Dipping into the design world, you might have stumbled upon the term ‘Japandi’. An exquisite blend of Japanese design aesthetics and Scandinavian styles, Japandi offers an approach that values simplicity, natural elements, and functionality. The beauty of this style lies in its harmonious blend of clean lines, neutral colors, and the emphasis on minimalism without compromising comfort.
If you love a japandi interior and wish to create a japandi-inspired bedroom, I’ve created a comprehensive guide to the best japandi bedroom ideas out there. Simply work through the post, to find the best way to use japandi decor in your next bedroom makeover project.
The Japandi Bedroom Essentials
At the heart of japandi-style bedrooms lies the marriage of Japanese design and Scandinavian styles, both emphasizing natural elements, functionality, and clean lines. Delving into the key elements of Japandi design, we see the generous use of natural wood, an overarching neutral color palette, and an aim to keep the living space tranquil and clutter-free. But what are the must-haves for achieving this sophisticated yet minimalistic look?
Let’s explore:
1. Solid Wood Platform Bed: This becomes the focal point in Japandi bedrooms. Opt for one with a simple design to keep things understated yet elegant.
Tip: Place tatami mats underneath for a true blend of Japanese and Scandinavian interior design. And don’t forget to add the all important Japandi bedding too.
Bamboo Blinds: These provide privacy while ensuring a room is bathed in soft, natural light, essential to the Japandi color palette.
Tip: Layer with sheer curtains in natural colours to add warmth and texture.
Minimalist Wooden Nightstands: Prioritize functionality and storage space while maintaining a cohesive look with the bed frame.
Tip: Choose pieces with a hint of Japanese craftsmanship or Scandinavian design principles for authenticity.
Low Profile Sofa or Seating: Keeping things close to the ground is a hallmark of Japanese interiors.Tip: Complement with floor cushions in neutral fabrics to enhance the cozy factor.
Wall Art with Nature Themes: Capture the essence of both cultures by selecting pieces that reflect nature, simplicity, and serenity.
Tip: Opt for muted landscapes or delicate ink drawings to keep the room’s overall look in harmony.
Natural Wood Dresser: Essential for storage, choose a piece that blends the best elements of the two styles, such as s six drawer dresser.
Tip: Keep the dresser top clutter-free. A single vase with fresh blooms or a bonsai can be the perfect addition.
Shoji Screens: Not only do these partition spaces, but they also infuse a touch of Japanese culture and design.
Tip: Use them as a movable headboard or to create a private dressing area in larger bedrooms.
Scandinavian-inspired Rugs: A soft underfoot is vital for warmth and comfort in Nordic countries.
Tip: Opt for rugs in natural textures and soft, neutral colour schemes to keep the Japandi feel.
Handmade Ceramic Lamps: Lighting plays a crucial role. Lamps with a simple design, yet quality craftsmanship, shed the right amount of light and ambiance.
Tip: Use warm-colored bulbs to enhance the cozy, airy feel of the room.
Open Shelving: A great way to display key pieces without overwhelming the bedroom space.
Tip: Decorate with books on Japanese culture and Scandinavian design, interspersed with potted plants or minimalistic ornaments.
Integrating these essentials, while staying true to the aesthetics of both design philosophies, will not only make your bedroom a great place to retreat at the end of a long day but also a living testament to two of the most timeless design styles in recent years.
Japandi Bedroom Color Palette Ideas
The fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian interior design results in a captivating blend of serenity and warmth. At the core of Japandi style bedrooms is a well-curated color palette that embodies both cultures, favoring neutral colours and gentle contrasts. These color palettes strike a balance between the muted, earthy tones prevalent in Japanese interior design and the light, airy shades cherished in Nordic countries. Let’s delve into five color palettes that can transform any bedroom space into a Japandi sanctuary:
1. Nature’s Retreat
- – Forest Greens
- – Deep Browns (from natural wood)
- – Soft Beiges
- – Accents of Matte Gold
Tip: Use green as the main focus, complemented by wooden furniture. Add beige soft furnishings and gold accents for a cohesive look.
2. Serenity Blues:
- – Light Blues (inspired by sky and sea)
- – Warm Grays
- – Creamy Whites
- – Touches of Charcoal
Tip: The light blues evoke feelings reminiscent of a tranquil Japanese garden. Layer with grays and whites for depth and introduce charcoal for a hint of drama.
3. Modern Neutrals:
- – Soft Blacks
- – Dove Grays
- – Pure Whites
- – Natural Wood Tones
Tip: Embrace the contrast between black and white, bringing balance with gray. The use of natural materials, especially in wooden furniture, will add the essential element of warmth.
4. Warm Earth:
- – Terracotta Reds
- – Sandy Tans
- – Olive Greens
- – Gentle Creams
Tip: This palette takes inspiration from the natural look of Japanese interiors. Incorporate pottery or ceramic pieces in terracotta to reinforce the scheme’s warmth.
5. Subtle Pastels:
- – Blush Pinks
- – Lavender Hues
- – Milky Whites
- – Soft Mints
Tip: This palette subtly integrates brighter elements, offering a fresh, modern take. Introduce these tones in bed linens, wall art, or even handcrafted decor items.
To capture the essence of Japandi, it’s vital to allow these palettes to influence not only your wall colors but also your furniture choices, textiles, and decor. Remember, the goal is to create an inviting bedroom space where minimalism meets comfort, and where each color plays its crucial role in setting the mood after a long day.
Japandi Bedroom Furniture Ideas
When the clean lines of Scandinavian design merge with the meticulous craftsmanship inherent in Japanese interiors, you’re gifted with furniture pieces that are as functional as they are artful. With a shared appreciation for quality, natural materials, and minimalist furniture, Japandi design offers a realm of options to redefine your bedroom space.
Here’s a guide to curate that perfect blend:
1. Low-level Beds and Tatami-style Beds:
- A low profile bed, preferably made from solid wood, pays homage to Japanese tradition, emphasizing simplicity and connection to the earth.
Tip: Choose a tatami-style bed for an even more authentic feel, ensuring your bed linens in neutral colors complement the natural wood tones.
2. Scandinavian Dressers with Japanese Accents:
- A sleek, functional dresser with simple design lines offers plenty of storage space. Look for those with subtle Japanese-inspired details, such as hand-carved patterns or dark metal handles.
Tip: Leave the dresser top primarily clutter-free, except for one or two decorative items, like a bonsai or a handcrafted vase.
3. Open Wardrobes and Shoji Screens:
- Move away from bulky wardrobes and embrace open hanging spaces with a combination of wooden rails and shelves. This not only saves space but also encourages a clutter-free living area.
Tip: Use Shoji screens as moveable partitions, allowing you to hide or display your clothing and accessories as desired. They also act as a nod to traditional Japanese culture.
4. Japandi Bedside Tables with Bamboo Details:
- A crucial role is played by bedside tables in any bedroom. Opt for ones with bamboo details or inlays, pairing modern aesthetics with traditional Japanese elements.
Tip: Top with minimalist lamps with ceramic bases or bamboo blinds for a layered, cohesive look.
5. Low Seating with Natural Fabrics:
– Think floor cushions or low-seated chairs, upholstered with natural fabrics like linen or cotton. These pieces bring a grounded feeling to the bedroom and offer additional seating without overwhelming the space.
Tip: Combine these with a simple wooden coffee table or a handmade piece that’s a perfect fit for intimate gatherings or morning rituals.
6. Wooden Wall Shelves:
- Instead of heavy bookcases, go for floating shelves made of natural wood. They provide a platform for your favorite reads, plants, or unique artifacts.
Tip: Intersperse books on Scandinavian design principles and Japanese interior design to serve as both decor and conversation starters.
By incorporating these furniture ideas, your bedroom will manifest as a place of tranquility, practicality, and style. The fusion of different styles from the East and West in Japandi creates an interior style where every piece tells a story, where design elements are carefully chosen, and where simplicity and elegance reign supreme. It’s all about striking that perfect balance, making your bedroom the ideal retreat.
Japandi Bedroom Walls
The walls of a Japandi bedroom play a pivotal role in merging the minimalism of Scandinavian design with the intricate beauty of Japanese aesthetics. Creating a serene backdrop is key, with an emphasis on the use of natural materials, calm color palettes, and art that resonates with both cultures. To achieve a sophisticated yet organic feel on your bedroom walls, consider these three approaches:
1. Neutral Colour Schemes with Textured Paints:
The wall color is the canvas upon which your Japandi bedroom will come to life. Think soft beiges, warm grays, or muted greens. These shades form a peaceful backdrop, enhancing the room’s natural elements and clean lines.
Tip: Opt for paints with a textured finish, such as lime or clay, to introduce an added layer of depth and tactility, reminiscent of the handcrafted plaster walls seen in traditional Japanese interiors.
2. Wooden Accents and Wall Panels:
Incorporating wooden details is a nod to the extensive use of natural wood in both Japanese and Scandinavian interiors. Whether it’s wooden slats, shoji screens, or more pronounced solid wood panels, they infuse warmth and create focal points.
Tip: Choose wood with a visible grain for authenticity. Consider lighter woods like ash or beech for a Scandinavian touch and darker woods, like walnut or cherry, for a Japanese influence. To strike a balance, combine both, perhaps using lighter woods as the base and darker ones as accent pieces.
3. Artistic Wall Displays:
Wall art offers an opportunity to showcase the convergence of both cultures. From serene landscapes to abstract pieces echoing nature’s motifs, art becomes a window to the soul of a Japandi bedroom.
Tip: Frame monochromatic ink drawings in minimalist frames for a subtle Japanese touch. Conversely, embrace Scandinavian design principles by choosing pieces with simple design elements and bright colors that contrast the overall neutral color palette of the room.
The walls of a Japandi bedroom shouldn’t just be a boundary – they should narrate the story of two worlds coming together. Whether through color, material, or art, every choice should echo the ethos of simplicity, functionality, and natural beauty. As you journey through creating your Japandi bedroom walls, remember to allow space for personal touches that resonate with your own connection to these two powerful design styles.
Small Japandi Bedroom Ideas
While spacious rooms offer the luxury of expansive design choices, smaller bedrooms challenge us to think creatively. But in Japandi design, this limitation is a blessing in disguise. The essence of Japandi, after all, is rooted in mindfulness, simplicity, and making every element count. The challenge with smaller spaces is to retain a sense of openness while optimizing functionality.
Here are three tips to make the most of a small Japandi bedroom:
1. Maximize Vertical Space:
Look upward and use the height of the room to your advantage. Wall-mounted shelves, hanging plants, and tall slender storage units help keep the floor clutter-free while adding visual interest to the room.
Tip: Try floating bedside tables. They serve their purpose without consuming floor space, giving an airy feel to the room.
2. Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture:
To maintain a minimalist approach in a smaller space, choose furniture that serves multiple purposes. A platform bed with storage underneath or a bedside table that also acts as a desk can free up valuable space.
Tip: Look for pieces with clean lines and in neutral colors to ensure they blend seamlessly with the room’s aesthetics and don’t overpower the space.
3. Play with Light and Mirrors:
Natural light can make any space look bigger, and in Japandi design, it’s all about celebrating natural elements. Enhance this by adding strategically placed mirrors that reflect light and give the illusion of depth.
Tip: Consider placing a mirror opposite a window to bounce light across the room, or use mirrored panels or decor to subtly incorporate reflection without overwhelming the space.
Remember, a small bedroom needn’t feel cramped. With a focus on simplicity, the right color palettes, the selective use of natural textures, and functional design elements, a Japandi-style bedroom can turn even the coziest of spaces into a calming retreat. Every inch counts, so make choices that resonate with both your practical needs and your design sensibilities. Whether it’s the soft glow from handmade light fixtures or the embrace of neutral bed linens, your small bedroom can still be a great place to unwind after a long day.
Dark Japandi Bedroom
In recent years, the timeless allure of the Japandi bedroom interior has taken a bold twist, embracing darker elements to craft an ambiance rich with depth and allure. Moving away from the conventionally bright and airy feel, the dark Japandi bedroom offers an intimate, cocooning space that still retains the minimalist essence of its lighter counterpart. This variant celebrates the harmonious fusion of Nordic countries’ love for cozy, muted atmospheres and the Japanese culture’s emphasis on thoughtfully curated spaces.
Here are three pivotal tips to create a mesmerizing dark Japandi bedroom:
1. Dive into Deep Color Schemes:
– While neutral colors remain the bedrock of Japandi, for a darker mood, shift to deeper neutrals and hues like charcoal, indigo, or forest green. These shades don’t just offer depth but also evoke a sense of tranquility and connection to nature, perfectly fitting the Japandi ethos.
Tip: Balance the dark walls with lighter elements, perhaps in the form of neutral soft furnishings or bed linens, to ensure the room doesn’t feel too heavy.
2. Lustrous, Natural Textures:
Introduce elements that shimmer subtly in the dim light, like polished dark woods or softly gleaming metals. These touches can be in the form of furniture, key pieces of wall art, or even intricate accessories like bronze bowls or metallic vases.
Tip: Integrate textiles like velvets or silks in deep shades. They not only add luxury but also play beautifully with ambient light, making the bedroom space feel both warm and opulent.
3. Strategic Lighting:
Light plays a crucial role in a dark bedroom. While maximizing natural light is essential during the day, consider how different light fixtures can spotlight or soften the room’s darker elements at night. Ambient, task, and accent lighting will be your best friends here.
Tip: Employ floor lamps with bamboo or linen shades for a soft glow, and use bedside lamps or wall sconces with warmer bulbs to spotlight areas without overwhelming the darker color scheme.
When setting up a dark Japandi bedroom, remember that the core principle remains simplicity. It’s not about filling the room with dark items, but selecting pieces that hold meaning, resonate with the Japandi-inspired scheme, and contribute to an overall look of curated elegance.
It’s where the Scandinavian design principles meld effortlessly with Japanese interior design, each enriching the other in the most timeless design styles’ dance.
Modern Japandi Bedroom Ideas
The charm of the Japandi style lies in its adaptive nature, continuously evolving while retaining its unique essence. The modern Japandi bedroom is a testament to this, where the bedrock of Japanese design and Scandinavian styles find contemporary expression. Offering a balance of natural and new, this design leans heavily into innovation while championing age-old principles from both cultures.
Here’s how to cultivate a modern Japandi bedroom:
1. Furniture Choices:
In a modern Japandi bedroom design, the furniture is not just about function, but also about form. Opt for pieces with an even more streamlined look, maybe with a blend of industrial elements – think metal mixed with solid wood, or concrete with bamboo accents.
Tip: Consider a low profile furniture piece like a platform bed, possibly with metal legs for that edgy modern touch, or japandi bedside tables with a combination of wooden top and metallic frame.
2. Introduce Contemporary Art and Accessories:
While traditional elements have their place, a modern take could include abstract art, geometric patterns, and contemporary sculptures. This doesn’t deter from the calming essence but gives it a present-day twist.
Tip: Wall hangings with geometric designs, crafted from natural fabrics, can be a great way to meld the old with the new.
3. Tech and Smart Home Features:
Embrace modernity with smart home integrations that don’t disrupt but enhance the Japandi ethos. This could be in the form of smart light fixtures that can change from warm to cool light based on the time of day or mood, or advanced, minimalist tech gadgets that aid relaxation.
Tip: A voice-controlled sound system discreetly embedded within the room can play calming natural sounds, bridging technology with the serene nature-focused essence of Japandi.
4. Bold Yet Natural Color Schemes:
Beyond the neutral color palette, a modern approach could integrate bolder choices, like deep blues or even jewel tones, especially in soft furnishings or accessories.
Tip: While experimenting with colors, always ensure there’s a balance. For every bold choice, have grounding, neutral elements, whether in the bed linens or the wall paint.
5. Innovative Use of Space:
Modern design often champions innovative storage solutions and space utilization. Hidden storage, modular furniture, or even a transforming space can elevate the modern Japandi bedroom.
Tip: Incorporate tatami-style beds with hidden storage or use sliding shoji screens that can reshape the living space according to your needs.
As you walk the path of creating a modern Japandi bedroom, be reminded of its core: a symbiotic relationship between the handmade pieces of the Japanese culture and the efficient, simple design celebrated in Nordic countries.
While innovation is key, ensure that each choice, from design elements to color palettes, ties back to the cohesive look, creating a perfect fit for your personal space. Embrace this interior design style as not just a trend but as a way of life, a fusion that stands the test of time.
What is the Concept of Japandi Style?
Japandi is a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian (often referred to as ‘Scandi’) design philosophies. While both these styles have their origins in different parts of the world, they converge on shared principles of simplicity, functionality, and a deep connection to nature.
What is a Japandi Style Bedroom?
A Japandi style bedroom is a peaceful sanctuary, emphasizing neutral color palettes, clean lines, and the use of natural materials. It’s where Japanese minimalism meets Scandinavian warmth, creating a space that’s both functional and restful.
What is the difference between Japandi and Boho?
While Japandi is a blend of Japanese and Scandinavian styles, emphasizing minimalism and nature, Boho (or Bohemian) is more eclectic and free-spirited, often characterized by a mix of patterns, bright colors, and a variety of textures.
Ending on a reflective note, Japandi’s essence lies in its ability to bridge two of the most timeless design styles. It’s not just about merging Japanese and Scandinavian elements, but creating a space that resonates with tranquility, purpose, and innate beauty. So, the next time you look around your bedroom and feel the need for a change, remember the Japandi mantra: keep it simple, keep it natural, and let every piece tell its story.
If you love Japandi style then you’ll also like:
Japandi Wall Art for Japandi Bedrooms
Design a Japandi Home in 4 Steps
Jen is an interiors writer and blogger and has an insatiable love of home style and decor
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