Japanese Interior Decorating

If you are looking for Asian decorating, or an Oriental interior design style, why not concentrate on a Japanese theme?

Japanese interior design is a super look for a modern home - sleek, sophisticated and beautiful...

Oh, and don't forget - very calming and practical too...

...so why not check it out today...

I help you through the essentials, to get the look in your own home...

Understanding the Look

Japanese interior decorating is a wonderful look for any home. It is a simple, uncluttered look, which will give your home a relaxed, calming and ordered feel.

And you may need to spend a little time and trouble, tracking down suitable or authentic furnishings, to get the look.

But the results will definitely be worth it.

A Japanese interior decorating style is very modern and sophisticated – but very relaxing, and easy to live with.

There are really some very beautiful Japanese objects and art works that you will love to bring into your home - and make it feel unusual...

Be inspired by Japanese culture and art - and create your own decor scheme from what you discover and love...

Here are some tips to help you along the way...

Walls and Color

• The basis of your Japanese interior decorating look are neutral tones and natural colors.
• Choose soft, natural colors in muted tones.

  Don’t choose bright white as your neutral, instead go for warmer, off-whites, and soft beige, brown and grey tones.

• If you want to choose an accent color, for a feature wall, furnishings or accessories, go for a very deep, rich chocolate brown, black or a natural green.

  Smaller accents of turquoise, pink, mauve and red can work well too.










• Keep your walls very plain and simple – no pattern and definitely uncluttered by lots of pictures.
• Screens of dark wood squares, inlaid with slightly translucent, white paper, are very typical of a Japanese style.
  
  

  

  
  
  Use them around the walls, or to divide the room up into smaller spaces.

  Look out for different styles and designs of latticework for your screens.

Windows

• If possible, choose circular windows.

  This is a very effective and authentic Japanese style - the ‘moon window’.

  Try simple round mirrors to get the look without the hassle!

• Curtains should be minimal, if at all.

  Shutters are the best look for this style.

• If you do choose curtains, go for something plain and neutral.

  White voiles will always look good, and give your room a very soft, relaxed and clean feel.

Lighting

• Choose simple, almost practical, minimalist lighting:
  • Bamboo lampshades
  • Simple spotlights in a modern style
  • Paper lanterns - either plain or decorative

Flooring

• Hard flooring is essential – either:
  • hardwood flooring
  • bamboo
  • natural flooring such as sisal
  • special floor mats









• These floor mats are very typically Japanese. They are known as ‘tatami’ mats, and are made up of straw and cloth.

Furniture

• Space is very important in Japanese interior decorating.

  Keep a very uncluttered room, with plenty of space and minimal furnishings.










• Use screens to divide the space up – for example, to partition off a sleeping area, for privacy.
• The flexibility to move screens, and to change the space, is a very important concept in Japanese interior decorating.









• Keep other furniture very low level. A low coffee table, with floor cushions as seating, is ideal.
• A futon is another typical Japanese piece of furniture, and can be used for both sitting and seating

  (Again, this is about that very important Japanese concept of flexibility and space.)










• Choose dark wood furniture for an authentic look – or dark, glossy finishes – like black lacquer or even polished, black granite.

  For smaller rooms, paler wood furniture can help create that important feeling of space and tranquility which is so important for Japanese design.

  Pale furniture also gives a much more contemporary look - which is very good for modern living, and modern design.

Accessories

• The Japanese interior decorating look is a very simple and minimalist look.

  It is based on the Japanese idea of ‘wabi’ – a concept of simplicity in design.

  This was a reaction against the very ornate and overly decorated décor of 16th Century Japan.

• In spite of the zen-type, minimalist concept of Japanese style, in modern life, beautiful, ornate and very opulent items can be included in your designs.









• These beautiful objects and feature pieces should be added sparingly to your Japanese style rooms though.
• These objects become the focal point of a room, in the same way that a fireplace, or special painting, might be the focal point of a western-styled room.
• The objects should be flexible too. They are usually displayed seasonally, and then stored.









• Objects are displayed either in groups of 3 (or another odd number) for a natural and organic feel.

  Or in groups of 4 (or another even number) if you are going for a more ordered or disciplined feel.

• Suitable objects for display are little altars, hearths and miniature gardens.

  Other typical Japanese accessories are beautiful antiques, kimono and other fine embroidery on display, Japanese tea services, fans or parasols.










• Don’t forget the ‘natural’ aspect of Japanese interior decorating in the accessories too.

  Include typically Japanese plants, such as bonsai, bamboo and orchids.

It is the perfect background to show off beautiful objects, antiques and other focal objects.

The style is very relaxing, calming but it is never boring.

There is plenty of opportunity to make your personal mark in your choice of beautiful objects.

If you want to go for the Japanese style, you will end up with a very modern-looking, simple, stylish room...

But definitely something a bit unusual and out of the ordinary.

Japanese Inspiration

eBay is a good place to start your search for unusual Japanese items, as they can be hard to come by, on the High Street.

Check out these great items, and grab a bargain now...

(This is live feed, direct from eBay, and is constantly updated. Just click on a product for further information, to bid or buy.)

Happy Shopping...!

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Where to Go Next

Are you ready to start your Japanese interior design plans right away?

Then check out my section of interior design tips, with a checklist to help you through the whole design process.

You might also like

Read more about Asian decorating styles.

Find out about Chinese oriental interior design

Learn about Feng Shui decorating

Browse for more interior design themes, styles and inspirations.

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