What all Japanese interior design trends have in common is a strong taste for minimalism. Photo: AFP
The back-to-school season is often a time for change when it comes to interior decoration, but it's not always easy to know how to give your home a makeover. This year, if you want to be at the cutting edge of interior design trends, try looking to Japan for inspiration.
The Land of the Rising Sun has been inspiring decorators for several seasons now. It has notably fuelled the rise of wabi-sabi, a philosophy that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, and Japandi, a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design.
The common theme of these Japanese interior design trends is a pronounced taste for minimalism. In other words, getting rid of the unnecessary to keep only the essential.
This year, this quest for simplicity is reflected in search peaks on Pinterest for terms such as "Japanese futon bedroom” (up 245% year-on-year) or "Japanese living room design” (+135%).
The platform's users seem keen on bringing zen to their interiors, which is reflected in their home decor searches (+200% for "zen bathroom”, +160% for "zen kitchen”, +120% for "Japanese zen garden”).
To bring serenity to the home, try focusing on clean lines and natural materials such as wood, stone, bamboo or paper. When it comes to colours, Japanese inspirations draw on a broader palette than Scandinavian design.
White, beige and brown are welcome, of course, but so are darker shades to create contrast. Green is particularly appropriate, used in touches here and there as a nod to nature.
While the Japanese aesthetic takes a 'less is more' approach, it does allow you to personalise your interior with some decorative objects. Here, it's best to opt for secondhand pieces that show signs of age or wear, to embrace the wabi-sabi philosophy.
The more manual-minded can also try their hand at the art of "kintsugi" (literally "golden joinery") to give a second life to a broken vase or plate. But be careful not to go overboard: Japanese style encourages you to declutter your space so as to better appreciate emptiness. A true life lesson. – AFP Relaxnews
