long. Instead, focus on pieces that are sustainable and safe for our planet.

What Is Minimalist Design?

All About Japandi Design, a Mix of Japanese and Scandinavian Design (2024)

FAQs

What is the combination of Japanese and Scandinavian design? ›

Japandi is a fusion interior style that combines functional, Scandinavian design with Japanese minimalism. In Japandi quality craftsmanship is combined with carefully selected objects, clean lines & sparse house plants.

What is the difference between Scandinavian and Japandi design? ›

Japandi design incorporates more elements of traditional Japanese design and a warmer, more muted colour palette, while a Scandinavian design has a lighter, cooler colour palette and a more minimalist aesthetic.

What is the origin of the Japandi style? ›

What Does Japandi Mean? The word is the union of Japanese and Scandi (Scandinavian). The origin of this style dates back to when the Danish designers and creatives began traveling to Japan, the moment the 220-year-old closed-border policies were finally lifted.

What is the design concept of Japandi? ›

Japandi style homes feature an open floor plan, organic textures, clean lines, wood, multifunctional spaces, and calming color palettes. Neutral colors: Whites, off-whites, beiges, and taupes set a minimalist palette that allows other design details to stand out.

What is Nordic and Japanese style? ›

The Nordic design emphasizes elegance by combining materials, whereas Japanese design takes more daring approaches to elevate the materials. When it comes to textiles, the Japanese tend to favor fibers while Scandinavians often prefer fabric.

What is the difference between Japanese Zen and Japandi? ›

While Zen style draws inspiration from Buddhist principles and focuses on minimalism and natural materials, Japandi style combines Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies, embracing clean lines and warm minimalism with a touch of traditional craftsmanship.

What is Scandinavian design often confused with? ›

The terms “Scandinavian design” and “Nordic design” are often used interchangeably—until you're talking to someone from Finland or Iceland, that is. Here, we dig into the subtle differences between these two geographic terms and the design ethos that applies to each—and both.

What is the difference between wabi-sabi and Japandi? ›

“Wabi-sabi is based on traditional Japanese aesthetic and world view philosophy, while Japandi is the design movement consisting of both Japanese wabi-sabi and Scandinavian hygge philosophy,” she explains. Wabi-sabi can be understood as a part of Japandi interiors, but also its own unique doctrine.

What style is similar to Japandi? ›

Scandinavian design has had a profound impact on Japandi style, with its emphasis on modern simplicity. The Scandinavian influence brings a unique aesthetic to Japandi-inspired spaces, characterized by clean lines, functional design, and a sense of calm and tranquility.

What are the facts about Japandi? ›

Japandi, as the name suggests, is a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian styles. It is influenced by the ancient Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, a way of life which values slow-living, contentment and simplicity, as well as the Scandinavian practice of hygge, which embraces comfort, cosiness and wellbeing.

What are the benefits of Japandi style? ›

Benefits of Japandi Design

Serenity and Calmness: Japandi style creates serene and calm environments through its emphasis on minimalism, neutral colors, and natural materials. These elements help to reduce visual clutter and promote a sense of tranquility and relaxation in the home.

How would you describe Japandi style? ›

What Is Japandi? Japandi is an interior design style that is a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalist design. The word “Japandi” is a portmanteau of “Japanese” and “Scandi.” Japandi design focuses on clean lines, natural elements, bright spaces, and neutral colors to create calming and welcoming living spaces.

What is the main concept in Scandinavian design? ›

Scandinavian design is the epitome of simplicity with an emphasis on function and beauty. It's minimal and clean yet cozy and influenced by nature. Basically, it's the ideal design style for someone who wants to feel like their home is constantly giving them a warm embrace and making their life easier.

What is the concept of Scandinavian design? ›

Scandinavian design expresses its beauty in a simple, functional and warm decorating style, which mixes whites, neutral colours, and natural woods. Simple lines are combined with a clean and fresh aesthetic to create cosy and light interiors.

What is the Japanese Scandinavian theme? ›

Japandi is a combination of Japanese and Scandinavian styles in interior design. Its main characteristics are wamn colors, loads of natural light, minimalism and, of course, muted color palette.

What is wabi-sabi design? ›

In contrast to modern design principles that emphasize perfection, Wabi Sabi embraces the beauty of imperfection. Cracks, chips, and weathering are viewed as marks of character and history. Imperfection helps to create a sense of warmth and approachability, making Wabi Sabi interiors feel lived-in and comfortable.

What is Muji style? ›

A Muji style home prioritises functionality, simplicity and the elimination of unnecessary features. Named after the famous Japanese retail company, it's a design aesthetic rooted in minimalism and Zen principles.

What is the difference between Muji and Japandi? ›

Japandi interior design combines the influences of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. Muji focuses on simplicity, functionality, and quality in its minimalist design approach. Japandi embraces natural elements, muted color schemes, and open spaces to create a serene atmosphere.

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