‘Japandi stays’ – Scandinavian design meets Japanese Zen

by Anna Schmidt 28 Feb

59 8 min 0

Japandi furniture & furnishings combines the best of two worlds: The cosy warmth of Scandinavian design with the timeless aesthetics of Japanese Zen culture. Find out below why minimalist living is more than just a passing trend and how you can realise the harmonious combination of Scandi meets Japan in your home.

Why Japandi is the perfect style for modern living

The Japandi style elegantly combines the clear design language of Scandinavian design with the meditative simplicity of Japanese Zen culture. What initially began as an interesting fusion of two design worlds has now developed into an independent and sustainable interior design philosophy. Unlike many short-lived living trends, the Japandi style primarily impresses with coziness and calm through reduced living. The positive effect of this minimalist living design has also been scientifically confirmed. A new study shows that clearly structured, harmonious rooms can demonstrably reduce the stress hormone cortisol and thus improve personal well-being. These research results underline the experiences of those who already live according to the principles of the Scandi meets Japan concept.

What makes Zen and Scandinavian design so interesting is, first and foremost, the successful balance. The Japandi style combines the minimalist living of Scandinavian design with the meditative calm and precision of Japanese aesthetics. This has resulted in an extremely interesting interior design trend that combines a holistic philosophy of life and aesthetic harmony into a convincing unity.

The philosophy behind the Japandi style

The Japandi style impressively proves that minimalist living can lead to a better quality of life. Unlike strict minimalism, however, this approach combines two traditional living philosophies. The Japandi style merges the Nordic “Hygge” tradition of warm-hearted comfort with the Japanese “Wabi-Sabi” philosophy, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection. The Japandi style is based on four essential basic principles that shape its philosophy:

Craftsmanship and tradition as the basis for timeless design
Focus on longevity and quality instead of short-lived trends
Balance between function and aesthetics
Deep connection to nature through conscious choice of materials

The renowned environmental psychologist Clare Cooper Marcus was able to prove in her groundbreaking study on spatial perception that harmoniously reduced rooms can significantly reduce our stress levels. Especially in our fast-paced and overstimulated everyday lives, minimalist living in the Scandi meets Japanese style offers a valuable haven of calm. The conscious reduction to the essentials not only creates visual clarity, but also mental freedom.

Why is Japandi furniture & furnishings still on trend?

A look at current issues of leading interior magazines such as “Elle Decoration” or “Architectural Digest” shows that the Japandi style continues to dominate the design scene. This ongoing fascination with minimalist living with Asian-Scandinavian influences is no coincidence. While other interior design trends often disappear after a few seasons, Japandi impresses with its timeless elegance and adaptability. The successful combination of functionality and aesthetics makes the Scandi meets Japan style particularly attractive for people looking for a long-term interior design solution. This is especially the case in urban spaces, where clever use of space is required. Here, Zen and Scandinavian design offer convincing concepts.

Well-known designers such as the Danish studio “Norm Architects” or the Japanese tidying expert “Marie Kondo” have made a significant contribution to making the principles of Japandi furniture and furnishings accessible to a broad audience. Their projects and publications impressively demonstrate how the fusion of Scandi meets Japan is aesthetically convincing and offers a practical solution for modern living needs.

Above all, the growing importance of sustainability in the furniture and living industry plays into the hands of the Scandi meets Japan trend. The use of natural, durable materials and the focus on high-quality, timeless Japandi furniture and furnishings corresponds to the increasing desire for conscious consumption. The avoidance of superfluous decoration and the focus on high-quality furnishing elements perfectly reflects the spirit of the times.

The most important elements of the Japandi style

At the heart of the Japandi style is the art of designing living spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Each element is based on minimalist living without appearing cold or impersonal. To achieve this effect, the following elements are used in Scandi meets Japan:

1. Feng Shui meets Scandinavian aesthetics

A well-thought-out color palette forms the basis for the harmonious effect of the Japandi style. Warm earth tones and soft contrasts, which are complemented by light gray and beige tones, are particularly popular here. These neutral basic tones are deliberately contrasted by dark accents, such as deep anthracite or warm dark brown. While light tones are often used for larger areas such as walls and floors, the darker nuances set targeted accents with furniture or accessories. Another typical feature of the Japandi style is the conscious avoidance of bright or overly intense colors.

2. Naturalness determines the choice of materials

Natural materials in interior design are the top priority in the Scandi meets Japan style. High-quality woods, which are often left in their original grain, form the foundation of Japandi furniture and furnishings. Bamboo, natural stone and handmade ceramics complement the range of materials and create interesting contrasts. For textiles, mainly natural materials such as linen or cotton are used, which create additional comfort thanks to their high quality.

3. Zen and Scandinavian design combines open spaces with harmonious structures

The consistent choice of materials is also reflected in the characteristic design language of the Scandi meets Japan style. Clear lines and a reduced design characterize the appearance, with geometric elements of Scandinavian design being skilfully combined with the flowing, organic forms of Japanese aesthetics. Particular attention is paid to the importance of “negative space”. Areas are deliberately left free to bring calm and balance to the room and allow the carefully selected furnishing elements to come into their own.

How to integrate Zen and Scandinavian design into your home

Step 1: Take a thorough inventory

The best way to implement the Scandi meets Japanese style in your own four walls is to start with a thorough inventory. Take a critical look at your existing furnishings and identify pieces that fit harmoniously into the new concept. Furniture made of natural materials and in simple shapes are particularly suitable as a basis for your minimalist living.

Step 2: Sort out what doesn't fit

The next step is to sort out items that do not serve a practical or emotional function. With what is known as “decluttering” you create the necessary space for the characteristic clarity of Scandi meets Japanese living. You do not have to be radical in order to achieve reduced design with maximum effect. Start with one room and work your way forward step by step.

Step 3: Zen and Scandinavian design requires a suitable lighting concept

Combine Scandinavian design lamps with traditional Japanese paper lamps for balanced lighting. Large windows should be left as clear as possible or covered with simple linen curtains in natural tones to capture plenty of daylight.

Step 4: Simple elegance with functional furniture

The trend of Japandi furniture and furnishings is characterized by a high degree of multifunctionality. For example, a sideboard serves as a TV bench and storage space at the same time, while a simple wooden stool can be used flexibly as a shelf or additional seating.

Avoid common mistakes in Japandi style

When implementing the Japandi style, there are three classic mistakes to avoid:

The one-sided focus on either the Scandinavian or the Japanese aspect
Rooms are overloaded with decorative elements, which contradicts the basic minimalist idea.
The use of inferior materials for cost reasons, which compromises longevity and authenticity.

A common mistake when implementing the Scandi meets Japan style is the fact that one focuses too much on one of the two styles. In concrete terms, this means that either minimalist living dominates with its functionality, or Japanese aesthetics prevail with its traditional elements. The appeal of the Japandi style, however, lies precisely in the balanced fusion of both worlds.

Another classic mistake in the Scandi meets Japan style is excessive decoration. People who come from maximalist living often find it difficult to limit themselves to minimalist living. But it is precisely this reduction that makes this living concept so special. Instead of many small decorative items, Zen and Scandinavian design focuses on high-quality individual pieces, such as a handmade vase or an artistic bamboo bowl.

Interior expert Anna Schmidt about Japandi

“The Japandi style represents a fundamental change in our living culture,” observes Anna Schmidt, senior interior designer at Planetmoebel. “It is fascinating to see how minimalist living meets the needs of our time: the desire for peace and authenticity in a hectic world, combined with the desire for sustainable, well-thought-out design.”

In her many years of consulting, Schmidt has observed that many people are initially hesitant to try minimalist living. “The biggest concern is often that the room might seem cold or impersonal,” she explains. “But this is precisely where the special strength of the Scandi meets Japan style lies: Zen and Scandinavian design combines reduction with warmth. It’s not about putting everything away, but about making room for the really important things.”

The choice of materials is another challenge when it comes to Japandi furniture and furnishings. The desire for a quick change of style sometimes tempts people to buy cheap furniture made of plastic or inferior materials. However, the authentic Japandi style is based on the use of high-quality and natural materials. It is therefore better to invest in a few, high-quality pieces made of wood, bamboo or other natural materials. Although they are more expensive, such purchases pay off with longer durability and timeless aesthetics.

Why the Japandi style is a living concept for the future

The trend of Japandi furniture and furnishings has established itself in recent years as a kind of groundbreaking living philosophy. Zen and Scandinavian design offers not only aesthetic solutions but also answers to relevant questions of our time, such as:

How can we live more consciously?
How do we combine functionality with timeless beauty?

The principles of the Scandi meets Japanese style, which range from the appreciation of natural materials to thoughtful minimalism, show a path to more sustainable living. Instead of short-lived trends, Zen and Scandinavian design focuses on minimalist living and high-quality furnishings that will accompany you for a long time.

Share your experiences with the Japandi style in the comments. Which aspects of Japandi furniture and furnishings appeal to you most? We look forward to hearing your perspectives and ideas!

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