Japandi Interior Design: What You Need To Know
Words by Emma Hughes
April 22, 2025
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6m
Over the past few years, minimalist interiors have become a hugely popular trend. Instead of layering colours, textures, and styles, these rooms tend to take a more laid-back approach to design for a calming and subtle atmosphere.
This trend has led to ‘Japandi’ rooms becoming more and more common, but what do these designs entail, and how can you add their influence to your own home? Our trend guide will show you all the ins and outs of this exciting fusion of influences, so you can achieve the best Japandi style possible for your home.
What does Japandi mean?
Japandi is a blend of Japanese and Scandinavian-style interiors – hence the name. Both of these designs are known for their minimalism, functionality, and homely qualities, but they achieve this atmosphere through different means.
The goal of Japandi design is to mix aspects of both countries’ interior designs, giving a more layered approach to how your room looks without creating a clash of styles.
What are the main features of Japandi design?
While it’s easy to spot a minimalist room design, there are a few key features that specifically give an interior its Japandi appeal. Here are some of the most common features of these rooms, as well as some differences between the two styles that inspire them:
Organic materials
Both Japanese and Scandi furniture love to swap plastic and metal for more natural materials, but the two approaches differ slightly. While Scandinavian design is all about precision-engineered furniture made of wood, wicker or rattan, Japan tends to favour handmade pieces that are imperfect and rough around the edges. The combination of the two can give your room a range of interesting textures, with plenty of scope to turn your furniture into smart statement pieces.
Neutral colours paired with earthy tones
Creating a stylish neutral colour scheme is essential for nailing the look of a Japandi room, but it’s important to understand the differences in how the two styles choose their colours.
Scandinavian interior design mostly uses bright neutrals, such as off-whites, warm greys, and subtle accent colours like pastel blue and forest green. Japanese designs, however, tend to favour earthy tones such as beige, brown, sage green, and stone greys.
By striking a balance between these palettes, you can fill your room with relaxing colours while still creating enough contrast to let key pieces stand out. Try pairing light neutral walls with naturally coloured furniture, and avoid overusing dark colours in case your room starts to look gloomy.
Minimalist designs with clean lines
While some ‘wabi-sabi’ imperfections can give your room a lived-in feel, Scandinavian furniture uses sleek lines for a clean, uncluttered look. Try mixing and matching the two to give your room a uniform look, with the occasional fault for a unique touch of personality.
For example, you could arrange some sleek Scandi seating around an asymmetrical table, or pair neat décor like wall art with handmade pieces such as pottery and glassware.
Natural light
If there’s one thing that Japanese and Scandinavian designers agree on completely, it’s that natural light is integral for giving your interior a warm feeling. A key element of Japandi rooms is their natural feel, so avoiding artificial light will help bring your whole design together.
It’s still useful to find ways to keep your room light when it’s dark outside, but using wide windows and arranging furniture to make the most of the sunlight will brighten your room and make it feel more inviting. You can also reflect more light around your room using mirrors and metallic accents, helping you reach those corners and empty spots that are typically hard to brighten up.
How to add Japandi style to your home
Now that we’ve covered the basics of Japandi and the elements that make it up, how can you apply it to your own designs? Whether you’re fully embracing the style, or just taking slight influence, here are some of our top tips for making the most of the look:
Get rid of clutter with smarter storage
Something else Scandi and Japanese designs have in common is a certain neatness, where everything is in its right place with no clutter to block your way. However, having too many places to store your belongings can cramp your room and get in the way of your décor.
To avoid this, consider some more seamless storage solutions to make the most of your space. Try adding a fitted wardrobe to your Japandi bedroom, or choose tables with drawers to store any loose trinkets and decorations. Minimalistic storage can let you keep clutter out of sight and out of mind without affecting your room’s ambience.
Choose handmade pieces for a human touch
As mentioned before, Japanese designers love the idea of ‘wabi-sabi’ aesthetics. Handmade décor such as pottery, glassware, and soft furnishings are perfect for fleshing out the design of your room, while offering a subtle contrast to the cleanliness of Scandi furniture.
Materials like unpolished metal, stone, and ceramic are perfect for highlighting imperfections and giving your interior a natural touch. Try finding vintage decorations to place on your shelves and tables, or even try making your own if you’re feeling creative!
Decorate your walls neatly
An easy way to create the Nordic look in your home is through neatly arranged open shelving, letting you display décor like books and plants without the bulk of large cabinets.
By pairing this technique with wall mirrors, or art pieces arranged into a gallery wall, you can spruce up your walls with some personality without taking away from the peaceful atmosphere of a Japandi room. Be sure not to overdecorate, and to choose subtle pieces that will still complement a neutral palette, but don’t be afraid to get creative in small bursts.
Add some greenery to your design
Since Japandi designs are all about embracing nature for a peaceful aesthetic, why not try blending your interior with some outdoor décor? Biophilic room designs are all the rage right now, and the deep greens of plant life make for a smooth pairing with a range of typical neutral palettes.
Try decorating your room with houseplants in ornamental pots , or give your walls some extra love using hanging planters and open shelving.
Use functional décor
A common theme in Scandinavian design is functionality, where pieces can be used for multiple purposes. Consider choosing furniture and decorations that can come in handy in a variety of scenarios, such as extending tables for hosting multiple guests, décor that doubles as lighting, or modular seating that can be customised on the fly.
Looking to stay up to date with all the latest interior design advice? Check out our list of 5 bedroom trends for 2025 , or learn how to embrace quiet luxury in your room. No matter your style preferences, our blog has the style tips to make sure you can design the room of your dreams.