Do you love natural materials, clean lines and clutter-free spaces? If you are often attracted to minimalist design, love Nordic furniture, and appreciate the art of Japanese functionality, then you're going to love this style! Japandi - or sometimes called Japanordic - is a hybrid interior design trend that combines design elements from two different horizons: Scandinavia and Japan. A style that is minimalist and cozy, balanced yet warm, Japandi style interiors are meant to create a true haven of peace.
Light wood, bright whites and a decluttered space - this bathroom might be the perfect embodiment of Japanordic style! The organic shape of Recycled Glass Hexagon Mosaic in Calacatta Marble Color works well against the clean lines of cabinetry and rectangular mirror, making the space feel cozy, authentic and balanced.
Japandi was the decorating trend leader in 2021, according to Google Trends, and Pinterest has seen searches for “Japandi” climb 100 percent year over year, prompting designers to deem it “the new modern”. Taking a seat at the table as one of the hottest home decor trends right now, the minimalist craze has no signs of slowing down. But why does it have such long lasting appeal?
Read on and get to know more about the organic inspired interior trend today - from how it’s defined and its key elements to tile ideas for bringing this down-to-earth trend in your own home!
What is Japandi style?
Simply said, Japandi style is a hybrid trend. Though they are thousands of miles apart, Japan and Scandinavia actually have a lot in common – at least in design terms! How does that work? Let us show you!
A shared love of beauty, authenticity, and minimalism, are great examples of what these two design styles (and nations!) have in common. Japanordic is the combination of Scandi’s rustic feel paired with the fine lines found in modern Japanese decor, giving you the best of both worlds. Marrying the famous variants from both cultures - the result is a wonderful zen appeal that displays the no-fuss look we love about Japanese interiors combined with the soft homey feel of Nordic spaces.
Japanese design draws from the principles of the ‘wabi-sabi’ philosophy of Japanese culture, where aesthetic harmony is based on the concept of the beauty of the imperfect. It also takes the warmth and comfort associated with the ‘hygge’ concept from the Scandinavian world. The union of these styles redefines minimalism with an oriental Zen spirit.
Natural Design Elements
Simplicity, natural materials, and comfort are the three characteristics of this trending design. Once you master these three features, achieving this look in your home is easier than you’d think!
1- Simplicity
Both the Japanese – and the Scandinavian style are about minimalism. They emphasize the importance of creating functional rooms, characterized by minimum clutter rather than an accumulation of decorative objects. Simplicity above all is at the heart of Japandi style.
Open shelves help create the impression of a clean feel for this bar design with a muted color palette of Recycled Glass Subway Mosaic Tile in Calacatta Marble Color in the background. It’s the perfect display of a Japan meets Scandi interior; soothing, balanced and comfortable.
To achieve simplicity in your home, work to avoid loud patterns and colors, and instead, turn to organic shapes, wood grains, and subtle colors. Don’t forget that the Japanordic style is mostly about minimalism, so you should create spaces as decluttered and spacious as possible. Less is more, is the motto!
2- Natural Materials
One of the easiest ways to bring Japanordic style to life in your home is to use natural materials - think concrete, stone, natural wood, wool, bamboo and rattan. Scandinavian furniture is usually light in color whereas Japanese style has darker tones and more elegant forms. Try to mix styles – use different shades of wood with a variety of curved and straight lines to create depth and interest. The result will be a natural atmosphere that invites you to linger a little longer, and create a place for rejuvenation!
Walnut kitchen cabinets evoke a functional Scandinavian hygge aesthetic and pair well with the on-trend Thassos Marble Hexagon tile that reinforces a cozy feeling - the perfect balance of natural materials for a minimalist setting!
3- Comfort
Many people want a home they can unwind in at the end of the day. To achieve comfort, the Scandinavian concept of hygge veers more rustic, utilizing wood, soothing neutrals, and minimal layouts. Japanese design contributes an emphasis on warmer, rich colors and uses greenery to allow the home to feel cozy, yet tied to the environment.
A roaring fireplace decor is an essential element of cozy interiors for any home! Lexington White Marble Mosaic Tile creates a beautiful mantel and a hygge-inspired hearth in this living room while adding an architectural interest to the minimalist design.
Tile Design Ideas for a Japandi Style Home
From bathrooms to kitchens to family rooms or any other living space, tiles help you to quickly give a visual direction to a project. That’s why we’re spotlighting tile ideas you can incorporate into your next renovation project for embracing the Japandi trend while making creative decisions that will last years in your space!
Embrace Minimalism
One of the simplest tricks to achieve a minimal aesthetic in a bathroom is carrying the same tile from floor to ceiling. Wrap around the space using the same color to set a minimal background, then add textured tiles for variation - such as Dec. Mistery White Textured Porcelain Tile in this design - for added interest.
When it comes to keeping the decoration simple, aesthetic, and most importantly “minimal”, the right tile can be the key material choice in a natural style home. Whether it’s the bathroom flooring, shower tile or kitchen backsplash, tiles with a muted color palette convey a calming and soothing vibe, making small rooms seem larger and more open. The ultimate minimalist tip is to select a tile that nearly blends in with its surroundings, especially when creating a decluttered look in small rooms. Large scale tiles can keep the look extra clean especially when paired with a matching grout color, resulting in a seamless and modern appeal that’s perfect for an organic setting.
In this minimal kitchen, the classic White Matte Ceramic Subway Wall Tile 4x12 backsplash not only sets the perfect base for a minimal feel but also introduces the added bonus of durability thanks to its non-porous surface!
Famed for its linear sensibility and squeaky-clean design aesthetic, subway tile lends itself well to Japandi style homes. Neutral colors are a great fit for rooms where you want to avoid a cluttered and messy look, maximizing the available natural light while keeping the visual fragmentation to a minimum.
Use Natural Materials
White marble tile is one of the most versatile materials in minimalist aesthetics that can be used to accentuate wooden elements. We love the way Calacatta Gold 12x24 Honed Marble Tile invites you into the space, creating a timeless bathroom that looks like a relaxation heaven.
Remember that it’s important to use natural materials to nail a Japandi interior, as nature is significant in both Scandinavian and Japanese cultures. Classic earthy materials like wood and stone are favored rather than painted over appearances. Create a timeless space that celebrates nature with tiles that mimic the look of wood, stone and different textures.
Featuring a subtle grain pattern that mimics real wood, Gems Bianco White Wood Look Porcelain Tile is a durable choice for wet rooms and other areas prone to moisture in your home.
Timber flooring and wood paneling are great features in natural design homes, but the truth is that wood is not as durable as tile. With so many homeowners looking for a long-lasting alternative that eliminates the maintenance and wear-and-tear associated with real wood, it’s no wonder wood-look tiles are preferred. Whether it’s the floor of a living room, a vanity backsplash or a statement wall, wood-look porcelain tiles strike the perfect balance between functionality, modernism, and natural appeal.
Incorporate Plants
Although greenery is an essential natural element for any interior, bathrooms with no or little light can pose a problem for plants. Luckily, that’s where floral tiles come in! Add tiles with a gentle leaf shape or a delicate cherry blossom pattern as a durable alternative to wallpaper, and further your connection to the outdoors. Whether you’re living in a small apartment or spacious abode, floral-inspired tiles are the perfect way to bring nature inside. The best part of using floral tiles? You will enjoy a little summer in your home, all year round!
Create Cozy Spaces
There’s no better way to embrace the Scandi hygge coziness with a well decorated fireplace surround! This fireplace accent wall is a unique exotic touch to the minimalist living room with black Kasai Notte Kintsugi porcelain tiles, resembling the Japanese art of kintsugi that emphasizes cracks and faults, honoring imperfection.
Comfort is a prominent feature of the Japandi design trend, in a very similar way to the Scandinavian concept of hygge, which is described as “staying cozy and feeling at ease.” The key is to bring peace and tranquility to your home while making everyone comfortable in their surroundings. A fluffy faux sheepskin draped on the side of the sofa, or a plush rug in the bedroom is a wonderful addition to your home. But how would you make a bathroom or kitchen feel comfortable without using textiles? Again, that’s where tiles come in!
Textured tile is a great way to create accents and draw attention to parts of a room, while inviting a layer of organic aesthetic to enhance the feeling of comfort. Marrying rough and smooth, plain and patterned, you can create a pleasing design that’s full of nuance and visual interest. Minimal and balanced doesn’t mean boring walls – feel free to use tiles with different finishes to achieve the imperfection of wabi sabi as a way of recognizing, accepting, and embracing the perfectly imperfect.
Don’t forget about the ability plants have to add texture for a cozy look. Switching over to soft ambient lighting at night and using candles will also help achieve the comforting and zen design aesthetic straight in your home!
Your walls can look high-end and still emphasize sustainability with eco-friendly choices, like with our Recycled Glass Subway Mosaic in Gray Wood Look tile in this Zen-inspired bathroom.
Finally, remember that this design style appreciates sustainable materials and no-waste living.
Japandi design is a very eco-friendly style, and that’s part of what makes it so popular among those who want to do their part for the environment. Having originated from both Japanese and Scandinavian eco-minded sensibilities, it carries a deep respect for quality materials, craftsmanship, and sustainability - turn to recycled glass tiles for a beautiful blend of ‘green’ design opportunities and creative finishes in your home.
This marble field tile provides the most luxurious of blank canvases in any room. Choose to decorate your tiled space with traditional pieces or simply use foliage and metal accents and leave it as a highly desirable Zen and minimalist space.
Merging eastern Zen and Scandi comfort, the Japandi trend is a timeless take on minimalism. There’s no doubt it’s the perfect mix of trends that prove sleek and calm can still manage to feel warm and inviting. If you’re inspired by this look as we are, we hope that this post will fuel your inspiration for all things Japanordic.
If you want to try out this naturistic craze in your own home, make a note of our favorite ways to use Japandi tiles for complimenting an inspiring aesthetic in your home. And don't forget to sign up and save on tile from Tile Club!
