Who doesn’t like the humble Japanese lifestyle, so why not re-create Japan in your home? The modest Japanese way of life revolves around peaceful simplicity, with calm and serene uncluttered interiors.
Here are 5 easy ways to add a touch of this Japanese culture to your home:
1. De-clutter and live minimally
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when trying to immerse yourself in the demure Japanese culture is that less is certainly more. This beautiful room designed by The Local Inn.terior Pte Ltd proves that despite minimal furnishing, simple Japanese elements and soft lighting are all that you need for a minimalistic touch. It’s a win-win situation if you de-clutter anyway.
In fact, The Local Inn.terior Pte Ltd’s Senior Designer Wayne Chuan says that when he has to offer interior solutions to a client who wants a minimal-style design, he advises that “using full height storage cabinets with tones of matt pastel finishes or white or light grey wall shades automatically reduce the apparent clutter from living spaces”. To him, “the idea is to reduce clutter and create a living space that evokes simplicity instead of emptiness.”
HDB Resale 5 Room – Tampines Street 21 by THE LOCAL INN.TERIOR
2. Indoor plants
Japanese plants such as bonsai or bamboo make great indoor green additions because of the Japanese culture of respecting nature, plus they’re low maintenance and don’t take up much space. In fact, Designer Incharge Matthias Ho with Weiken.com Design Pte Ltd says “that the calming effect plants have on people is distinctly Japanese”.
149 PAVILION CIRCLE by Weiken.com Design Pte Ltd
3. Install roller blinds
Most Japanese homes extensively use blinds to section off areas off the house, rather than curtains. Likewise, installing shojis – Japanese sliding doors or screens – is another easy and effective way of adding a heavy Japanese touch to your home. This image from Swiss Interior brings a Japanese element to this living room despite its minimal setting with the simple use of blinds.
Blk 122A Edgedale Plain By Swiss Interior Design Pte Ltd
4. Soaking tubs
Just like greenery and nature, the water element plays a very important role in the Japanese home because of the calming effect that bubbling water emits. Hence ofuro – bath in Japanese – are a must-have if you want to add that tranquil tradition to your home. Typical Japanese soaking tubs are small, deep tubs with a bench seat and very easy to install.
CRADLE – CONDOMINIUM RENOVATION by Artrend Design
5. Incorporate small Japanese elements
Wood plays a pivotal role in the Japanese culture, be it wooden doors, screen grids, simple wooden flooring or even just a raised platform for the dining area. Candy Ng, Senior Designer at The Interior Place Pte Ltd advises adding Zen to daily living by going with more neutral and earthy colours to create a very soothing environment at home. “Easy to incorporate interior Japanese elements begin with the soft furnishings, and allowing as much natural light as possible to come into the house to enhance the serenity of the space. Don’t be afraid to add in green plants at corners of the home, they are great decors for Zen interiors.”
92 Parc Centros Punggol by The Interior Place Pte Ltd
You don’t have to be in Japan to live like the Japanese. Clean and minimalistic living, with a deep respect to nature and water are just some of the elements that you add to your house. The key is to simple in whatever you do.
