What is the “Japandi” style?

The japandi trend   is a clever mix of  Scandinavian decor  and  Japanese spirit. The Nordic style has already conquered the interiors for its functional, warm and cozy side. Meanwhile, the Japanese spirit offers a minimalist  and certainly Zen aesthetic  . As you can see, “Japandi” is simply the contraction of Japan and Scandinavia.

“The pandemic is alerting us to some premises that are essential for us to continue our journey on Earth. And the great lesson comes, in fact, from Japan, and from the Nordic countries”, reflects Lívia Pedreira, superintendent director of Casacor. The realization of some of these lessons is in the new style of decoration ‘ Japandi ‘, a name that derives from the words Japan ( Japan in English) and Scandi (a nickname for Scandinavia).

what is japandi style ? How to achieve it to decorate home

checopie explains that the Japanese style brings together Scandinavian and Japanese styles.

“It carries important references between the two worlds, such as harmony, the Zen touch and Japanese simplicity, with the warmth and functionality present in Nordic decoration”. She also highlights the influence of the wabi-sabi philosophy, which exalts the art of imperfection, and the Danish concept of Hygge, in which “everything that can bring comfort and a feeling of well-being is adopted”.

japandi borrows from the Japanese style the aesthetic and spiritual concept of  Wabi Sabi . Soft colors combine with pastel tones to decorate the walls and pale wood, specific to the Scandinavian aesthetic, meets the more authentic raw wood. Want to adopt Japandi in your home? Do not hesitate to play with japandi materials, shapes and  furniture to create a cozy space  .

How to adopt Japandi decoration?

• The materials

The Japanese style gives pride of place to  natural raw materials : wood,  natural fibers such  as wicker, bamboo or rattan, but also terracotta and  ceramics  or even metal. In a  living room in Japandi , Scandinavian-style pale wood blends with the darker wood, such as oak or walnut, found in the Japanese influence. To adopt the japandi trend in your interior, you can opt for metal, leather or even concrete, with little touches and warm up your decor with soft fabrics.

• Japanese style colors

In terms of colors, we find the light tones of Scandinavian decor: white, whitish, beige,  pale pink , light gray. But the Japandi style offers a wider color palette. White is accompanied by softer, darker colors such as verdigris, ocher, camel, Prussian blue or even brownish grey.

• Minimalism

For  japandi decor , a key word: simplicity. Eliminate the superfluous and opt for furniture with clean, functional and aesthetic lines. Each room must be carefully chosen and placed to create a peaceful space. There is no need to accumulate paintings and decorative objects. Pick a nice designer lamp, a big vase, some books and you’re done!

• Japandi Art

Japandi is inspired by Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese expression that means: “perfect imperfection”, to find beauty in what is incomplete and imperfect. The idea: bet on a more authentic decor. Handcrafted objects, antique furniture and durable and durable materials… Let yourself be seduced by irregularities and imperfections.

Combining  minimalism  and aesthetics, Japandi is much more than a decorative trend, it becomes a way of life, like  hygge , with a true quest for authenticity.

 

The style, as a whole, highlights the importance that the house has in our lives, a fact discovered by many during the period of isolation. “People’s desire to seek cozier environments does not necessarily come from wanting to transform the entire house and put everything new, but rather to make small adjustments in simple ways”, points out interior designer Karla Amadori.

In Nordic countries, enjoying the house is almost a premise. During the winter, for example, in addition to the sub-zero temperatures, the Danes receive few hours of sun a day, which makes the time indoors much longer.

Therefore, Japandi values ​​natural lighting and asks for convenience. Furniture with simple designs, neutral color palette and appreciation of natural materials such as wood, straw, bamboo and cement. “The Wabi Sabi aesthetic has to do, roughly speaking, with the issue of rusticity and the issue of traces of time, especially if we think about the time of the material used for furniture, in the case of decoration, and the natural aspect of the subject”, teaches Michiko.

In this line, there is also the search for a more authentic decoration of handcrafted pieces, with imperfections and unique marks, and a deliberate minimalism, that is, there is a reason for being where they are. “Objects in Japan – both the furniture and the decoration of the house – are very important. And space is not just a support, it also interacts with everyday life, something very dynamic”, says architect Marina Lacerda.

In general, the Japanese house is measured by the tatami mats, and they are easily arranged so that environments can change and have other functions. A dining room can become a bedroom if you change the table for a futon, for example. Hence, the idea of ​​having light objects, easy to handle and low pieces, all aspects that come from traditional Japanese architecture.

7 tips to adopt the japandi style in your environment

Now that you know what japandi style is, it’s time to get your hands dirty and embrace this trend that is here to stay. Check out 7 exclusive tips on how to adopt the japandi style in your environment below.

1. Use natural materials

The japandi style prioritizes the use of natural raw materials such as wood, natural fibers such as bamboo, wicker, rattan, in addition to terracotta, ceramic or even metal elements. In the interior decoration of a living room , for example, furniture with darker wood (made from the species of oak or walnut) of Japanese influence begins to blend harmoniously with lighter wood furniture in Scandinavian style.

2. Invest in cozy textures

To bring even more comfort and warmth to the simple decoration of the property, try to include pieces and accessories with softer textures. Crochet , knitting, linen, cotton and other upholstery are very welcome in the japandi style.

3. Prioritize minimalism

For the Japanese style the phrase “less is more” is taken very seriously. For this reason, try to eliminate unnecessary items and opt for functional and versatile furniture that bring lightness and tranquility to the environment. There is no need to accumulate paintings, sculptures and other decorative objects.

4. Use softer, more sober ink colors

When it comes to paint colors , in addition to the light tones easily present in Scandinavian decor such as white, beige, pale pink and light gray, the japandi style offers a much more diversified color palette. In the project, the white color is used together with more neutral and soft tones, occasionally mixed with darker colors such as ocher, blue, green and brownish-gray .

5. Decorate the space with handcrafted pieces and antique furniture

The japandi style values ​​a more authentic decoration, where the pieces and furniture have some meaning and affective value for you. So, as a tip, include handcrafted pieces and antique furniture, inherited from a relative or mined in antique shops. Let yourself be seduced by the beauty of the imperfection of each object.

6. Value the entry of natural light into the environment

Natural lighting is one of the most important factors to enhance an environment and in Japanese style this is no different. Thus, it is important that you value the windows in each room by replacing heavy fabric curtains with lighter fabrics, for example.

7. Grow a little green at home

Both Scandinavian and Japanese decor love a good dose of plants. Therefore, the recommendation is to bring nature into the interior decoration. However, in the japandi style the tip is to opt only for foliage and not for plants that could possibly give colorful flowers. The sword of St. George , peperômia, ficus lyrata , ivy, zamioculca are some of the plant species with green foliage.

6 characteristics to have a japandi house

To take this concept to the home decor, the interior designer brings the following tips:

Minimalism

In this style, excesses have no place. For checopie, in Japanese decor, “less is more”, so prioritize “few furniture, with simple and organic lines”.

Soft and sober colors

 

In the environments, sobriety prevails: “a softer palette, with neutral and light tones, occasionally mixed with stronger colors”, says the professional.

natural materials

As for materials, the best bet is on natural elements. For this, Mariana recommends the use of “wood, wicker, bamboo, rattan, terracotta, ceramic or even metal”.

cozy textures

Create compositions with different textures, preferably with materials that impress warmth – such as knitting, linen, cotton and upholstery.

handmade pieces

The handmade also stands out in this style. The designer indicates the use of rugs and pillows, for example. The important thing is to choose pieces with meaning and affective value for you.

Integrate home with nature

Integration with the external space is important: “let natural light enter the space”, suggests checopie.com Thus, it is worth investing in large windows. She also recommends not leaving nature out: “use plants in ceramic or terracotta pots, strategically spread around the environment”.

With simple options, you can explore this entire mix of Scandinavian and Japanese references to create a space full of personality.

60 photos of japandi-style decorations that will delight you

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