What is Japandi?

I have always wondered why many of the rich and famous choose to create minimalist style homes for themselves. I mean, they have pretty much all the money to do whatever they want to their homes in terms of decoration and design.

Take Kim Kardashian, for example. While Kardashian's lifestyle, career, and family seem anything but minimal, she actually took the design to the extreme in many areas of her home. You can hate on the star all you want, but you can't deny that her home is something out of a minimalist's dreams. Perhaps out of my dreams.

Take a look for yourself...

As I get older, busier, and deeper into my career, I have started to really understand that a minimal, smartly designed home can be extemely effective at simplifying life. This understanding (and slight obsession) has led me to discover and dream about Japandi Design. Allow me to introduce you...

What is Japandi Design?

Japandi is a home design style that blends Japanese and Scandinavian elements. A Japandi interior design account on Instagram defines it as "Japanese aesthetics combined with Scandinavian practicality."

Japanese homes are classically elegant, while modern Scandanavian design focuses on creating bright practical spaces that are sophisticated, yet cozy. The incorporation of light is extremely important as that area of the world experiences long winters and few hours of sunlight each day.

Defining Characteristics of Japandi Style

Wood features

The use wood (usually oak) is one of the defining features of a Japandi style home. In keeping with bringing nature into the home, wood is a favored material in this style.

Wood can be used for floors, furniture, doors, tables, wall decorations, and even the walls themselves. Take a look at this incredibly unique wood chair below.

Contrasting Colors

In Japandi, you'll often find contrasting dark and light colors side by side. Black and dark green are often used against light brown and earthy yellows.

Take, for example, this darker wood up against a white wall.

Intentionality

These features don't just focus on the physical, but on the practical, as well as the emotional, too.

Each piece in a Japandi style home appears to be meticulously selected because, well, it is. Each piece has a purpose and was chosen with extreme intent. Nothing is random in a Japandi style home.

Greenery

Plant lovers rejoice! All your botanical friends are welcome in your Japandi style home. Many describe the specific type of greenery as "elegant." Often you'll see plants with big, deep green leaves.

Incorporating all sorts of natural materials into your home is key to achieving true Japandi design. As much as possible, a Japandi style home is designed around natural light, abstract figures, nature, as well as the sky, earth, air, and water elements. I'm not quite sure how they feel about fire in Japandi design...maybe a candle or two to set the mood.

Minimalism

Of course, one of the defining features of the Japandi design is minimalism, which is itself a design style that is void of any superfluousness. From color to furniture, the bare essentials are used to create a simple space while keeping human needs in mind.

Simplicity is the centre for human needs in minimalist design of the ‘Japandi’.

– Dr Hatice Ozhisar

Minimalism eliminates clutter, including unnecessary "chachkies" or bulky decorations. While some get a high from shopping, I am always thrilled to give away, give away, give away...

Why Japandi?

In an ever increasingly complex world, the Japandi style calms your mind, allowing you to slow down and focus on your needs. If not that, what is a home of your own good for?