The Japanese cultural influence is gaining popularity in interior decorating. It’s easy to see why it’s so admired – Japanese Interior Design has a soothing, Zen effect with its use of natural fibers and subtle colours. Since the design style is so simple, it isn’t a challenge to re-decorate your entire home with a Japanese flair.

To master Japanese Interior Design, remember to keep your pieces subdued with little to no detail!

One of Japanese home design features is furniture that’s as low to the ground as possible – it gives off the feeling of steadiness. So, when decorating your living room, try to find a sofa with a minimal amount of height.

Lifestyle Solutions Casual Convertibles Sorrento Convertible Sofa in Chestnut

A sofa with a wood base incorporates the natural, fresh look of Japanese décor.

Sitcom Hida Collection Oatmeal Sofa

For Japanese Interior Design get a coffee table, you’ll want to stick to the same elements – short, wood-enhanced pieces give off a Japanese vibe.

GFI Furniture Sophia Rectangular Modern Coffee Table in Wenge Finish

Modloft Mott Low-Profile Coffee Table in Walnut

Decorate your living room with pieces made from stone. Its neutral grey shade is ideal for completing a Japanese Design-themed room.

AA Importing Large Kimono Vase

Zodax Four Wick Large Scented Candle Pot

In your bathroom, try to integrate straight, clean lines, and different wood fibers. Your sink and faucet should be extremely minimal in detail, and neutral in colouring.

Avanity Prado Vanity

Accessorize using bamboo-woven pieces – this natural fiber is practical, strong, and very well suited to the Japanese interior design style.

Selamat Designs Woven Bamboo Tissue Box

Selamat Designs Woven Bamboo Apothecary

The bedroom is a place for you to unwind, and what better way to make it a peaceful place than by updating it with a Japanese design feel. Platform beds are heavily influenced by Japanese design – they’re close to the ground and normally constructed of hardwood.

Sitcom Edo Japanese Style Platform Bed

Look for small details in end tables that make them stand out from all the ordinary options out there.

Edo End Table with Bowl

To add some design aspect to your Japanese-themed bedroom, consider adding a room divider to your space. They’re useful for covering the window, hiding electronic wiring, or they can be placed against the wall for visual interest.

Selamat Designs Classic Woven Teak Room Divider

Need to light up your space? Floor lamps with paper shades give off a warm glow while maintaining a Japanese look.

Adesso Gyoza Rice Paper Shade Floorchiere Floor Lamp

Low tables and floor pillows are normally used in a Japanese design inspired dining room. If you want to keep up with the Japanese style, put a large coffee table in your dining room, since they have short legs.

Sitcom Hida Collection Coffee Table

If you plan on using a normal-height dining room table, find one that fits Japanese design criteria.

Modloft Cliff Extendable Wood Dining Table

Consider seating your dining room table with stools or benches – they are normally lower to the ground.

Modloft Cliff Modern Wood Dining Stool

When accessorizing outside, make “tranquility” your main theme. Install an exterior shade to cover your patio from the blaring sun, shield from bugs, or just as a decoration.

Coolaroo Designer 6′ x 6′ Roll Up Shade – Sandalwood

Outdoor fountains in earth tones with natural accents represent the Japanese feeling of serenity. The sound of flowing water is supposed to drown out the rest of the world and put you in a Zen-like state.

Alfresco Home ISHI Fountain with Pump

Make your patio suitable to sit on by throwing down an outdoor rug. Keep colours and pattern to a minimum – a simple Japanese-influence rug will make your patio more inviting.

Couristan Recife Indoor/Outdoor Collection – Summit/Natural-Cocoa

Final tips on turning your living space into a Japanese Inteior Design retreat:

Get rid of that clutter! Since Japanese style is all about minimalism, less is definitely more.

Japanese plants like bamboo and flowers like orchids look beautiful as table centerpieces.

Keep the walls clean. Japanese design doesn’t particularly focus on wall art or photo frames.

Nicolette Interior Design Diva

Who doesn’t long for a bedroom that is truly an escape from daily life?  With its calming colors, low profile furniture and limited clutter, Modern design and Japanese Bedroom Design work very well together and can help you create the room of your dreams.

Furniture that is low to the ground is common in a modern setting and is a staple in Japanese Bedroom design.  The idea behind the low profile is to give thefeeling of stability to the user.  A platform bed is the perfect bed in this setting and the Fashion Bed Kyoto Black Platform Bed is an affordable choice to create thislook.  The design of this bed is simplicity at its best.  The simple lines will work perfectly with other Japanese style furniture you may have. An Asian screen or framed Kimono can be hung above to add some color and design.

If eco-friendly products are important to you the Retro Japanese Zen Platform Bed by Lifestyle Solutions should meet your needs.  Again, the simple lines of this bed and the large, flared headboard make it a good choice for your Asian inspired bedroom.

For a modern japanese bedrrom style check out the Modloft Monroe Platform Bed. While the dark solid pine finish is not commonly found in Japanese Bedrrom design, the low horizontal lines make it a perfect choice.  The added bonus of hidden storage behind the doors can reduce the need for other furniture pieces in the room

The goal in Japanese design is to keep furnishings and decorations to a minimum.  Most everything in the room should be functional and practical.  But a bedroom needs additional furniture such as nightstands and dressers.  While many of the beds mentioned have matching pieces, it is not necessary to have everything match.  However, it is important in Japanese Design to keep the woods in the same color tone.

Or, consider the Sitcom Edo Japanese 6 Drawer Double Dresser in Mahogany. Its distinct Japanese influence is executed in theslim-line drawer pulls and the frame-on-frameside panels.

Sitcom features the same dresser in a chest form – the Edo Japanese 6 Drawer Tall Chest. The simplicity of both these accent pieces works well in a Japanese-inspired space.

The entire Edo collection by Sitcom has many accent pieces that could be used in a modern or Asian-style room. The Edo Japanese Style Nightstand frames off a bed or a dresser, while the Edo Japanese Mirror can be mounted onthe wall to give the illusion of more space.

Screens are often found in Japanese Bedroom interiors, and they can serve many purposes. For example, placed behind a platform bed, they make a very interesting headboard. Maybe you want to hide the electronics in the room when not in use. If your room requires some additional privacy from other areas, a screen becomes the perfect room divider.

They can even be placed in front of a window or sliding glass door to block the light and act as a window treatment. Take a look at the Japanese Hazelnut Screen Folding Room Divider Screen, with its stripped bamboo panels for a natural look, and the Nextime Timeless Room Divider Wall Clock that is hung from the ceiling with steel wire suspension (andtells the time, too!). They offer a simple Japanese feel that will compliment any modern bedroom.

Color choices are important when you are trying to create a relaxing, Japanese feel to your room. Muted colors inspired by nature are best.  This would include soft grays, greens and light browns.

Your bedding should be simple in style and color. The mantra here is “Less is more”. Avoid the use of multiple throw pillows, fluffy bed skirts and lots of pattern.  Instead, opt for soft solids. If you must have some pattern, choose Japanese embroidery on an accent pillow.

Lighting is soft and preferably comes from a natural source such as windows and skylights. But tables and floor lamps are necessary, so choose pieces made from natural materials such as bamboo and wood and add paper shades.

Natural flooring materials are preferred. Wood floors covered with fibre rugs, such as tatami mats, contribute to the quiet and serene feel you are looking for in Japanese design.

Mixing Japanese design with your modern pieces will add texture and warmth to your room and create that retreat you’ve been longing for.

Nicolette Interior Design Diva