Japanese Style: What Should We
Learn From the East?
If you opened the article, hoping to find out more about the Japanese interior style, then we have to warn you: there really is no such interior design direction. However, do not rush to get upset. The Japanese are truly a unique nation with their own traditions and philosophy, which significantly affect the design of the home. We want to talk about these features of the interior that we will call “Japanese style” for simplicity.
Traditions
The appearance of a Japanese home has been shaped over the centuries by numerous factors. The main trouble in Japan is earthquakes that can raze a house to the ground in a matter of minutes. To avoid this, the walls have long been made prefabricated, and there are no massive partitions in the room at all.
High population density plays an important role. Hence the love for brevity and minimalism. In search of the long-awaited tranquility and solitude, the Japanese are trying to free up space by removing the excess and visually expanding the room. The last (but not least) decisive factor is Japanese philosophy and national traditions, according to which what is happening in the outside world is vanity and not worth attention. Spacious, bright rooms with a minimum of furniture are best for reflection and meditation. For the Japanese, only what is inside matters. That is why it is so difficult to determine their social status - an ascetic atmosphere reigns in almost every house.
“Seeing the beauty in small things”
This phrase could convey the attitude of the Japanese towards home decoration. Japanese style is an open space with few necessary pieces of furniture and a minimum of decor. This is why it makes no sense to buy cheap furniture if you choose this style. When there are only a few items, their importance grows exponentially, and this is why nationwide furniture outlet is the perfect place to find quality furniture for your place designed in the Japanese style. In such an interior, you will never see mountains of clothes on armchairs, dozens of photographs, posters and paintings on the walls, or hundreds of little things on the table, windowsill and shelves. This is unusual for us, but the Japanese thus strive for harmony and aestheticism, concentrating attention only on a small number of objects in the interior.
Where do the Japanese put their things?
The answer to the logically arising question is very simple. They use functional built-in wardrobes and hidden compartments. The Japanese can be understood: they create an organized and minimalistic space, due to the fact that they simply do not have enough space.
The Japanese style has many advantages, as lack of cluttered space makes cleaning much easier and things are organized and easier to find. The problem of cleaning before the arrival of guests is no longer so acute. In addition, the apartment, made in the style of minimalism, will most likely please and impress all your guests, because it is universal. The organization of space will have a positive effect on your wellbeing, because, as you know, "a mess in a room is a mess in the head."
Versatility
Often, when planning an apartment, we are tormented by questions: "Should we demolish the wall?", "What kind of layout to make?" The Japanese give a simple and at the same time ingenious answer to these questions: use partitions. As we have already mentioned, earthquakes affect the Japanese interior, because of them the Japanese do not build walls from heavy concrete. This is a unique feature of the Japanese interior - the absence of internal partition walls. Instead, light materials such as rice paper or glass are used. They make screens and sliding doors, which are used for zoning a room. They are as simple and functional as possible: the apartment becomes lighter, less isolated and, most importantly, it is always easy to change the layout in it.
Close to nature
According to the Japanese, everything on Earth is animated. Including the natural forces, which are sometimes the patrons of the clan, are animated and even deified. Therefore, harmonious coexistence with nature has become one of the foundations of the Japanese worldview. Undoubtedly, this is reflected in the interiors: the traditional Japanese house is an extension of the garden. Unfortunately, in modern apartments, one can only dream of gardens, but the Japanese have found a way out: they decorate them with a piece of nature - well-groomed plants, popular bonsai tree and ikebana compositions. The decor made of neat Japanese plants will suit your taste too, as it will not clutter up the space and will certainly revive the interior, making it fresher.
The closeness to nature in Japanese apartments also manifests itself in the choice of calm colors: pastel shades of green, brown, cream. And also in the selection of natural materials for the home: they use wood, bamboo, cotton, linen. In addition, the Japanese are adherents of natural lighting. They fill their space with natural light as much as possible, using wide windows and the very screens and doors that we mentioned earlier. In the interior, the Japanese use only special lamps that give a warm and sometimes slightly subdued glow, in order not to make bright accents. As a result, the lighting in Japanese apartments is cozy and natural.
Decor
If it seems to you that the minimalistic Japanese space is impersonal and boring, you are in a hurry. The Japanese do not do without decor at all and they highly value originality. This is why hundreds of years later they are faithful to traditions in everything, from the manufacture of furniture to the technique of drawing pictures. Nowadays, Japanese-style interior items can be found in the form of figurines with the faces of deities, sophisticated Japanese paintings with geisha, sakura blossom and hieroglyphs. Such exquisite decor items, combined with well-groomed plants, can suit your interior as well.
It is important to understand that Japanese minimalism and decor are very thoughtful. Each piece of furniture is necessary, each piece of decor is symbolic and carries its own meaning for the owner.
Floor finishing
In living quarters, the Japanese walk barefoot, and during meals or conversations they sit on the floor, so special attention is paid to its decoration. The most common finish is natural wood. To keep the feet comfortable, traditional homes are often covered with mats or tatami (reed mats stuffed with rice straw). Another finishing option is ceramic or stone tiles. In this case, you should think about the heating system in advance.
Wall decoration
The story is even more interesting with the outer walls. In the usual sense, they simply do not exist in the Japanese house! The structure of a traditional dwelling consists of wooden columns and a roof connected by movable panels. However, this option is not suitable for every climate. Suddenly blown away by a light spring breeze? The walls can be upholstered with fabric, wood, finished with stone, covered with light paint or plaster.
Suits for everyone
Now you are familiar with how the interior is traditionally decorated in Japan. It seems to us that you will agree: these principles are equally relevant for the ancient Japanese and for the modern inhabitants of megacities. After all, the organization of space, lighting, materials, colors and decor is important for everyone, right?