Do you get bored with regular, boring interiors? Searching for a new distinct style with comfort and style? A Japandi-style interior would be best suited for this. This is a balanced combination of Japanese and Scandinavian styles. Read today’s blog to learn how to implement Japandi style in your house interior.
What is Japandi Style?
Japandi is a famous interior design style involving Japanese and Scandinavian interior designs and elements. As you hear the word “Japandi,” you can easily identify both the sounds of “Japanese” and “Scandi.”
This style was initiated due to the trading of Japan with the West in 1850. This exchange of goods and ideas influenced both Scandinavian and Japanese designers, blending their aesthetics into a harmonious style. Today, Japandi design continues to grow in popularity, especially as sustainability becomes a key focus in home décor. The main design features of Japandi are clean lines, natural elements, cheerful bright spaces, and neutral colour shades to create calming and welcoming living spaces. Many people think Japandi and minimalism are the same, but they are different.
Why Japandi Interior Design Works for Indian Homes
The following are the reasons that Japandi interior design works well for India:
Climate Considerations: As you know, North India typically has a warm climate, with moderate winters and occasional short cold spells. However, the same factors that keep it warm in winter also contribute to extremely hot summers, making temperature regulation essential in home design. South India, on the other hand, has a warmer and more humid climate because of its long coastlines. The Japandi style can suit Indian homes well, mainly due to its compatibility with hot weather climates. It often makes use of natural and locally available construction materials to maintain simplicity. This style enhances cool and clean interiors to give comfort during the hot seasons.
Space Efficiency: Japandi suits Indian urban apartments and small independent houses very well. Its space-conscious nature optimises available space, which is crucial.
Contrast to Traditional Indian Decor: It offers a contrast to conventional Indian decor. For people searching for change along with local elements, this can be a creative task. By blending both global and regional design, you can enhance the interior.
Budget-friendly Adaptation: You can choose affordable elements or locally sourced construction materials for Japandi interior design. Natural materials, such as bamboo and wood, support eco-friendly home design.
Essential Elements of Japandi Style for Indian Home Interiors

You can create a simple yet comfortable Japandi house interior for your Indian homes, including the following major features:
Colour Palette: Japandi interior design often includes earthy neutral shades, such as beige, taupe, and soft greys. Natural muted colours complement well with Indian-inspired colours like terracotta, mustard yellow, and deep green. This balanced colour combination gives a feeling of tranquillity and calm.
Furniture: Japandi furniture focuses on looking good and serving a purpose. In an Indian household, flexibility is very important; you can use furniture with built-in storage. Japandi sofas, wooden benches and foldable tables enhance interiors while catering to practical needs. Choose furniture in neutral shades and natural materials.
Natural Materials: Japanese culture increasingly prioritises the use of natural materials, particularly in sustainable building practices. In India, you can use bamboo, rattan, cotton, and jute, which are widely accessible. You can integrate these materials into various elements of design, giving a nod to eco-conscious living while feeling connected to nature.
Textiles: Japandi interior decor often includes handloom fabrics. You can use Warli art, rangoli, and geometric patterns printed in textiles. You can highlight your regional culture in this way.
Lighting: Japandi home decor gives importance to light. You can use decor lights like paper lanterns, bamboo pendant lights, rice paper lamps and other lighting fixtures with subtle ambient illumination for an aesthetic look. These lights help make the space look beautiful while adding to the calm and minimal style of Japandi design.
Indoor Plants: Japandi decor gives importance to natural elements like indoor plants. Famous choices in India include ferns, snake plants, and peace lilies. These tropical indoor plants will create a welcoming atmosphere while maintaining the clean, uncluttered look of Japandi interiors.
Room-wise Japandi Interior Transformation
You can change your house’s interior style to Japandi decor by consciously choosing the above Japandi design elements. The following is the general guide to roomwise transformation:
Japandi Living Room
Sitting on the floor is a part of both Indian and Japanese living. It indicates the significance of being close to nature. To create an intimate and inviting space, you can include floor seating options such as low-profile sofas or cushions. You can include neutral shades with simple wall art and light-toned wooden shelves for walls. You can include wooden flooring, wooden elements for furniture, or decorative accents in the living room to achieve warmth and connect the space to nature. If your house plan includes open floor plans, then you can include Japanese shoji screens as partitioners.
Japandi Bedroom
Japandi-style bedrooms often include platform beds, allowing for a grounded, spacious feel. Choose natural fabrics such as cotton or linen, and make sure the bed’s colour tone matches the room walls’ muted tones. Japandi interior design prioritises a clutter-free environment, which includes built-in storage options to keep bedding and clothing out of sight, creating a peaceful retreat that encourages relaxation.
Japandi Kitchen
To decorate your Japandi kitchen, you need to include open shelving to display organized kitchenware and handmade ceramics. You can feel the sense of craftsmanship and cultural richness by adding handcrafted ceramics and porcelain items, such as tableware or decorative pieces. Wooden utensils and accessories made from eco-friendly materials add a simple and natural charm to the space.
Japandi Bathroom
Natural materials are carefully used in Japandi bathrooms. Light Japandi bathrooms will be created with neutral colour tones like soft whites, light greys, and pastel shades to generate a bright and airy feel. However, dark Japandi bathrooms use deeper hues such as charcoal, navy, and rich browns, to create a warm and cosy look. You can also add small touches of muted green or earthy tones to bring in a natural feel. You can incorporate sustainable practices with wooden bath accessories, such as bamboo toothbrush holders and shelf organisers, to add warmth and texture. Use stone elements for vanities or flooring; you can give a spa-like feel instead of a boring bathroom. You can also keep humidity-loving plants like Monstera, Begonia and the Peace Lily.
Blending Indian Elements with Japandi Style
You can easily include your regional crafts or elements to enhance the interior and give a personal touch. Such as:
Indian textiles like handloom and block prints can bring warmth and texture while keeping the simple Japandi style.
Brass and copper accents stand out against Japandi’s neutral colours, adding elegance and a touch of history.
Indian art like Warli, rangoli, Madhubani paintings, Gond art, Kalamkari textiles, Tanjore paintings, Kalighat paintings, and Pattachitra can be displayed in a simple way to highlight local craftsmanship without making the space feel too busy.
Difference between Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, and Minimalism
However, style gives a unique perspective on simplicity and aesthetics.
- Japandi is a fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian design. It highlights clean lines, functionality, and natural materials. It combines simplicity with comfort, creating a harmonious balance between form and function. Japandi focuses on creating a serene and balanced space with a neutral colour palette.
- Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection and aging. It often incorporates rustic elements and natural textures. Wabi-Sabi spaces are designed to evoke depth and character through the use of worn or aged objects.
- Minimalism generally refers to keeping things simple by removing clutter and focusing only on essential items.
While both Japandi and Wabi-Sabi share minimalist aspects, Japandi is more structured and functional, whereas Wabi-Sabi is more organic and appreciative of imperfections.
In India, there are many options to purchase Japandi-style decor. Well-known Indian brands offer furniture and accessories that combine minimalism with natural materials. You can also find unique, handmade Japandi items from local artisans on online shopping platforms, allowing you to personalize your space. Additionally, local craftsmen create eco-friendly decor that matches the Japandi style. If you enjoy DIY projects, you can try making some decor items yourself. However, if you’re working on a larger home project, hiring a professional construction company is a better choice.