Japandi bedroom interior designs include elements of Japanese Zen with a modern Scandinavian flair. This hybrid trend combines the neutral palette of the Japanese aesthetic and Scandinavian clean lines to create a natural and clean style.
Though it comes from two cultures, the elements create a perfect match for a balanced blend of styles. You have the alluring elegance of Wabi-sabi, which means imperfect in Japanese, meshed with cosy hygge. We have searched the web to find fifteen ways to incorporate Japandi bedroom ideas into your room.
Jump to:
- Declutter
- Warm white base colour
- Add dashes of colour
- Add Zen Elements
- Add wall texture using wood panels
- Create contrast
- Free-flowing space
- Use organic and natural materials
- Create ambience with lights
- Choose good craftsmanship
- Think multifunctional
- Curate handcrafted pieces
- Choose low profile furniture
- Flooring matters
- Final notes on creating your Japandi Bedroom
Declutter
For having a Japandi bedroom set, you need to think minimalistic. Choose functional furniture that has pared-down lines. The colour should also be in solid neutral shades, with few prints.
The first step is to declutter. Get rid of possessions that you do not need by donating them. Build storage areas in cleverly hidden areas such as under your stairs or the bed if you need space.
If possible, choose portable and multi-use furniture such as ottoman stools that can double up as storage space. Both cultures emphasise orderliness is cleanliness, so work with this principle when you redesign your bedroom.
Warm white base colour
Create an inviting room by combining the muted palettes of both interior styles. The traditional Japanese Zen aesthetic emphasises darker, rich earth tones. In contrast, the Scandi palette is bright, light and relaxed. So, the best combination for Japandi bedroom colours is to mix up white walls with earthy contrasting tones.
First, pick a warm white colour as the base for your wall. Choose a shade that is natural and muted instead of pure white. Pure white is too harsh for this interior design palette. So, add different accessories and furniture in slightly darker shades.
Thick rusty red, terracotta, and olive greens are also some colours that complement neutral light colours. The aesthetic advantage is that this colour palette is highly harmonised and pleasing to the eye.
Add dashes of colour
Bright colour pops add a dash of personality, so put them in your inspired Japandi bedroom. While warm neutrals are pleasing, seeing some colour helps to liven the mood.
One way to incorporate pops of colour is to add pieces that feature simple lines, patterns, or basic forms. You could either get accessories in bright colours or use textured wallpapers. Go for Japanese designs for patterns on the wall, such as:
- Seigaiha (Blue Ocean Waves)
- Uroko (Scales)
- Yabane / Yagasuri (Arrow Feathers)
The Japandi bedroom aesthetic is not known for having a lot of patterns and colours, so do not overdo it. Keep it to a maximum of three different styles and colours. Alternatively, try small accessories like the picture above, such as throw pillows or a wall painting. You can refresh the accessories when you feel like it, playing around with different themes each month.
Add Zen Elements
Since the concept is all about Zen, you’ll need to add Zen elements. Consider touch, smell, sounds, and sights. A Japandi bedroom wardrobe would have furniture made from outdoor wood materials such as oak or pine wood, as the scents from the wood remind one of nature.
Purchase bed sheets that feel nice against the skin and deep plush rugs so you can sleep on them. Buy scented candles that smell pleasing. If you have a window, use a light fabric or bamboo blinds to block light. Enhance the Zen vibes by adding sleeping music to your playlist.
Add wall texture using wood panels
You might find walls recovered in bamboo or cedar panels in conventional Japandi bedroom interiors. They are to provide visual focal points because the space decorated is usually relatively small. The wooden planks also help to soundproof the rooms.
You can add thin, vertical wood strips across the wall. It will appear neat, and your space will look organised. A combination of wood slats in natural colours overlaid with white shiplap also looks visually exciting without being too overpowering.
If you can find shoji screens, try them to create a small dressing area or divide workspaces. Shoji screens are translucent Japanese screens made from wooden frames and paper. They are suitable for sectioning rooms and diffusing the light across the area, making it appear more spacious.
Create contrast
Creating contrast is the way to achieve this aesthetic. If you have putty coloured walls in your bedrooms, try rich dark brown for the furniture. You can use your light fixtures and accessories for a soft touch.
The contrast is a way to highlight cool and dark in the Japandi bedroom. Depending on what you’re more inclined towards, you choose to mix more whites and soft pastels. These are hallmarks of the Sandi styles. Or you could use earthier tones as a contrast.
However, stick to a maximum of 3-4 colours in one space. You can use black as an accent colour.
Free-flowing space
Adopt a free-flowing layout for your Japandi bedroom interior. This is a recognisable feature of modern minimalism. It essentially means ensuring a lot of space between your furniture, such that you can see the finer architectural details of the different furniture pieces.
The obstacle-free layout allows for natural light and more ventilation. You’ll also feel more comfortable as you can rearrange your furniture. To make the look more cohesive, arrange the furniture to direct traffic flow. You can also use area rugs to mark out different areas.
Finally, your bed is probably your focal point in your bedroom, so make sure you arrange free-flow space with your Japandi bedroom set in mind.
You can also use shoji screens to divide the area if you need. These are translucent screens that allow some light through. They act like curtains, offering the illusion of privacy without blocking sounds. It encourages guests to move softly and speak calmly, considering others behind the screen.
Use organic and natural materials
To achieve a harmonious Japandi bedroom aesthetic, think homely and warm. Wood elements are one way to add this cosy touch to your bedroom. Better still if they are natural materials.
You can use natural timber stools for your dressing table seat. Or, if you have plants, put them in terracotta pots. Choose linen and hemp for your bedsheets, rugs, and blankets. If you enjoy crafting ceramics, pair them with paper lamps for your light fixtures. Pick out handcrafted Scandinavian furniture for a raw, unfinished look for your bedroom.
Create ambience with lights
Use light fixtures to incorporate for a soothing Japandi bedroom. You can use more dramatic ceiling light fixtures or subtle bedside lamps. These light fixtures are usually the result of a fusion between Japanese papercraft techniques and Scandinavian design notes.
For instance, you will see opaline glass used with natural materials such as rattan and wood. The goal is to have a soft minimalistic ambience using dim lighting. If it is difficult to find unique light fixtures, think warm, soft lights.
Use indirect light sources such as lampshades and table lamps as accent lights to achieve a cosy atmosphere. You can use task lighting for areas that need more light, such as your dressing table and work desk if you feel it is too dim.
Choose good craftsmanship
If you want to infuse both cultures in your Japandi bedroom, you must invest in handmade wooden craftsmanship. The appearance of natural wood grains and burnished finishes at the edge makes the style unique. You want that raw, unfinished appearance for your room.
To balance both cultures in your Japandi bedroom design, the Scandis use light-hued woods such as oak, mahogany, pine and teak. Traditional Japanese designs typically feature darker wood tones such as cedar (sugi), Red Pine (Akamatsu), and Cypress (hinoki).
Experiment with both wood tones, creating a different effect between light and darker panels. Keep to a maximum of three wood tones and textures.
Think multifunctional
This interior design concept is all about multifunctionality. You’ll see ladders doubling up as washcloth holders, portable rice paper screens that can screen off different areas in the bedroom or beds that you can fold or keep away when not used.
You want to keep any pieces of Japandi bedroom furniture light with clean lines. Look for movable shelves, under bed storage ideas or compact pieces such as portable wooden tables for your dressing area. The design should be practical and useful.
You can also think out of the box, repurposing furniture for multiple uses. For instance, a bookshelf can be a divider to section off a small corner. This multifunctionality helps you to curate pieces thoughtfully to maximise space.
Curate handcrafted pieces
With the Japandi bedroom style, you need to embrace art in imperfect things. Imperfectly handcrafted items add depth and character to your room. Whether pottery or art, these small personal items help your room look and feel more like home.
It can be costly if you want to find handmade Japandi bedroom furniture. Try looking for resale items. The wear and tear add to the charm. You can also shop at local ceramics shops or online craft fairs.
Better still, if you have your own handcrafted pieces to add sparingly as decoration. It adds charm to your personal space!
Choose low profile furniture
Another way to achieve the Japandi bedroom interior aesthetic is to choose low profile furniture. Like in the picture of the chair above, you should pick furniture that is near the ground. The low height conveys the sensation of being close to the earth, which inspires peace and serenity.
Keep your furniture pieces in solid wood. While low profile usually refers to the bed frame, you can also look for attractive Scandinavian chairs nearer to the ground. You can mix these pieces with higher bed stands for contrast. Using low slung pieces does not block light, so you’ll get plenty of sunlight during the day.
Flooring matters
If you want a Japandi bedroom aesthetic, you might have to redo your flooring. Hardwood floors are prominent in this design concept. Choose between light and dark tones. Add contrast with a beautiful cream-toned rug. Even better if your wood flooring has natural wood grains, as it will add to the natural theme of the aesthetic.
Wood floors are an excellent investment. They are solid and highly resistant to daily wear and tear. It's also easy to maintain when you need to mop the floor. The wooden floor reminds one of nature and feels warm even when it’s Winter. Therefore, these are all excellent reasons to have wood floors apart from trying to achieve a specific aesthetic!
Final notes on creating your Japandi Bedroom
Ultimately, Japandi bedroom styles are all about cosy furniture pieces. We recommend you avoid harsh cold materials such as plastic or metals. If metal is required, choose matted metals. Look for soft, muted colours instead of overly vibrant colours for your furniture.
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