Japanese interior decorating styles have an underlying theme of simplicity. A few unique focal items can have a much stronger impact than a whole wall filled with various pictures and random color schemes. A minimalist approach is best.
A Minimalist Guest Room
Every time I visit my wife’s hometown in Fukui prefecture, I am amazed at what new and interesting ideas her mother has come up with to decorate their home. The entry way is a point of welcome that is probably one of the most decorated spots. My mother-in-law wants the visitor to focus on the flower arrangement (Ikebana) that she has made for that week.
Along with that comes the ceramic vase and pottery for displaying the flowers. With the help of my wife’s mother in Japan, we search out original hand-made vases for flower arrangement. Two pottery areas we are particularly fond of are in Shiga (Shiga-raki) and Fukui (Echizen-yaki).
On another wall hangs a beautiful kimono obi, or belt. This obi display changes in both style and colors, often coinciding with seasonal colors or holidays. Obi are a great way to spice up a sophisticated room.
Wisteria is often grown over large canopies, but can make great inside displays as well. In the above picture you can see how this beautiful indoor display will bring some serenity to any area in spring.
Bonsai is a very detailed and beautiful art, and a nice specimen tree could be a great display item and feature of a minimalist room.i.
One point to keep in mind though is that Japanese rooms tend to be smaller; therefore interiors tend to have less furniture, which clutter the room. Many floors are made from hard wood and also straw mats (tatami). Our baby daughter loves our tatami mats because they provide just enough cushion for her to nap wherever she wants to, and we love them because it eliminates the need to extra furniture, which cost more to fill the room and also create more dangerous edges to crash into.
Bamboo flooring is starting to gain popularity in the west, allowing people to choose from many different patterns of bamboo styles.
Color wise Japanese Interior Decorating usually focuses on natural and earth tones. Walls are often a lighter natural shade, with dark browns highlighting the floors, tables, and trimmings.
Shadows and effective lighting can also bring out various ambiances such as mysterious, avante-guard, traditional or modern. Paper lanterns made of Japanese rice paper (washi) can add a wonderful affect to an average room.
Japanese interior decorating can give you either a rustic (wabi-sabi) traditional look or a modern, sleek, neo-Japanesque look, depending on what style you prefer.
Make use of Bamboo flooring to create your own hardwood (preferably a chocolate brown color) floors and trims with style. Create your own room using Japanese Interior Decorating ideas that rely on simplicity and allow you to step back and catch your breath.
If you are ever in the Grand Island, Niagara Falls, or Buffalo, NY area please stop in to Serene Gardens gather a few more Japanese interior decorating ideas.
