Japanese Interior Design

The Western world has, for many years, been deeply fascinated with Japanese interior design. Its simple lines and muted colors carry the essentials of Japanese culture - tranquility, harmony, and balance with nature.

Japanese interior design makes careful use of space and light and always takes into account the concept of yin and yang. Of course, objects and accessories in bright colors such as red, yellow, or orange can also be found in many Japanese homes, but their use is restrained and evenly distributed in the home.

Soft lighting is preferred in Japanese interior design, and natural light is utilized where available. The Japanese are also fond of indoor gardens which is a concretization of their Japanese interior design concept of "bringing the outside in" to achieve a desirable harmony with nature.

Furniture in Japanese interior design is sparse and mostly functional, although these useful pieces of furniture are very artistically crafted and are never wanting in style and design. Every furnishing is made to perfection and Japanese homes are invariably clean and well-kept.

The sleeping and living areas are flexible and are often only separated by moveable screens. Interestingly, there are no extremely heavy furniture. Even the dining area is usually comprised of only a low table with just small cushions on the floor functioning as seats.

Large futons may be used for sleeping and are merely stored away during the day to provide living space. When one studies the Japanese culture and way of life, they would certainly be able to understand the concepts of Japanese interior design better.

The Essentials Of A Japanese Home

When a visitor enters a Japanese home, the first most noticeable characteristic they would notice are the clean and simple lines - from the diaphanous shoji screens to the sparse decor. It's rare to find clutter in a Japanese home, as Japanese interior design tends to be minimalist.

This is not to say, though, that Japanese interior design [http://www.1interiordesign.com/Kitchen_Interior_Design/] is boring. On the contrary, it's the simplicity that makes accent pieces stand out and the interplay of light, greenery, and earth tones that make Japanese interior design fascinating.

Neutral hues and earth tones dominate the color palette in Japanese interior design. The Japanese have a strong preference for off-white, beige, pale yellow, brown, gray, and white.

Notice that these are reflections of earth elements such as sand, pebbles, rocks, and wood. Most of the color schemes in Japanese interior design are monochromatic and rarely do traditional Japanese abodes make use of loud splashes of color for their interiors.

In Japanese interior design, tatami mats cover the Japanese home's wood flooringand a tokonoma alcove serves as a place of high regard. The tokonoma alcove is to the Japanese what the fireplace mantel is to the Westerners.

The alcove showcases the family heirlooms, artwork, and treasures. Here you may also find a valuable scroll, an ikebana flower arrangement, or an intricate bonsai tree.

It isn't difficult to try your hand at Japanese interior design. Substitute materials may be used, such as fabric for paper or sisal for tatami mats. In any case, keep in mind that Japanese interior design is heavily based on the traditions and the culture of the Japanese, so if you want to try your hand at Japanese interior design, first check your shoes at the door.