About Japanese Interior Design

Japanese interior design is much different from American interior design. In much of Japan, generations of families reside in the same home. There can be three to four generations of people living in one home, so appealing to all of those style likes can be very difficult. It also means that space is a definite factor in how to decorate.

Minimalist Design

Japanese interior design is often very minimal. In Japan, it is very common to sit on cushions on the floor and not have any chairs. It is also very common to have very short tables to accommodate sitting on the floor and still being able to use the table. Most housing in Japan is very small and is often very old and traditional. Factoring in the size, the number of people and the age of the house are important considerations in considering what type of interior design that Japanese choose for their homes. Many Japanese homes utilize outdoor areas to help provide a bit more space. Japanese homes very rarely have central heat and air. Almost every home in Japan has wall units in each room that are turned on when in that particular room and turned off when the room is empty.

Tradition in Decorating

The design inside of a Japanese home often includes traditional features. Some homes have tatami rooms where they eat and sleep. A tatami room is a special room that is covered from floor to ceiling in grass mats and grass wallpaper. Another important part of Japanese interior design is superstition. Almost every single home in all of Japan will have a set of ceramic animals outside of their home. These animals are called Shisa dogs and are believed to protect the home from evil. Many Japanese people are very superstitious, so including items in their decorating that are believed to protect the home or family is very popular.

Furnishing

While almost every home in Japan follows certain traditions, many also include modern decorating with the traditional. Japanese furniture is often very simple, but with modern undertones. It is made to the scale of the homes, so is usually very small compared to American furniture. The furniture is often made of leather to help combat the mold issues that much of Japan battles.