On a map, Denmark and Japan may be located 5,000 miles apart, but there’s no denying that the two countries share analogous design ethe. Both herald simplicity, modernity, and an overarching sense of geometry. Where Danish design veers into an affinity for woolly layers, Japanese design counters with a propensity for rustic decorative art. It’s no surprise, then, that these two styles have recently hybridized, producing the style—as well as the millennial-friendly buzzword—known as “Japandi.” Japandi interiors marry elements collected from both Japanese and Danish design with a sun-bleached palette of neutrals (think: sand, cream, taupe, and dove) to create a soulful yet serene style that appeals to established collectors and first-time apartment dwellers alike. Curious to learn more about the origins of Japandi style, as well as how to cultivate the look in your own home? Read on!
Who Created Japandi Style?
It’s worth noting that even before we were asked to sequester away in our homes for months on end, slow and mindful living practices like Scandinavia’s hygge and Japan’s wabi-sabi were trending on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Fast forward to lockdown-era living, and many of us were looking for ways to transform our homes into hospitable havens. The Japanese principle of wabi-sabi, with its focus on minimalist living, spoke to those who wished to abate clutter in their homes. Similarly, hygge, the Danish way of cozy comfort, seduced those who wished to superimpose soft surroundings. During a time when the push for mental well-being was at an all-time fever pitch, it seemed only natural that these two conscious-living design principles fuse to form a new subset of design.
In truth, Japandi has origins that burrow back way before the dawn of digital media. In 1957, Danish designer Finn Juhl released the Japan Series. This three-piece suite, consisting of an armchair, loveseat, and three-seater sofa, draws inspiration from traditional Japanese building techniques. Possessing silhouettes similar to a futon, the Japan Series seating is the ultimate culmination of East meets West. Details like the seats’ fluted backrest feel dolefully Danish, while the solid horizontal backrests, resting on the slightly tapered legs, are a reference to a Japanese temple door.
What is Japandi Style?
Japandi style is essentially the fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design principles. Minimalism is an overarching theme of Japandi style, as is quality craftsmanship and natural materials. Japandi interiors can skew either sleek or more rustic, depending on the designer’s preferences. As a rule, Japandi bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens rely on ample natural light to provide ambiance. Angles and geometry are celebrated, as are intriguing sculptural shapes. Texture is also a cornerstone of Japandi style. Scandinavian influences dictate high-touch textures like sheepskin and braided sisal, while Japanese design makes a pitch for the style’s more ethereal textures like paper and cane.
What Colors are Japandi?
The primary colors you will see used in Japandi style are luminous neutrals, such as sand, cream, buff, oatmeal, and dove. Warmer-feeling Japandi interiors can sometimes take on a hint of blush, while cooler-feeling Japandi interiors can incorporate slate grays, stormy blues, and even black.
How can I Japandi my House?
1. Curb Clutter
Take it from organizational guru, Marie Kondo—clutter is the archenemy of joy. You won’t find battalions of tchotchkes taking up residence in Danish or Japanese interiors, and Japandi living rooms and bedrooms are no exception. As a rule, Japandi rooms will feature a surplus of negative space. Rather than a console teeming with decor, consider opting for a single sculptural lamp or vase to set the mood. If you are inclined to integrate multiple pieces of small decor, consider a grouping. When grouped together, an aggregation of vases or a series of grid-work of miniature artwork will feel collected not chaotic.
2. Lower Your Furniture
Floor-skimming silhouettes are an integral element of Japanese design that has been adopted into the Japandi aesthetic. Integrating a floor-hugging bed dressed in luxurious linens is among the easiest ways to transform an ordinary room into a Japandi bedroom. In the living room, look for legless sofas. For those who are looking to bend the boundaries of the aesthetic a bit more, low-slung sculptural chairs dating to the 1960s and 70s from designers like Pierre Paulin can also master-minded into the mix.
3. Introduce Tactile Texture
If you’re looking to do texture the way the Danish do it, cozy cable knit layers, sheepskins, and sherpa are king, while Japanese design touts more gossamer textures like paper and silk. Where both styles meet, materials like rattan, bamboo, sisal, cane—even velvet if it’s rendered in neutral in hue—feel perfectly apropos. You’ll also see a surplus of tactile wood finishes in Japandi rooms. Whether it’s a rustic farmhouse table or a wall covered in slatted wood, wood provides warmth without any accompanying visual clutter.
4. Curate Covetable Craftsmanship
A guiding ethos of Japandi style could be “fewer, better things.” Given that Japandi rooms are assertively minimialist, you want the pieces you do invest in—keyword: invest—to speak volumes. When shopping, choose items with craftsperson-grade clout, be it a custom sofa with built-in end tables, or a pair of Hans Wegner chairs. If you’re not inclined to splurge so readily, suss out pieces with a strong sense of sculpture. Live-edge burl wood tables in the spirit of George Nakashima can often be procured on the cheap and offer unmistakable merit.
What Designers are Good for Japandi Interiors?
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Lead image design by Michael Del Piero Good Design / Photo courtesy of Costas Picadas