5 Best Ideas for Japanese-Style Interior Design
Japanese culture, cuisine, and Japan as a travel destination have remained attractive for over 20 years. Naturally, after visiting, many fall in love with the Land of the Rising Sun and strive to recreate its unique atmosphere at home. Interior design in the Japanese style continues to gain popularity, particularly due to the new trends of minimalism and natural aesthetics.
Simplicity, clean lines, and restraint are values that serve as an antidote to excessive consumerism and the overwhelming flow of information that many of us experience today. Of course, a Japanese-style interior does not mean we have to completely replicate traditional Japanese living. Even in Japan, few people can afford to live in an authentic Japanese home, but modern houses and apartments skillfully combine historical elements with the latest technologies. There are several characteristic features that not only help create a Japanese-style interior but also surprise you with their practicality and convenience.
Features of Japanese-Style Interior Design
Genkan – the entrance area to a house or apartment. In Japanese culture, it is customary to wear indoor slippers, and the genkan is a small space where residents leave their outdoor shoes. The floor level here is lower than in the rest of the home, so to go further inside, one must step up. Because of this, the Japanese phrase for “please come in” literally translates to “please step up.” The genkan is still present in most Japanese apartments today: this entrance layout helps prevent dirt and dust from the streets from entering the main living areas. This concept is especially useful in the Russian climate, making it highly recommended for entryways.
Sliding partitions played a significant role in shaping traditional Japanese living and architecture. Shoji and fusuma are essential elements of Japanese-style interiors that have defined the flexible layout of a Japanese home. When needed, the partitions slide open, allowing a room to expand by incorporating adjacent spaces, or they close to create private spaces for each person. Modern partitions use new materials—glass, acrylic panels, and specially treated rice paper—that make them more durable. Partitions and sliding doors not only create interesting interior designs but also save space. In addition to appealing to those who love Japanese culture, such doors are ideal for small apartment owners where every square meter counts.


The interior design of Japanese-style homes often features a subtle common trait—low or minimalistic furniture. Due to specific geographical and climatic conditions, the Japanese historically spent much of their time lying down or sitting on the floor. As a result, European-style chairs and high-legged tables initially didn’t catch on in Japan. However, over time, Japanese furniture makers developed their own versions. Low sofas and chairs create a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, visually make the ceiling appear higher, and add a sense of openness.
Traditionally, the Japanese do not sleep on beds but on futons—mattresses that are rolled up and stored in a closet during the day. Clients of a penthouse project in central Moscow, who are great admirers of Japanese culture, wanted their bedroom to be as authentic as possible. We offered a compromise by placing high mattresses on a tatami platform. This sleeping arrangement fit perfectly into the Japanese-style interior of the apartment.
Frequent natural disasters (earthquakes and the fires that accompany them) did not allow the Japanese to accumulate many possessions. In an old Japanese house, rooms are characterized by asceticism, even a certain emptiness. All valuable items fit into small chests with handles, which could easily be carried out of the house in case of an emergency. It can be said that the Japanese are born minimalists; perhaps this is why the leading advocate of minimalism and decluttering is a Japanese woman, Marie Kondo. Every object in the house should serve a purpose, and nothing should clutter the living space. Moreover, Japanese culture values not the objects themselves but the “ma,” the space between them. No one will notice a flower arrangement or a piece of art if it is surrounded by many other things, but they will look stunning on an empty shelf or in a niche.


Traditional Materials
Unique traditional materials are often used in Japanese-style interior design. The most obvious examples of such materials are tatami and washi paper. Tatami are thick mats made of rice straw that fully cover the floors in Japanese rooms. They are comfortable to sit and lie on, and the light scent of rice straw is familiar to anyone who has ever stayed in a Japanese ryokan inn. Today, Japanese manufacturers offer new tatami made from hypoallergenic materials with antibacterial and water-repellent treatments. It’s not necessary to cover an entire room with tatami—just part of the living room can be enough to create an oriental lounge area.
Washi paper was traditionally made entirely by hand and was used in almost every aspect of a Japanese home—from sliding partitions to lamps and decorative finishes. Nowadays, washi paper is used to create beautiful wallpaper with traditional patterns or silver foil accents. Textured paper works well both as a primary and accent material in interior decoration.
“Ideologist” collaborates with Japanese manufacturers of washi paper, traditional ceramic tiles, and master craftsmen of tatami. Their premium materials will add a striking effect to any interior design.