The living area of the Japanese home is one of the most important spaces in the house. It is where the family gets together, shares their stories about their day, and in some cases where they eat. It is also the place where they have Ocha, which is the Japanese tea ceremony. This has been in the Japanese culture for over 1000 years. For the tea ceremony to be held, it requires the space to be of simple and minimal decorations, which fits right in with Japanese design principles.

As the Japanese style is characterized by simplicity, neatness, minimalism, and functionality, all must be considered in the design of a Japanese style living area/room.

A Natural Environment

The first thing considered in a Japanese living area is the integration of the natural environment within the design of the space. Natural materials like bamboo, wood and stones are used, as they have natural textures and color. Also, decorative elements of nature are added, like the famous bonsai tree or bamboo. Whenever it is possible to have large windows or sliding doors opening to natural scenery, the Japanese would definitely employ it, so as to invite nature to their homes.

A Somewhat Modern Japanese Home Office

The color palette in any Japanese design is crucial, as it has the ability to make the space peaceful or not. Therefore, the color scheme most often used is of a neutral and calming nature. This color scheme would include shades of white, beige, browns, and a slight bit of green to reflect the trees. The concept of minimalism has constrained the Japanese from using any color scheme beyond the basic color shades of nature.

Living Area Furnishings

The furniture selection for the living area of a Japanese home is crucial. Every piece of furniture has to be well-considered. It should be as low to the ground as possible. Following the concept of “less is more”, plenty of space is left empty in the room to be filled only by light, which strengthens the sense of serenity of the space. Typically, the living area would include a setting for dining table, chairs, and pillows placed on the floor to sit on.

Sofas are not accepted in the traditional Japanese home, although they are used in more modern Japanese homes. The dining table would be made of wood of clean geometry that is left in its raw form or painted with the color scheme in the aforementioned paragraph. Around the table would either be low rise chairs or puff pillows. The flooring beneath the dining area would be made of tatami which is rice straws carpets.

As we’ve mentioned, decorations in the Japanese style interior are always kept to a minimum. You would often find only hanging scrolls on the wall with famous quotes or proverbs from their culture, and vases or simple shapes of ceramic plates. You will not find family portraits put in extravagant picture frames, souvenirs, or any products.

The lighting of the space is very important. The Japanese sanctify natural lighting. It has to be the main source of illumination for the space as it allows the space to give the sense of spaciousness, peacefulness and serenity.

Less Is More

“Less is more.” You know this famous Mies Van Der Rohe quote, but what you may not know is that it is the basic concept on which the Japanese base their architecture. The concepts of simplicity, purity, and clean architecture have been adapted in their architecture all through time. It has been in their tradition and culture ever since it all began.

Some of the features that minimalism creates are peace, serenity, space, and silence. Nature is the ultimate source of peace, and the Japanese are obsessed with it. That is why they tend to relate everything back to nature, starting with the color palette of their designs, to the actual existence of nature inside their homes.

The ancient Japanese wanted to create serenity and harmony in their environment, which they found in the natural forests around them. Hence, materials extracted from the natural environment and used in their raw form is one of the “tricks” used to create these peaceful environments. The use of raw honest wood, in not just the flooring, but also the furniture, brings peace and purity to the space.

The use of Shoji sliding doors with their simple transparent (or semi-transparent) paper or glass panes, and wooden frames give a feeling of lightness that is the opposite of the harsh environment of the outside world.

Nature’s Colors

Another trick is the color palette that is derived from the natural environment. Various shades of browns are used to represent the trees, grey and white represent the rocks, and greens are used to represent the plant life. To decorate the space, things like bamboo trees, rice paper, or flowers would be used.

Being the masters of openness and minimalism, Japanese homes always tend to have spaces opened to one another. They keep each space as empty as possible, which makes the eye focus more on the openness rather than a clutter of items, which helps to clear the mind. Also, the choice of furniture is well-considered. Furnishings are of clean lines and humble, honest colors, which totally belongs to the Japanese lifestyle.

Light

The most important trick of all that has the greatest effect is light. Light has the ability to affect the human senses when using the space; it is scientifically proven that the manipulation of light is capable of giving the user a sense of spaciousness or captivation, peace or distress. In this case, the manipulation of light, using different wide openings to allow the space to be well-lit, will give the sense of spaciousness and peacefulness.

Zen

Some may compare the concepts of the Japanese style to Zen, which is a school of Mahayana Buddhism. This school emphasizes the importance and value of meditation, which encourages serenity of the soul towards its surrounding. Its influence has affected the architecture and interior design of Japanese homes. In some homes there is even a Zen garden included, in which one could practice meditation.

Japanese architecture is not just a style in designing, it is a lifestyle that many – not just architects – aspire to achieve. And after all, we could all use some peace and serenity in our lives to help us cope with the outside world.

Simple Lines

But how do they reach this minimalistic appeal while being so luxurious and elegant? It first starts with the clean pure form. In Japanese architecture, houses tend to have clean square or rectangle shapes. They do not use deconstructive forms or even curves in their designs, and that does not only apply to the exterior of the building but the interior as well. The forms used are a mix between rationalism and the complexity of the structure. And what’s more impressive is that they have deeper philosophical, spiritual, and religious concepts behind them.

Materials Used

Another treatment used to strengthen the concept of minimalism and simplicity is the materials used. Only honest materials and treatments are used. The natural bare undecorated form of the material, the smoothness and sleekness of the material is what is targeted and focused on. Such materials are like wood, and in modern style Japanese buildings, concrete and glass.

Furnishings

The interior of a Japanese home is designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, while at the same time serving the concept of minimalism. Furniture has clean lines to it and is made of honest materials like wood.

Most seating would be low to the ground, with cushions on them, and simple clean rectangle or square tables.

Lighting

Lighting of a space is one of the most important aspects that is highly considered in this style. Natural lighting is most important to the space, and comes before artificial lighting. Natural lighting fills the space with warmth, and brings peace and serenity.

This is achieved through having skylights (ceiling openings), large windows, or natural gardens inside homes. Heavy drapes that could block the light from entering the space is a big NO in Japanese homes.

Natural Colors

Another feature in the Japanese style architecture that backs up the concept of minimalism is the choice of color. Simple colors are typically used in Japanese homes whether it’s a traditional or a modern home, and they all come from nature, which also serves the concept of purity.

The main colors used that dominate the space are derived from the browns representing the wooden elements in nature, and the greens of the plants. Typically, the flooring is made of wood or gray stones. In some cases, the flooring is covered with tatami carpets made out of rice straws. The walls would be partitioned using Shoji panels. All of this makes a natural, simple and clean color palette.

Japanese design does not just follow the concept of minimalism, it inspires it. It manipulates the elements of nature to create something that is strikingly simple, yet harmonious and highly functional.

The Zen and Shinto traditions are both a large part of Japanese gardening and, because of this; the gardens have a contemplative and reflective state of mind. Japanese gardening is much different than the Western style and most would say it is far more meditational and soul soothing.

In Japanese gardening there are three basic methods for scenery. The first of these is reduced scale. Reduced scale is the art of taking an actual scene from nature, mountains, rivers, trees, and all, and reproducing it on a smaller scale. Symbolization involves generalization and abstraction.

An example of this would be using white sand to suggest the ocean. Borrowed views refers to artists that would use something like an ocean a forest as a background, but it would end up becoming an important part of the scene.

There are essentially two types of Japanese gardening: Tsukiyami, which is a hill garden and mainly composed of hills and ponds. The other is Hiraniwa, which is basically the exact opposite of Tsukiyami: a flat garden without any hills or ponds.

Elements of a Japanese Garden

The basic elements used in Japanese gardening include rocks, gravel, water, moss, stones, fences, and hedges. Rocks are most often used as centerpieces and bring a presence of spirituality to the garden.

According to the Shinto tradition rocks embody the spirits of nature. Gravel is used as a sort of defining surface and is used to imitate the flow of water when arranged properly. Stones are used to create a boundary and are sculpted into the form of lanterns. Water, whether it be in the form of a pond, stream, or waterfall, is an essential part of a Japanese garden. It can be in the actual form of water or portrayed by gravel, but no matter what form water is in, it is crucial to a Japanese gardens balance.

Hiraniwa Style Garden – Image Source

Bonsai

There are several forms and types of plants that are signature of Japanese gardening, the main one being Bonsai. Bonsai is the art of training everyday, average plants, such as Pine, Cypress, Holly, Cedar, Cherry, Maple, and Beech, to look like large, old trees just in miniature form. These trees range from five centimeters to one meter and are kept small by pruning, re-potting, pinching of growth, and wiring the branches.

Japanese gardening is a tradition that has crossed the boundaries of time and space. Muso Soseki, poet, said “Gardens are a root of transformation”. A Japanese garden is sure to bring about many different feelings and is definitely a transforming experience.

At first, this architectural style was highly influenced by China, but had a little twist to it that came from the Japanese culture, due to the available materials at hand. The distinct appearance of Japanese architecture started to manifest in about 57 BC. Before that, Japanese homes were made only of wood, with no flooring, just the earth beneath.

Up until 660 AD, the architects were influenced by Korea. They would use wood and stones in buildings. Wood became the most important material in their architecture as a result of their climate, which has a volcanic nature. This made it hard to find rocks that could be used.

Asuka and Nara

Then came the periods of “Asuka and Nara” and they were the most blossoming in the originality of their architecture, which was the result of integrating Japanese art and culture in their creation. In the 9^th century, there came an uprising Heian period which walked in the footsteps of the previous periods, but again the Chinese influence was a big part of it. Japanese architects at that time would travel to China learn more about their designs and would bring back ideas to be integrated in their architecture.

Temples made out of wood were the highlight of the period. They’d build a simple clean rectangle-shaped temple, with an artificial pond set at it’s edge. In the interior of the temple, a high platform would be placed which had a golden image of Amida. Also, an Amida sculpture was carved from wood using a newly adapted technique in which it was made of carved wood layers like shells and merged together from the inside. The interior walls of the temple would have carvings of celestials, each with a spiritual tale behind them.

Kamakura and Muromachi

The simplicity of the Japanese style of architecture started to unveil itself in the subsequent periods. Houses in the Kamakura and Muromachi period were simple and practical, but at the same time they would be beautifully decorated with art.

By the 19^th century, Japan was being exposed to the western culture. Hence, European and Japanese architectural styles integrated to create memorable buildings that still exist today. In the beginning of the 20^th century, modernists and expressionists started to manifest. Kunio Maekawa and Junzo Sakakura –famous Japanese architects- traveled to France to join Le Corbusier, the well-known architect who influenced contemporary architecture worldwide, and went back to Japan to pass on their knowledge.

Modernization

After World War II, Japan became more and more modernized. Buildings made of metal and concrete were adopted, and wooden buildings were abandoned, because they caught fire easily and were not durable during earthquakes.

Although Japanese architecture was influenced by western architecture, it still had it’s own unique look and form that makes it outshine any other. It involves spatial perceptions, with the utilization of natural materials and textures that make the user experience of the space quite exceptional. This style has undergone many fluctuations, and in the end has come to what it is now.

A style that speaks of a culture which many admire, and easily fall in love with its peaceful and aesthetic appeal.

In designing a Japanese style bathroom, you would need to know all the principles of the style to be able to correctly master and perfect it. We have already discussed and reviewed all aspects of the style in our previous articles, so make sure you’ve reviewed them to get what we’ll be discussing here.

A Room With Purpose

The Japanese have redefined the bathroom from merely being a space used for hygiene, into a purposeful room. Following the principles of the Japanese style and Zen, you will be able to design a Japanese style bathroom that offers you peace and tranquility.

When designing a modern or traditional Japanese style bathroom there are considerations to be made. The first thing to consider is how to create a décor that will engage the human senses and delight them. To do that, the natural environments should be integrated within your design. This could be done by simply adding plants like bamboo trees or potted plants; or by going all out and having a small garden to open your bathroom to. If that’s not possible, nature inside the space would give the feeling of peacefulness and the separation from the outside tense world.

Lighting

The second consideration is the lighting of the space. As we have thoroughly discussed before, the importance of light in Japanese architecture can’t be overstated. To construct a bathroom space that will impart a relaxing effect, you must consider the lighting of the space. It has to be mostly natural, and in the case of having to use artificial lighting, it should be of clean lines only, no bulky or bold light fixtures.

The Color Palette

The third consideration is the color palette. Again, nature is your answer. Colors derived from nature is what you need to use in your bathroom. Such colors are shades of brown, green, white and grey (review our article  “Peace and Serenity; the Japanese Style Interior Design” to get the reason behind each color). Be careful of using too many bright colors, which will create distraction rather than tranquility.

Bathroom Furnishings

The fourth, and most important, consideration is the furniture and utilities. All furniture to be used in your bathroom design should be of clean lines and down to earth. It should not overwhelm the user rather than giving peace and serenity. The Japanese culture presses on the importance of having a space at your home for rest and revival of the senses. This would be the role of “tub time”. In the past, the Japanese would have a soaking tub in a space in their house for relaxing their tired bodies after a long day. Hence, the bathing tub choice is one of the important piece in your design.

Hygiene and privacy are another important principles for the Japanese. They would put the toilet either in a separate cabin or would put it out of sight when entering the bathroom and in many cases they would have their own space separate from the tub.

Last but not least are the details and decorations that bind all together. Relaxing music and candles should be utilized in your bathroom design. But make sure to hide the technology with authentic décor so as not to overpower the style. Have natural sounds and light relaxing music in the background of your “tub time” would just be the mood-changer in a heartbeat.

When engaging culture, traditions and art within your design, you’ll be able to create an astonishing room that can transcend your expectations.

Designing a Japanese style bedroom could be tricky if you do not know the basics of the Japanese culture and the principles on which to build your design. But no worries, we will be discussing here many of those principles and how to utilize them.

Nature

A Japanese style bedroom starts first with the orientation of the room to give it a good view of nature. One of the most important principles in the Japanese culture is nature. It embraces and celebrates nature, and the best way to introduce nature inside the home is to establish a connection between the inside and the natural environment.

This connection is made either physically, by having the room open up to a garden through a sliding glass door; or visually, by having a large window opening to a view of nature. This would also give the room the perfect natural lighting revered by  Japanese design concepts. This connection can also be established by simply adding elements of nature to the room, like bamboo trees or potted plants.

Another way is to use natural materials and a nature-inspired color palette. Traditionally, neutral colors derived from nature are used in the space. These colors are typically shades of brown, incorporated with brighter natural colors, like greens. As for the materials, they should all have balance with the color scheme of the room. If not using tatami mats, natural wood flooring or grey/white stones should be used.

Secondly, the ratio and proportions of the room. In this style, Tatami mats are mostly used for cover the flooring. Tatami is made of rice straws (which also serves the concept of integration of the natural element) and has standard dimensions, in which the Japanese use multiples of, to cover the floor. Hence, the room proportions always follow tatami.

Bedroom Furnishings

As we already have mentioned, this style is all about simplicity, minimalism, and functionality. And the first thing to consider is the furniture. The bed has to be of clean lines and as close to the ground as possible. In some cases, the mattress is placed directly on the floor. Other furniture pieces put in the bedroom should only serve a functional reason.

Accessories

Last but not least, the room decorations. Accessories should be kept to minimal. All ethnic interior decorations should have clean lines and geometric shapes, and should be of a functional use to the room and not just for visual purposes. Decorative screens can also be used to create zones with more privacy.

For achieving and nailing this style, the whole design of the room should be clean, simple and minimal. It should mimic the natural environment, as much as possible, in all of its aspects. The materials used in the room should all be natural, the color palette neutral, even the lighting mode of the space should use natural lighting.

Achieving all of this in your design will give you a room that shines with serenity and peacefulness which is the main goal of Japanese style décor and architecture.

Connecting with Nature

In Japan, nature is highly respected and loved. No one actually knows the real origin of this tradition or the philosophy behind it. Some simply say it has always been there, while others link it to the fact that Japan is surrounded by mountains and forests. Whatever the reason, the typical Japanese house will always have a garden to serve as a link between the inside and the outside.

The Japanese tend to establish a great connection with the natural environment. The natural environment is the symbol of purity, simplicity and peacefulness. Japanese architects and designers strive to mimic the natural environment to be able to create a minimalist design that projects peace and serenity throughout the space.

Bringing The Outside In

Since the Japanese culture embraces and celebrates nature, the best way to establish the connection between themselves and the natural environment is to introduce nature inside their homes.

The first thing that is taken into consideration when designing a Japanese home is the orientation of the spaces. Sometimes, homes are oriented towards the north or south to be able to view the mountains or water, but most likely they’ll be viewing a garden.

One of the most famous traditional methods to add the elements of nature is through the use of artful plants in decorating the space. Such plants are typically bamboo or bonsai trees. Palms, cherry blossoms and orchids can be used as well.

Another way to achieve this is to create openings in your space that allow the exposure to the outside natural environment. Such openings can be large windows, a sliding door, or the existence of a natural garden inside the home. This garden will often have a water feature in it, adding natural sound and scenery to the space which will reflect peace, purity and serenity.

Other Elements of Nature

The garden is the most direct ways to add elements of nature to the space. But there are also other ways the concept of nature can be added to the space. One of those ways is the use of natural materials in their raw form. For instance, the use of wooden flooring or natural wooden furniture, the use of tatami (carpet flooring mats made out of rice straws); and the use of shoji doors which allow light to enter the space through its translucent natural paper in addition to opening the space to the outside.

Nature’s Color Palette

Also, the color palette used for the space is another way to mimic nature. Colors derived from nature are highly recommended. Such colors are variations of the color brown which symbolize the trees, and gradients of white and grays, symbolizing the rocks and stones.

Natural elements in the Japanese style architecture are essential and cannot be ignored in design, as it is part of their tradition. And the Japanese have always shown resilience towards changing their core concepts and traditions, which is something that is highly respected.

After World War II, the world began to embrace international styles of modern design. Europe and the United States started turning towards the abstract and simplicity of the new forms of architecture to keep up with the international movement. Luckily for Japan, that was not a problem. The concepts of simplicity, purity and clean architecture had been adopted in their architecture all through time. So, what was known to the rest of the world as modernism, was known to Japan as tradition. In fact, now we get to see the Japanese tradition even more clearly in modern Japanese architecture.

Traditional Japanese Design

Nevertheless, there are some features that distinguish the traditional from the modern in Japanese architecture. The traditional Japanese architecture has distinct features, especially in its interior design. The first feature is the Shoji.

Shoji Panels

A shoji is a panel (shown above) that is used in partitioning the Japanese house. It is made of wooden frames with translucent paper. The main concept behind using Shojis is to allow light to enter the space and to create a naturally well-lit environment.

Tokonoma

The second feature is Tokonoma. A Tokonoma is an area that is present against one of the walls of a room and is slightly raised from the ground. The intention of it is to receive guests.

Tokonoma Area

There will be present in that space a piece of art, such as a painting. Tokonoma reflects the sense of manner and etiquette the Japanese have.

Genkan

A third feature of the traditional Japanese houses is Genkan. It is a lower level floor at the entrance of the house and is where you leave your shoes when you enter. There would often be a closet in this area to leave shoes in.

Genkan Area

Tatami Flooring

The fourth feature is the Tatami flooring. Tatami are mats made of rice straws. What is impressive about these mats is that they are like-sized, and based on it the apartment or house would be divided using multiples of it. This feature also represents the traditional lifestyle of the Japanese, which is sitting and sleeping on the floor.

Tatami Mats

Ofuro

One last feature in the traditional Japanese interior design is Ofuro which is basically a bath tub. In the past, the idea of having a bath in the house was not normal. People would go to communal baths whenever they wanted to bathe.

Ofuro

As time passed, it started to become common for baths to be available in houses, but always in a separate room. The bath tub would be made of wood to be luxurious, as taking a bath is considered a leisurely luxury by the Japanese.  To this day, the wooden bath tub is popular and is still present in many homes.

Modern Japanese Design

On the other hand, we have the modern Japanese style. As mentioned before, modernism in the Japanese architecture didn’t change many aspects of the traditional, but served to boost the concepts of this architecture, which are the simplicity, purity, and peacefulness of it. What differentiates the modern from the traditional is mainly the materials used, such as steel and concrete, also the modern and technologically developed methods of construction.

An example to clarify this, the Shoji doors and partitions are still utilized in the modern homes as they offer elegance and save space. What has changed is the materials used in making Shojis. Wood and paper, for instance, do not offer sound insulation and that’s why manufacturers have started offering Shojis made of wood and glass. But the uniqueness of the Shoji remains untouched with its patterns and wooden frames.

There is not much difference between the traditional and modern Japanese architecture and that is a result of the fact that Japan had already outshined and beaten the whole world in a race that it didn’t even participate in.

Focusing on the functionality of the kitchen has resulted in its simplification over the years. The Japanese kitchen has become more contemporary, sleek and captivating, while still sending a statement through the architecture.

A Japanese kitchen is not just a place where food is made. Typically, it brings people together. It is a space that integrates cooking, eating and spending family time together, all in a clean, calming environment.

Japanese Kitchen Lighting

The design of a Japanese style kitchen starts with the lighting of the space. Lighting always has great importance in Japanese architecture. Light has the ability to affect the human senses when used correctly in the space. It is scientifically proven that the manipulation of light is capable of giving the user a sense of spaciousness or captivation, peace or distress.

In Japanese design, manipulation of light using different wide openings to allow the space to be well-lit will give the sense of spaciousness and peacefulness. Good natural illumination of the space can be established by having large windows opening up to the natural environment outside, or by having sliding shoji doors opening up to an outside garden or natural scenery.

Natural Materials

When it comes to the materials used, it is pretty important for the Japanese to use natural materials as it has been in their culture and tradition since the beginning of their time. This goes back to the fact that nature is a huge contributor in creation of the style. The natural environment is the symbol of purity, simplicity and peacefulness. Japanese architects and designers strive to mimic the natural environment, to be able to create a minimalist design that proposes peace and serenity through the architecture of the space.

Kitchen Furniture

As we’ve mentioned, the key principals of Japanese style interior design are simplicity, minimalism and functionality. Hence, furniture selection for the kitchen will follow the concepts of straight lines and clean geometry, and are applied to cabinetry, seating, flooring and any artificial lighting.

The counters and dining table are typically made from natural wood, and counter-tops are made from natural marble. The flooring is made from wood left in its natural raw state, or made from stones.

Color Schemes

All elements of the Japanese style kitchen are in harmony with one another and are united by a color scheme that is derived from the natural environment. There are two color schemes used in the typical Japanese kitchen, either light or dark. The end result would always give a warm, cozy, and clean mood to the space.

Japanese architecture has always been fascinating, and the more one gets to look deeper in it the more you’ll be able to understand and respect it. This respect goes back to the fact that this style has been resilient to changes in its concepts and principles which came from their tradition.