Last Updated on June 4, 2022 by Kimberly Crawford
There’s something special about Japanese home décor. The interior design has a calming effect on people, and it’s mostly an imitation of their culture and tradition.
Suppose you intend to incorporate Japanese home décor ideas in your home, you’re in the right place.
We’re going to show you 30 Japanese home décor ideas that will add beauty and glam to your space.
30 Best Japanese home decor ideas and designs
1. Incorporate Elements of Nature
If you want to use Japanese home décor ideas, ensure you incorporate nature. By this, it means you bring the natural world indoors. It would be best if you did this by introducing traditional Japanese plants like bamboo, cherry, and bonsai. But you can also use any greenery if there’s no bamboo around. Green plants like palm or orchid can be a good replacer.
Don’t forget that simplicity and minimalism are key in Japanese home décor. So, keep it simple and natural. To add more natural elements to your home décor, use large and expansive windows to allow you a wider view. The natural view is essential in Japanese home décor ideas.
2. Fix A Soaking Tub
Water is part of authentic Japanese interior design so fixing a soaking tub in your home is important. Bath in Japanese refers to ‘ofuro,’ and it’s an essential part of Japanese homes, so make good use of it by installing a soaking tub. It will create a spa-like environment in your home, making your bathroom the best place to relax.
You can even add green plants around it to make it more beautiful and peaceful. Ensure you use a simple soaking tub design which can heighten your relaxation moments. https://www.signaturehardware.com/lc_ideas-japanese-tubs has a perfect picture and explanation of a soaking tub you can fix in your home.
3. Include Sliding Doors or Screens
A real Japanese screen is called Shoji, and it’s a basic element in most of their homes. In japan, house rates are very high, making the Japanese live in small apartments. Because of the limited space, they try to conserve it by all means possible. One of the conservation measures is through using sliding doors. The sliding doors save much space, unlike swinging doors, which occupy a large area.
The original version of Japanese screens comprises transparent paper in a wooden frame. But there are new versions of these screens consisting of glass panels which you can buy online. Something striking about these screens is they don’t block sunlight or natural view as with doors. You can introduce the sliding doors or screen in place of walls to make your home have a Japanese interior feel.
For more details on shojis, look out for arpel.eu and get great ideas you can decorate your house with. If you intend to install a sliding door or screen by yourself, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_uAvVsOQc and learn the basics.
4. Add Wood and Bamboo to The Decoration
If you want to bring out the perfect Japanese home décor designs, add some wood and bamboo. The two won’t limit you to which specific areas you can use them on. It’s hard finding an Asian culture without the inclusion of wood or bamboo. You can put a wooden window or door frames; the walls can also be of wood. Your floors can also be of wooden floorings taken from trees such as cypress or red pine.
Don’t forget bamboo as its capable of bringing in a natural feel in the house, common in Japanese homes. You can use bamboo as decoration on the walls or floors and enjoy the peaceful environment it creates. Some of the wood and bamboo decorations ideas you can look out here:
5. Use the Japanese Style Foyer
The foyer in japan is genkan, which has a big role in the traditional Japanese home interiors. A foyer is where you meet visitors and leave your shoes as you get inside the house. You can’t miss a Getabako, which is a shelf in any of the Japanese foyers. Getakabo is for storing shoes to keep the area clean and neat.
Suppose you want your entryway to be decent and unique; copy the Japanese home décor ideas and use a genkan. The area has to have adequate natural light with some wood elements. You can also use stone tiles along with the foyer. Copy the Japanese style to get this attractive design.
You can use the following steps to arrange your genkan to make it neat and clean. Suppose you want to see a clear picture of a Japanese entryway; here’s a link https://www.pinterest.ca/rdtessier/entrywaygenkan/ which you can follow to arrange yours.
6. Let White Color Dominant
Suppose you want to have the traditional Japanese style in your home use white color all over. You can have white walls, furniture or floors. Remember, Japanese value space and prefer the minimalist design, and white color works well with these principles.
Suppose you don’t love white, you can use any neutral color since they can make the room big. The colors also blend well with natural light, which is part of Japanese principles and makes your home clean.
7. Try Using Tatami Mats
Something unique about the Japanese is they hardly use high chairs or beds as it’s in the west. To them, tatami mats are everything since they sit and sleep on them on the ground. If you can’t use the mat but want to infuse the Japanese style in your home, have low-lying furniture.
Learn more about tatami mats to enable you to choose the right size and design. You can also have a quick look at tatami mats here.
8. Make A Sand Zen Garden
Suppose you’re an outdoor person who values nature then a Zen garden will work well for you. The design will not only bring Japanese touch to your home but also bring calmness. You don’t have to make a big Zen garden to give you a soothing effect; even a smaller one can do. A Zen garden idea is here so that you can design yours this way.
9. Why Not Design an Inviting Tea Room?
You can’t think of Japanese culture or design without thinking of green tea. It’s this idea that gave birth to the tea ceremony. Ensure you design a special room for social gatherings even if you don’t use tatami mats. Use https://www.patternz.jp/japanese-tea-house-architecture/ to learn more about the Japanese tea room and the designs you can use to make it stand out.
10. Why Not Bring in An Aquarium
Remember, Japan is an island nation, and water has a significant role in their art and myths. By bringing in the water element, you’ll be doing Japanese culture a great deal. It also means you honor their love for water and nature.
Look for Koi designs that you can infuse in your compound as a pond. Or you can opt to hang Hokusai’s the great wave. For more information about Koi pond, which you can infuse in your garden, search for it here.
11. Hang Your Favorite Woodblock Prints
You can decorate the walls of your house using woodblock prints. The prints have attractive colors entailing historical artworks. You can make your print by drawing a flower or a bonsai plant. Here’s a Hokusai artwork entailing the nature. It’s a perfect blend of nature and simplicity as Japanese culture loves it.
12. Create A Meditation Space in Your House
There’s scientific evidence that proves Zen monks understand what they’re speaking about. If you meditate daily, you’ll benefit both physically and mentally. Remember, it won’t cost you anything doing self-mediations. All you need to do is set aside a space for it in your home where all your family members can fit. A mediation space can work well for you in those stressful moments.
13. Light Up the Rooms Using Paper Lanterns
In Asian culture, paper lanterns have a history, more so in Japan. Before they were lit using candles but now there are beautiful versions which are safe. The modern lanterns are electric bulbs, as you can see here and it blends well with other elements.
14. Include More Open Spaces Around the House
Following the Japanese minimalism principle, if you opt to follow their design, include lots of open space. With enough open space, you’ll be able to have a good calming effect. Also, a less congested room will improve the natural look, which is a pillar in Japanese designs like this.
15. Decorate the Walls
You’ll find that the walls are of plain colors like brown or white in most Japanese homes. If you don’t like it, plain add some flavor by decorating the walls. You can use wall stickers of your choice but remember to stick with the Japanese minimalism principle. You can find the stickers online or at DIY shops, and they should be able to get out without leaving dents on your walls.
16. Combine Both Japanese And Western Style
Suppose you want to retain the western look and have a Japanese touch combine both. Incorporate low tables with tatami mats but with a carpet on top. Doing this ensures you have a touch of both cultures. But don’t overdo your decorations. You can use neutral colors to avoid being too much. Check this one out.
17. Use Floor Cushions or Sofas
If you want to make your living room looks big, use floor cushions or sofas. The floor cushions are also called Zabuton and are put next to chabudai, a short table. You can use the combination when serving meals. Look at the Zabuton and chabudai combination here and see how your living room will look like.
18. Bonsai Trees
Using a bonsai tree as a décor is bringing nature indoors, which is a preference in Japanese design. Be ready to spend more on these green plants, more so the larger ones, which are not easy to find. Having bonsai trees at home means you’ll be taking good care of them so that they add beauty to your house. The bonsai tree can transform the look of your home like this.
19. Indoor Hanging Plant
In our list of 30 Japanese home décor ideas, we can’t forget to add indoor hanging plants. It’s a major decorating idea in most Japanese setting and is good for the balcony. You can also hang them on your patio after putting them on the pot. But a transparent wrapper can also work for you. Using a thread, you can let it hang anywhere like in this picture.
20. Laundry Drying Corner
It’s rare to get a Japanese home with a laundry corner. And this is about the limited space in their buildings. For this reason, you can decide to design your drying corner in a small space. The drying corners are not much decoration, but it can add style to your home. You can copy this design or google more drying corner ideas if you have none.
21. A Neat and Organized Closet
It’s so disgusting staying around an untidy closet. Going by Japanese minimalism, belief doesn’t overdo your closet. Ensure you arrange it well and keep or throw away unnecessary items. Sort out your clothes from the ones you no longer use to the best outfits.
Doing this can save your closet space and help you have a new look. You can also make good use of empty boxes to make your closet unique, as you can see in the picture.
22. Have Meaningful Calligraphy on Your Walls
Japanese have a deep history with artistic calligraphy, just like the Chinese. You’ll find that they either have song calligraphy in a special niche with an artistic display. Consider taking a calligraphy course to know how to make the pieces by yourself. You can have a look at calligraphy using the following link.
23. Include Origami in Your Table Arrangement
Another simple yet enjoyable way to include Japanese culture in your home is through origami. Arrange them well on your tables to bring out a unique design.
To introduce fun in your home, leave instructions for your visitors so that they try making them. Having origami on your tables will always keep your family members busy as they try out fixing them. Look at how an origami looks like here.
24. Create Room for Natural Light
Suppose you can remember, Japanese like open space and minimalists’ style together with love for nature. Natural light brings in the natural feel to your home and makes them more attractive. To achieve this, ensure you have large windows and ceiling openings like a skylight to bring in the aspect well.
Avoid using heavy curtains since they’ll block natural light. You should also remove any obstructions on the windows which can interfere with the lighting. You can opt for sheers or a bamboo shade to get maximum light.
25. Try Combining Popular Japanese Colors
Japanese love to keep it simple and clean, and they do that also through the use of colors. In a bid to bring the natural feel at home, they combine nature colors. The colors are green plants, brown for wood, and grey for stones. You’ll find the color of their floorings resemble that of stones while their furniture is brown. Don’t forget their walls are of screens and they prefer dark papers.
If you introduce this design in your house, be sure you’ll like it as it will result in an aesthetic look. You can have wooden wardrobes, shelves, or flooring. Combine it with natural green plants to add more color to your house.
26. Decorate the House with Buddhist Statuary
It’s hard finding a Japanese home without a shrine, which they call Butsudan. The shrine contains a special Buddhist and family souvenir. If you don’t want a full alter, use some statues to bring in a serenity touch. It would be best if you combine the shrine with your mediation room. Here’s an example of a Buddhist statuary https://www.pinterest.com/pin/399131585729097685/
27. Why Not Use Stones to Bring A Cooling Effect in Your House?
Stones can also add beauty to your home. Use stone tiling with wood panels to have a cooling effect in your home. You can opt to combine the two in a certain room like in the bathroom, as you can see here.
28. Have A Fireplace
You can spare some space for warming yourself during the cold seasons using the Japanese designs. Japanese have a central fireplace called irori. This is a square that they also use to warm food or water. Go for irori if you love having a social gathering with friends or family. A Japanese irori looks like this.
29. Consider Adding Circular Monograms
It’s notable in most Japanese picture designs that they’ve circular decorations. The patterns don’t have a simple geometric shape, but it’s a symbol of discipline to Zen Buddhism. Check out how you can incorporate circular monograms in your home here.
30. Are you a gamer? Why not infuse the idea in your home
Did you know you can have a game theme style décor to make your house look unique? Try introducing a video game room where you can spend your time to cool off. You can preserve the Japanese culture through a neat gaming room with different legendary inspirations. If you have teens, this is a perfect way to keep them busy indoors. Look at this great gaming room design here.
Conclusion
The 30 Japanese home décor ideas are not only for a specific group but for anyone with a passion for interior design. The above list has a deeper insight into what nature, simplicity, and minimalism entails, so why not try it out at home. If you’re in love with Japanese home décor ideas, then I hope you’ve learned a lot of designs you can incorporate in your house.