Searches for this style increased 135% on Pinterest. Find out why, plus how to bring this trend home.
According to the Pinterest Fall 2024 Trend Report, Japanese culture and style are strongly influencing both design and fashion, including a 135% increase in searches for “Japanese living room design.”
“As people seek more mindfulness and tranquility in their homes, they’re naturally drawn to the Zen principles and calming elements of Japanese design,” says Yoko Oda, a San Francisco-based designer who spent her early life in Japan. Oda recognizes the interest in Japanese interiors as relatable to many of the popular design trends of the last few years, including Japandi and organic modern styles; she uses words like peaceful, sanctuary, and oasis when talking about Japanese living rooms.
Pinterest points to an “influx of travelers to Japan” as another source for the rising trend, and Brooklyn brownstone designer Jarret Yoshida agrees. Yoshida, who incorporates Japanese and contemporary design into much of his work, underscores how the lower yen (Japan’s currency) has made the country more accessible to travelers.
With its impressive juxtapositions of history and technology, Japan makes a big impact on visitors, says Yoshida. “Amazing public transportation—from machines that look like they came from the future—are next door to Shinto temples with columns that are 600 years old,” says Yoshida, who sees this cultural balance and respect for history reflected in Japanese living room design as well.
Yoshida notes that there are two ways to interpret “Japanese living room design” and it’s something important to distinguish right away.
“There's the contemporary Japanese living room that most people don't think about,” says Yoshida, referring to how living rooms in Japan are styled today. “Then there's the Western interpretation of traditional Japanese ideas, and I think we're here more to talk about that,” he says. Both Yoshida and Oda identify traditional elements and overarching principles for Japanese living room design, but with the understanding that the spirit of these ideas is key to embracing the style.
Oda is aware that traditional Japanese elements may be hard to incorporate in your living room.“I think people can find it difficult to do what authentic or traditional Japanese homes do in terms of decoration and architecture,” says Oda. “For me, it's just finding a connection,” she says. In lieu of the exact or authentic materials, Oda recommends finding something that "evokes the same feeling."
Yoshida offers similar advice while strongly cautioning against being literal: the elements discussed above should not be a prescription for design, but rather an inspiration and guide. “Please do not put a Japanese shoji screen into your house–that's so 1980,” he says. “It's not about being literal, it is about interpreting the vision or the ethos behind them.”
Embracing the essence of the common design elements is not only authentic, it makes the Japanese style more approachable. “With its clean lines and simplicity, Japanese design is easier to incorporate into modern homes than you might think!” says Oda.
“Traditional Japanese homes often feature a central courtyard, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors,” says Oda. “This seamless integration of nature into the living space is a hallmark of Japanese design.”
While some living spaces have large patios or sliding glass walls, Oda says you can still embrace the character of the concept without that physical connection. “Even a small plant arrangement can capture the essence of nature,” she says.
Related: What Is Biophilic Design? 5 Ways to Incorporate This Style
Natural elements are also the foundation of the aesthetic. “The color palette is typically composed of quiet, neutral earth tones, enhancing the connection to nature,” says Oda, noting materials like Tatami mats, wood, and bamboo as organic sources of warmth in Japanese decor. She recommends light-colored hardwood flooring for a natural foundation and a floating Tatami mat as a rug.
In addition to natural materials and earthy color palettes, Yoshida says incorporating natural texture is also important when it comes to Japanese living room design. “Not man-made textures, like some sort of slick piece of marble, but some piece of stone that hasn't been flattened out—a beautiful piece of slate, for example,” he says.
Or incorporate rope and hemp, which Yoshida says can commonly be found in Shinto shrines. Yakisugi is another traditional natural element in Japanese design. “Yakisugi is wood that is intentionally burnt and actually takes on certain characteristics, like becoming very water resistant,” says Yoshida.
“Japanese living rooms are characterized by clean lines and a minimalist approach,” says Oda. “Historically, Japanese people sat directly on Tatami floors, and furniture was sparse or built-in,” she says. The result was open and uncluttered spaces.
To get the look, start by simplifying your living room. “Remove unnecessary furniture and focus on a minimalist, functional space,” says Oda, recommending design elements like built-in cabinets to keep things tidy.
“Oversized furniture is definitely a huge no-no,” says Yoshida, calling out the furniture trend common in many other contemporary styles now. Instead, furniture in this interpretation of Japanese living room style should be simple, with clean lines, a low profile, and a neutral color to support the overall cohesive look.
“Shoji screens, Noren curtains, bamboo latticework, and portable partitions offer privacy, light control, and the flexibility to bring nature into the home,” says Oda. Incorporating these elements may be a challenge—and to Yoshida’s point, a bit too on-the-nose for this sophisticated interpretation of style. Instead, Oda suggests modern alternatives, like bamboo blinds for window treatments or paper lanterns or light fixtures that mimic Washi paper.
“A [tokonoma is a] traditional alcove where seasonal displays, such as botanicals and a scroll, are placed. This understated feature is central to Japanese living rooms, reflecting a deep appreciation for nature and art,” says Oda.
To embrace this concept, Oda recommends dedicating a small space, such as a shelf, for a seasonal display that includes “a simple vase, a piece of art, or botanicals that reflect the time of year.” Just remember to keep it simple and uncluttered.
“A living room that pulls in elements of Japanese design should be calm,” says Yoshida. Clutter, both visual and physical, is a big contributor to whether or not a space feels calm—and in Japanese living room design, there should be no clutter. “It's not filled with tchotchkes; you’re not just buying art to fill a wall,” says Yoshida. “If you have a box out, it's because it has stuff in it.”
That’s not to say Japanese living room design is starkly minimalist, but the pieces used to decorate should have meaning or a function, according to Yoshida. “Do not just buy things to decorate,” says Yoshida. And you don't need to decorate with Japanese art prints or objects to achieve a Japanese-style living room. “Buy art because it has meaning to you, that someone made it, or you found it on a trip,” he suggests. This conscious consumption and intentional decorating is part of the core ethos of Japanese design, according to Yoshida.
“I would argue that a typical classic Japanese living room would have elements that are from many different time periods,” says Yoshida, who explains that in addition to the cultural desire for limited consumption, Japanese style is strongly influenced by the idea of wabi-sabi. “Things don’t need to be perfect. They can look used. They can feel aged,” says Yoshida.
“Get something antique over 100 years old, get something vintage. Don't get something new,” he says. “Be interested in patina. Be interested in age."
Japanese living room design is driven by intention. Here's some advice to help make your decorating choices international while still reflecting personal style.
Creating a stand-out moment in a room is a common design strategy, but Oda sees that as at odds with the Japanese living room style. “We [designers] tend to bring in something that's really bold and something that stands out in a space, but that's kind of a no-no,” says Oda. “It’s not an in-your-face design. Everything has to be understated, and it's more about evoking emotions in a very subtle way,” she adds.
“There's this idea that everything Japanese has to be white, beige, brown or black,” says Yoshida. “But color does exist and it is very important.” While entire spaces in bold colors are not traditional, Yoshida points to kimonos and historic Japanese screens as examples of color, pattern, and movement. “You can have elements of color and pattern that are really ornate and luxe, but it has to again be in a very limited dosage—you're not going to do your whole sofa in it,” he says. Instead, Yoshida suggests subtle additions like floral arrangements and pillows to bring in that comfort element and uniqueness.
Historically very expensive and luxurious, Yoshida says lacquer can be considered for Japanese interiors—but in a very concentrated use. “Lacquering a whole wall wouldn’t make sense; a small component as an accent certainly would,” says Yoshida. Metal leaf—gold, silver, and sometimes even copper—is another luxe accent Yoshida says could be appropriately added in a small dose.
"Make sure that you try to minimize your purchases," says Yoshida. "The purchasing you do should be for a lifetime, so you're only getting it once.” In other words, don’t buy fast furniture or purchase something just to feed into an aesthetic you’re trying to meet—it goes against the ethos of Japanese style. Instead, practice slow decorating, make sustainable choices, and opt for natural materials.
"Be genuine, real, authentic,” he says, also advocating against incorporating man-made materials like polyester or microfiber. “There’s no such thing as a Japanese dining table—get a used one, a vintage one; appreciate the patina that's coming from it and incorporate that,” says Yoshida. “I'm not looking for some ersatz interpretation of a chair that looks so fake and so of-the-moment. It should be timeless,” he says.
“Whenever in doubt, go to nature,” says Yoshida. Nature is imperative to Japanese design, so if you’re unsure how to approach decorative accents, for example, Yoshida says to find inspiration there, "whether it's pulling in some pillows that have ferns or getting flower arrangements from your backyard."
Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens
2025-01-16T23:49:06Z