
Modern style (also known as mid-modern century style) is still the most frequently seen interior design. It is characterised by functional minimalism, simple lines, geometric shapes and noble, beautiful materials. However, more and more people are moving away from the style and… opting for a whole philosophy.
The Japandi style (or Scandi-Japanese style) can be described as a marriage of Scandinavian and Japanese styles. It means giving up unnecessary things and surrounding ourselves only with those which raise our vibrations and influence our well-being.
This style is a kind of mixture of styles, which draws the best from related aesthetics. Scandinavian style gives it simplicity and a love for natural materials and raw materials. Earthy colours and simplicity are also things that interior designers take straight from Scandinavia. Minimalism, on the other hand, ensures simple shapes, economy of form – and, of course, geometric lines. To this combination there is also the wabi-sabi style, which draws on references to Japanese culture. This culture has a lot of references to the peaceful passing of time, it is also about space, illuminated interiors and simple furniture. You can define it with one sentence: “Less is more”.
Elements of the Japandi Style
The most important are the above stated: minimalism, Japanese wabi-sabi and Scandinavian style. But there is one more element we should not forget about. It is a Japanese Kintsugi art – a beautiful way of repairing broken things like bowls or porcelain plates with gold. Repaired things look then like some true pieces of art!
The originator of this new decorative movement, also known as kintsukuroi, was Shogun Yoshimasa Ashikaga, who lived in the 16th century. He broke his favourite tea bowl and on his order Japanese craftsmen glued the delicate shell and decorated the remaining gaps with gold.
It is a process that requires great patience and extreme delicacy. Masters of kintsugi work in prayerful concentration, and nobody can rush their work in there. Therefore, you can rather treat this technique as a certain system of values and part of a greater philosophy.
How to Start With Setting up an Interior in Japandi Style?
There are a few tips to follow when arranging a Japandi style interior. First of all, it’s worth focusing on up to three colours that will form the ‘main theme’. Choose from white, earthy colours, grey or beige. In addition, low, simple furniture with beautiful forms, which is also of excellent quality, comes to the fore here. You can choose simple and beautiful coffee tables and a sofa in a light colour. Ideally, search for pieces of furniture that are from natural materials such as wood, bamboo or rattan. Steel and glass pieces don’t go well with this style.
Try going to an antique market and choose furniture that you can give a second life to. Firstly, respect for old objects is strongly rooted in Japanese culture, and secondly, you will gain some unique items with a soul. Accessories are usually ceramic bowls, delicate branches in a vase or clay small sculptures in a minimalist tone. As for fabrics, let them be natural too! Sustainably sourced cotton and linen will work well here.
The Japandi style will be most suitable for people who value harmony
Any lover of minimalism will find something for themself in this style. Additionally, Japandi style can be offered to anyone who appreciates contact with nature and a bit of harmony. Such an interior design is perfect for an office, where calmness and an atmosphere of concentration should prevail. Subdued colours and unforced forms will be a perfect background for morning coffee, afternoon brainstorms and early evening planning.
The Japandi style is above all an investment in good quality. You can therefore expect that the materials chosen for an interior will relieve the owners of the duty to replace damaged elements for a long time – and this awareness also contributes to a peaceful, harmonious life.
This style will find its way into many homes
The multiplicity of applications and versatility of the Japandi style are its greatest advantages. Thanks to this it will find followers all over the world and has a great chance to prove as popular as Scandinavian style. Japandi is one of those styles that makes a great calm background for every decoration and additional accessory. So if you would like to change your space often – it is a perfect choice for you. You can make your accessories pop when whites or beiges are in the background. But remember that those additional elements should remain as calm as the rest of the interior. Harmony is a key.
Speaking of harmony – this style seems to be particularly crafted for those who want to intensify the contact with nature, but not necessarily can at the moment. A home arranged in a harmonious way should make an oasis where you can escape and relax truly.
The Summary
The Japandi style is only just gaining popularity and fans, but it is winning them over very quickly. We have more and more inspirations available, which you can draw from when decorating your own interior. This gives the style a chance to spread widely. It is true that repetition is not desirable and everyone wants to be unique. But following the Japandi style does not mean being bland and expressionless. It is the possibility of endless variations.
The order and simplicity guaranteed by Japandi style elements will make your home a real oasis. Even if you live in the city centre, you will feel as if you are away from the hustle and bustle and too many stimuli you experience every day. This style is definitely a go if you need some tranquillity in your life.