Japanese architecture is an ode to their ancient tradition. It is inspired by surreal spaces and reflects true elegance, adapting to a minimalistic lifestyle. Japanese interiors reflect peaceful simplicity and in the modern setting demand zen minimalism.

Japan is a working-class city, where the people have busy lifestyles and are very hardworking, therefore their interiors reflect a very poise and tranquil setting so that it is calming for the people living in it.

Japanese interiors and architecture incorporate clean and uncluttered living, holding tightly to the balance and order for things that are natural. 

It is a calming oasis inculcating natural elements from the environment like wood and bamboo and the furniture set is done in a way that removes negative energy in the space and let positive energy and light flow.

The Japanese inspired interiors are very minimalistic and zen and cater to the non-consumerist lifestyle for the people away from the buzzing city and stress. It appreciates the value of family and people you love, therefore we see a lot of common seating spaces and also benefits the health by making a floor seating or closer to the ground seating arrangement which is known to be good for the knees and spine. 

Therefore, Japanese interior design ideas are so popular all over the world as it reflects the true meaning of home and cater to the people living in it. It promotes simplicity, purity and restraint in our fast and frenzied lifestyles.

Below are some of the ways that you can incorporate a Japanese inspire home interior for a tranquil and zen living space:

SLIDING DOORS AND SCREENS

Japnese interiors are known for their furniture placement and construction. One of the elements that are very popular among the Japanese interiors is the sliding doors and screens that are made of natural material and are a practical way to enhance the interiors of a place with functionality. Japanese housing is expensive and people, therefore, have rented smaller spaces. Making full utilisation of the smaller spaces, sliding doors are incorporated so that the opening and closing of the doors take up lesser space than a swinging door would do. 

Screens are Consisting of thick, translucent paper stretched over a wooden frame holding together a lattice of wood or bamboo, majorly used in homes and religious places. It is also called the Shoji screen that was incorporated in pre-modern Japan, however, modern versions of the Shoji screen can be found with glass panels inside the wooden frame. The modern versions also let in light and nature and therefore a representative of the Japanese tradition of paying homage to mother nature. 

NATURAL MATERIAL 

The Japanese interiors are filled with the use of natural materials procured from the environment like wood and bamboo. They are often seen to be included in the ceilings and walls and flooring of the house. It is one of the ways that it pays homage to the natural environment to make a replicate effect of serenity and peace in the homes. 

Using natural material lets in light and has a clean and simple aesthetic all over the house. Nature-inspired decorations and motifs that use timber and bamboo weaving make for beautiful patterns and are the key to interior decor. 

Traditional tatami mats are made of rice straw and are very comfortable to walk without shoes. If there are no tatami to cover the entire floor, just lay a small tatami mat in front of the bed or living room to give the right oriental bedroom design. 

Natural materials are combined with modern elements to give your homes a perfect minimalistic interior and create harmony between the natural world and our living spaces.

THE GENKAN SYSTEM

Genkan system is the traditional Japanese entryway that is the combination of a porch and a doormat. It was traditionally used for removing slippers or shoes before entering the house to keep the floors clean and keep the negative air outside the houses. 

The entryway is also used for conducting business and greeting people that have come for short visits. On the very corner is the arrangement of keeping footwear so that it is out of the way of entering the house, which is known as Getabako. 

The entryway is also made of natural material like wood and has a polished surface and the lighting is subdued or very calming to the eyes. 

This traditional entryway system has been incorporated in a number of Asian homes and all over the world. It is treated as a welcoming spot and keeps the Getabako system keeps the house clean and tidy. 

JAPANESE STYLE FURNITURE

The Japanese furniture combines the use of natural materials and elements in the house like wood, silk, straw mats and bamboo to combine them with modern interiors to make artistic decorations and designs that give an aesthetic finish of clean and simple interior designs. 

The very famous Wabi-Sabi designs that are an ode to the natural beauty of simplicity and wear and tear of mother nature are very popular.

Japanese style furniture is often lower to the ground and the seating plan is made in such a way that it’s a common eating space for the people in the house and also for catering guests. 

Authentic Japanese furniture doesn’t really segregate the rooms and furniture, however, we can take inspiration from its natural design styles to include in our homes like a tea or coffee table seating area or a common dining area that has multifunctional usage. 

For a more authentic Japanese interior, you can use a lower console table with a minimalistic design and softer edges like a circle and add cushions and mats around the area. This design is known to be inspired by the ancient Japanese people who have used these common seating areas for tea ceremonies and playing cards.

JAPANESE INSPIRED COLOUR PALETTE

Japanese people keep it simple and minimalistic by using natural colours that are lighter to the eyes. The use of calming whites, beige, yellows is incorporated in the traditional Japanese homes that reflect the light flow and positive energy in the house. Dark colours are known to give negative vibes of anger and resentment in the house therefore nature-inspired colours that go well with the natural material that is incorporated in the house is what you want to go for. 

Predominant colours include the browns of the wood and green shades of plants and the flooring plans are made out of wood or a grey coloured stone that is porous and softer. Walls are designed to give a very neutral tone and are mostly covered in Japanese traditional screens that are opaque paper. A more modern form of these types of screen walls is using glass panels as walls and ceiling windows to inspire nature and natural light into the living space.

OPEN SPACES

Open spaces are the key interior design of the Japanese culture as they are very close to nature and therefore including spaces that has greenery and nature in them is very essential. Open spaces also let in a great deal of light and air into the homes and make the interiors bright and eccentric.

Natural light abundantly fills these homes, bringing with it peaceful views and bright colours 

Large windows are used in the homes to let in light and natural light and ceilings that let in a natural skylight. Drapery and curtains are not essentially included in the designs for the prime motive of creating bright designs. Clean designs that are very simple like bamboo sheets on the windows can be incorporated to match the interiors and create a shade. 

More greener spaces can be included like plants and trees and even natural herb gardens in these open spaces that are calming and simply a breath of fresh air. 

ZEN MEDITATIONAL SPACES

Interiors are not all about a common house plan that ensures seating and practical space for people to live in. It is also about making our living easy and comfortable and creating spaces that are a calming spot for the mind and the body. Japanese inspired interiors showcase exactly the same. They are more about making spaces that we can calm ourselves and live in tranquillity. Zen meditational spaces in the house like a quiet place in the house with mats and cushions with a peaceful view make a complete serene interior that caters to our needs to letting off the stresses in our lives and make our homes a humble abode.

Japanese inspired tea tables and calming water dripping sounds are perfect examples of zen meditational spaces. 

Adding on plenty of green spaces in the house whether it be painting your walls in greens and blues or adding calming music for you to meditate in you can create very low key and functional meditational spots in your homes using natural material and nature-inspired colours.