A Japanese style dining room takes the best of east-meets-west by combining the minimalist principles of traditional Japanese design with contemporary western lifestyles. The result is simple lines paired with warm earth tones; rich wood finishes married to lighter organic elements and dining furniture artfully arranged to create balance and harmony. Shape also plays an important role in Japanese dining room design: it’s important for each piece of furniture to work in concert to create a calming and tranquil space that is appealing to the senses.

To create a Japanese style dining room that is soothing and harmonious, start with a color palette that reflects natural elements. Choose soft grays and greens for rocks and leaves; earth-toned yellows for sand and sun; washed-out neutrals for waterfalls, mists and clouds. In a traditional Japanese style room, the walls are typically free of decoration, but one featured print or a choice grouping of smaller sized photographs would be acceptable in a contemporary Japanese dining room design.

When selecting furniture for a Japanese designed dining room, choose furnishings that have a definitive purpose. While esthetics certainly play a role in Japanese interior design, practicality is equally important. No furniture piece should be picked solely for its esthetic or decorative value. In fact, Japanese style dining furniture generally has no or very little decoration. The furniture should stand low to the ground, be made of wood and arranged in such a way that “empty space” is featured in room’s décor as much as the furniture is. It is this “push-pull” effect between empty and occupied that creates contrast and visual interest.

In Japanese interior design the proper lighting is important. Any available natural light should be made the most of and used to its best advantage. Lighting can be softened by rice paper, silk or white glass shades. When accessorizing a Japanese style dining room, adhere closely to the essentials or things that have a specific purpose, such a glass vase, candles or shoji screen-like window treatments or room dividers. The overall effect should be not too bare and definitely not cluttered or cramped. You might have to experiment to get the right balance, but it will be worth it in the long when your dining room is a tranquil and elegant example of Japanese interior design.

Japanese style is characterized by minimalism: dining room furniture virtually has no architectural or decorative detail. The emphasis of Japanese interior design, whether it’s a dining room, living room or bedroom, is on space. Whereas Western design practices focus on artistically filling the space, Japanese interiors incorporate open spaces into the décor. Typically, the furniture is centered in the room and the space around each piece of furniture as well as the furniture grouping as a whole is the point of the interior design.

Japanese style décor is soothing, unassuming and restful. Therefore color palettes (from Benjamin Moore) will project these qualities while reflecting nature. Earth tones like deep browns and muted reds are popular choices as are neutrals like beige, taupe and gray.

A Japanese dining table commonly has short legs and stands closer to the ground than Western style dining tables. But you can still capture the flavor of a traditional Japanese dining table by selecting a standard height table with lines that are calming minimalist in approach. The Somerton Enchantment 7 Piece Dining Set is beautifully appointed; lines are simple yet visual interest is created by the angled legs of the dining table and the unique slatted design of the backs of the dining chairs.

In a Japanese style dining room each piece of furniture has a specific function and purpose; no piece should be chosen solely for its esthetic value. The Sitcom Hida Collection Buffet has both style and purpose. Buffets or sideboards increase a dining room’s functionality by providing a place to conveniently store tableware and table linens in the room in which they will be needed and used.

A Japanese interior design dining room brings the outside in through natural elements like floor lamps and table lamps with rice paper shades; furniture pieces with bamboo and stone accents; and accessories like bonsai and water fountains. The Bluworld Innovations Tabletop Water Fountain in Dark Copper – Mini Moonshado would be the ideal accent piece to place on the buffet.

Light, especially natural light is an essential part of a Japanese interior design dining room. Another way to incorporate natural materials into the room’s design is through the shade of the Adesso Wright Tall Floor Lamp, which is made of silk. And because this floor lamp is also a shelving unit, it makes it an ultra-functional addition to a Japanese style dining room.