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Everything You Need to Know About the Japandi Design Style

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The emerging Japandi design trend melds the Japanese and Scandinavian modern interior design styles. Featuring a brilliant combination of Scandinavian functionality and Japanese minimalism, the design style is deeply rooted in simplicity and comfort. Although Japan and Scandinavia or the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are distinctly different in culture and geographically different, they are designed on the same principles. The origin of this design style dates back to 1853, when Japan lifted its border policies after years of seclusion. Shortly after this event, Danish designers and creatives started visiting Japan and got fascinated by Japanese oriental aesthetics.

Designer: Ward 5 Design

Also known as the Scandi-Japanese style, the Scandi design follows the notion of “hygge,” meaning coziness, where the home should be your sanctuary that can exude elegance, conviviality, and well-being. The Nordics wanted to add warmth into the interiors so that their homes could feel peaceful and comfortable, especially throughout the cold and dark winters. It aims to improve everyday life and creates coziness with a mix of materials like velvet, leather, knits, and crochets and pays attention to furniture details. The Japanese design follows the concept of “wabi-sabi,” which values contentment and slow living and celebrates the beauty of imperfections. The fusion of “hygge” and “wabi-sabi” determines the critical elements of the Japandi design style. Since both these design trends have many standard features, their core philosophy is to merge the rustic Nordic décor with the sleek Japanese design and create a Zen vibe.

The prime objective of the Japandi design style is to design with intention. This style creates a warm and welcoming space with a fusion of clean lines with functional style. Moreover, its beautiful and practical design encourages one to stay close to nature. These design elements will help you to master your interiors and exteriors.

Beautiful Craftsmanship

Furniture design forms one of the most important components of a Japandi interior design style. Look for artisan pieces of furniture with a timeless appeal so that one can use them for years to come, as the focus is quality instead of cheap throwaway pieces. Japandi furniture design makes a statement without adornment, the details are handmade, and each piece is unique, and there is no similarity between the two parts. Wood is the most prominent material in this design typology since it is readily available in Japan, and the country is known for its mastery of timber. Every piece is intentionally chosen in a particular space so that it can add meaning and purpose. For example, low-height furniture is evocative of the concept of being close to the earth.

Designer: Manh Duy

Warm Palette

The Scandi palette is gray, white, and brown, while the Japanese palette incorporates autumnal hues and colors from the earth and the sky. Create an earthy feel with muted pearl gray and sky blue colors with hints of pale green. The colors of nature play wonderfully with the organic material of Japandi-style space. A bold color can be used as an accent in the decorative accessories and throw pillows to complement the wood tones. These colors can be layered to mimic the look of a natural landscape.

Designer: Nada Hasham

Sustainability

There is a focus on sustainability, the use of natural materials, and eco-friendly aesthetics. Japandi does not believe in the one-time-use culture, and the options should be environmentally safe. Avoid plastic and look for home décor items in natural materials like wood, stone, and woven textiles.

Both cultures have a deep fondness for nature and sustainability. In Japan, there is a psychological exercise called “Shinrin-yoku,” which means “Forest Bathing,” whose purpose is to inspire people to reconnect with the country’s forests. The Norwegian people follow the concept of “Friluftsliv,” also known as “Outdoor Life,” which is about spending time and enjoying the outdoors.

Designer: Sipal-WAFAI.Architecture

Use Organic Materials

Japandi focuses on natural materials like unfinished wood and incorporates organic materials like rattan, wicker, cane, wood, and bamboo, along with comfortable fabrics like cotton, linen, and hemp. A mix of materials creates a serene space. Moreover, the design style is distinctly organic, where the ceramics, bowls, and even lighting can be in organic materials.

Designer: Delicate Decor

Introduce Plants

Plants and greenery work as genuine accessories and can bring in a sense of outdoor living. They purify the indoor air and form a decorative accent. The Japandi style has a profound respect for nature and focuses on less but bigger sizes of plants. To complete the picture, beautify the interiors and create a nature-inspired décor with houseplants like hanging vines and bonsai trees or beautiful plants in large ceramics. Plants create a warm and welcoming look and soften a minimalist interior.

Designer: Japandi Lights

Decluttered Spaces

Japandi emphasizes comfort and simplicity, making every item functional yet aesthetically pleasing. There is a focus on openness and zero clutter so that the space looks clean, fresh, and minimal. An open-plan layout exudes a tranquil space connected with the outdoors to create a brilliant indoor-outdoor connection. If there is less space for storage, use natural storage solutions like wicker baskets, boxes, and trays. Use bamboo or folding screens to camouflage clutter.

The bedrooms are minimalistic, with minimal window dressing, few art pieces, and comfortable bedding. A good curation of art pieces, mirrors, rugs, tables, and lamps infuses coziness without creating a cluttered look. Additionally, a Japandi bedroom supports rest and encourages a tech-free space that encourages sleep and minimizes distraction.

Designer: Hilight Design

Bring In Natural Light

Natural light creates a bright, airy interior and is the gateway to the natural world. Japandi integrates large windows to bring in plenty of natural light while the reflective surface of neutral-hued walls bounces the natural light. If there is less natural light, one can use mirrors to reflect more light. The rooms should be softly lit for a tranquil interior. Consider industrial lights to add a Scandinavian vibe that can infuse warmth with handcrafted pendant lights or retro pendants in copper finish. Use floor lamps for a warm and cozy glow.

Designer: chrisfluence

Stripped Furniture

Japandi furniture uses different materials, textures, and colors, infusing peace, serenity, and a comfortable feel. One can accentuate the space with a chair or coffee table in a bold color. Create contrast with dark and light wood tones as Japan uses dark wood Cedar, Red Pine, and Cypress, while Scandinavia uses light wood oak, mahogany, pine, and teak. This is a great way to create visual interest, bring the space together, and create a warm and harmonious feel.

Designer: Hishida Komuten

Sumptuous Textures

Japandi design infuses warmth and interest using sumptuous textures and fabrics. This can be achieved in the curtains, upholstery, and rugs, which will infuse warmth. A big cozy rug in natural materials is a must-have in a minimalist bedroom as it provides a warm underfoot whenever one enters or exits the bed.

Designer: Veronique (Veer.enmeer)

Balance

The Japandi style does not believe in symmetry but uses different furniture pieces that can create an organic feel. One must pay attention to the visual weight of each piece as this design style aims to create balance and promotes relaxation.

Designer: Stewart-Schafer

A fusion of Japanese minimalism and warm Scandinavian interiors has emerged as one of the most popular style combinations of the decade. These tips will help you to create your favorite look.

The post Everything You Need to Know About the Japandi Design Style first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 furniture designs to infuse Japandi aesthetics into your modern home

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I truly feel a well-crafted piece of furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces! Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed furniture helps a space radiate an aura of warmth and calmness. They instantly make you feel at home. And, today a lot of designers are adopting ‘Japandi’ aesthetics when designing furniture. So, what is Japandi? It is an amalgamation of the words Japanese and Scandinavian and marries Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. It is the artful blending of both Japanese and Scandinavian design. These furniture designs are not only aesthetically but functionally pleasing as well! Incorporate this collection of Japandi-inspired furniture designs into your home, to create a living space that will truly feel like a safe haven.

1. Outside In

Outside In is a multifunctional, shapeshifting table that incorporates hand-carved grooves into its timber frame to resemble the raked ruts of Japanese zen gardens.

Why is it noteworthy?

Japanese zen gardens have supplied ceaseless inspiration for designers. While the sheer meditative quality of zen gardens is enough to insight some new ideas, the artful design of zen gardens rakes its own creative vision for designers. Melbourne-based furniture, lighting, and object design company Sabu Studio found its own creative vision by way of Japanese zen gardens when designing the minimalist Outside In table.

What we like

  • Features a sinuous timber surface that resembles the hand-raked grooves of a zen garden
  • Outside In is a crafty piece of furniture that would look right at home in hospitality common spaces or even event halls

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

2. Lur

Lur is a furniture collection that includes pot planters which also double up as seating in the most organic manner. It was designed for Alki, a brand that is always seeking to collaborate with local businesses which makes it even more special because it unites distinct know-how and materials.

Why is it noteworthy?

To create the Lur collection, designer Iratzoki Lizaso went to Goicoechea Pottery and work with the local team. The pottery workshop is based in Ortzaize in Lower Navarre, just a few kilometers from Alki. The Goicoechea family has been working with terracotta for three generations. The materials used, the solid oak, and the clay from the Goicoechea family quarry are here entirely natural.

What we like

  • All the products have smooth curves and organic shapes featuring a warm aesthetic thanks to the choice of materials and CMF details
  • The collection is centered around the idea of plant pots that can work double duty as shelves and coffee tables

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

3. The Diag Desk

The Diag Desk is a minimalist, modern desk built to optimize desk space while incorporating storage elements like removable leather compartments. When it comes to desks, the simpler the better. Desks that are rooted in simplicity, either through a minimalist approach or by embracing Scandinavian aesthetics, typically offer a lot of practicality while maintaining a stripped-down design.

Why is it noteworthy?

Considering its minimalist build, more space can be devoted to the desk’s tabletop, where most of the desk’s purpose is reserved. The Diag Desk from Polish designer Marek Błażucki is one kind of minimalist design that integrates storage systems into its build, ensuring that users have ample desk space while still keeping their necessary stationery within arm’s reach.

What we like

  • Integrates ample storage systems into its build
  • Ensures stationery doesn’t fall off

What we dislike

  • There are a lot of visually similar desks on the market

4. Pagoda

Shanghai-based Stellar Works teamed up with American design studio Bassam Fellows to come up with an East meets West kind of chair that can fit your dining room, your office pantry, or your indie cafe.

Why is it noteworthy?

Pagoda is inspired by both the cafe culture in Shanghai during the 1920s and the cafe chairs from Vienna in the 19th century. Aside from the fact that it’s well-designed, it’s also pretty convenient to assemble it as there are only six parts in the package.

What we like

  • Inspired by the cantilevered, upward-curving gates of pagodas in Asia
  • You can choose from different finishes depending on the motif of your home or business space

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

5. The Plot Twist Bookshelf

PLOT TWIST Bookshelves

PLOT TWIST Bookshelf Concept

Prolific German furniture designer Deniz Aktay has recently introduced the Plot Twist Bookshelf. It’s a piece of furniture that features four separate twisted wooden elements. They are connected to each other, shaping and creating a stable form.

Why is it noteworthy?

The bookshelf’s design allows it to be accessed from every side. As with most of Deniz Aktay’s product designs, this bookshelf is oddly satisfying. The curves are present as with the designer’s other projects. In addition, most of Aktay’s works have undergone some bending or twisting, as with the Wavelet, the Tie Stool, and The Pet Table.

What we like

  • The shelves can accommodate similarly sized books for a clutter-free look
  • The bookshelf is stable and stands on its own

What we dislike

  • Space consuming design

6. Eleven

Eleven Desk Details

Concept Eleven Desk

Eleven isn’t just a number or that fictional character from a TV series. Eleven can soon be known as a special desk designed to make working from home more fun and productive.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Eleven Desk designed by Alberto Monteón can be a godsend. The industrial designer has considered his experience and needs as a creative professional. The desk is ideal for those who have a lot of stuff and needs some organizing to help them finish tasks on time. The desk looks sturdy with the table top’s thickness and the legs. It has enough areas for everything you need for work.

What we like

  • The table surface can accommodate your laptop, keyboard, monitor, and mouse. In addition, there is ample area for your books, documents, pens, and a mug
  • There are hooks where you can hang your bag and headphones, plus another level for more stuff

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

7. Acrobat

Acrobat is a multifunctional storage piece that combines the safekeeping components of an entryway table with the hanging function of a coatrack.

Why is it noteworthy?

As we continue to downsize our living spaces, the more multifunctional our furniture is, the better. Smaller spaces don’t necessarily have to mean less living space. Multifunctional furniture helps make more room for living while taking care of a lot of our household tasks. We usually have our own system of arranging EDC items like key rings, wallets, and phones. Entryway tables and coat racks usually take the brunt of those organizational needs, so finding multifunctionality in their design is key to keeping our homes decluttered. Acrobat, a multifunctional coat rack designed by João Teixeira, combines the storage components of an entryway table with those of a coat rack.

What we like

  • The metal tube tops can also be used to hang clothes or hats without the need for a hanger
  • The wooden hull that interlinks the beams offers a safe space to store EDC items like wallets, phones, and keyrings

What we dislike

  • Can occupy a substantial amount of space

8. The InsTable

InsTable Construction

InsTable Concept Design

The InsTable is a side table that you can easily move and transport. It can be easily carried and moved to a different place because you can grab the furniture and go. However, it really is unstable because it only comes with two legs. It can’t stand on its own as it needs to stand against a wall for support.

Why is it noteworthy?

This unique table may not always be reliable, but it can be the perfect conversation starter. It will definitely catch anyone’s attention with its unique form. Having just two legs doesn’t really require any permanent fix but this needs some form of physical support.

What we like

  • It works as a place for items that you want to be within easy reach

What we dislike

  • Can be an unstable design

9. The Cloth Coffee Table

Characterized by its curved bookstand that works as the table’s centerpiece, the Cloth coffee table’s curvy personality is echoed throughout its build. The bookstand also finds a balance between boldness and elegance, offering a weighty centerpiece that helps ground the coffee table, without dominating the available tablespace. Featuring softly bold elements like an undulating table edge that mimics the look of a live edge, the Cloth coffee table keeps a dynamic profile without dominating the room.

Why is it noteworthy?

Doing minimalism before it was cool, Japanese and Scandinavian share a lot of common design principles, including a focus on warmth, groundedness, and a subdued color scheme for an overall calming effect. With aim of merging these principles together to design Cloth, Teixeira hoped to find a “balance between boldness and elegance, depending on the angle.”

What we like

  • An artful blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies
  • The curved bookstand is a distinguishing feature

What we dislike

  • Weighty/bulky design

10. Hidden

 

Hidden is an unconventional litter box conceptualized to be inconspicuous by design and fit into any modern home. The hardest part of owning a cat has to be taking care of the litter box. Cats mostly fend for and take care of themselves, but we’re in charge of the litter. Litter boxes aren’t designed for aesthetics, so cat owners usually have to find inconspicuous spots to keep the litter box out of sight and out of mind.

Why is it noteworthy?

It’s never a cute look to have a litter box in the bathroom or even the basement, but our cats gotta go when they gotta go. Designers with the studio YUPD took it upon themselves to conceptualize a litter box called Hidden that’s discreet by design, so it can be placed anywhere in the house.

What we like

  • Discreet design
  • Inspired by interior design elements

What we dislike

  • It’s still a concept!

The post Top 10 furniture designs to infuse Japandi aesthetics into your modern home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Japandi-inspired Bathrooms designed to be the ultimate zen + de-stressing space you need in your home!

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Bathrooms are often ignored, but in all honesty, they shouldn’t. They’re the little alcoves we spend a substantial amount of our time in, carrying out our personal activities. And it’s probably the only time we’re ever truly alone! Instead of leaving our bathrooms to fend for themselves, it might be a good idea to transform them into intimate de-stressing zones. Add some Japandi-inspired aesthetics to the mix, and you have a space that not only calms, you also soothes your heal. If you’re looking for some inspiration to do that, then you’re at the right place! We’ve curated a collection of aesthetically pleasing, relaxing, and of course, super functional bathroom designs that will help you with your bathroom makeovers! Have fun revamping your personal bathroom space in true Japandi style!

Designed by McLean Quinlan Architects, the bathroom of the Jackson Hole House has the most stunning view ever! The effects of integrating a European chalet and an American cabin are noticed in the bathroom as well. A minimal white bathtub invites you in, while views of the lush surroundings lay in front of you. Sporting grey marble and brass knobs and showerhead, the shower area is an intimate space that smoothly connects with the bedroom.

Designed by Edson Corrêa, this beautiful and subtle bathroom design is Japandi minimalism at its peak! An etherial-like bathtub is placed against a backdrop of magenta flora and flaura. The lighting style of this bathroom creates an almost halo-ish effect, and it looks like relaxation heaven to me!

I love how this bathroom by Valley Acrylic Bath Ltd. has been harmoniously incorporated with the bedroom! A pearl white bathtub is placed against a wooden unit which most probably houses the TV system. Stepping out of a bath and into a bed has never been easier!

Japanese brand INAX has “reimagined the bathroom experience” with products that reflect the inherently Japanese qualities of being thoughtful, sophisticated, and minimal. “Japan is a country blessed with an abundance of water,” explained the bathroom manufacturer. “The Japanese have not only used water to live but have traditionally used it to reset one’s soul, believing that water has the power to wash away impurities,” they added. The entire bathroom carries this reverence, that is amplified by the presence of the tree and the lines repeated across the tiles – they bring to mind the bamboo walls preferred in the island country.

Titled Ethnic Minimalism, this interior design by Studio Light Design makes the most of the minimal bedroom with the surrounding views to enthrall you. Using stone and natural textures, this space uses black to create a stark yet minimal contrast to the entire room.

Sometimes all you need is some Japandi-style minimal. Boasting a black and white color palette with simple fixtures, this minimal bathroom by Nichba Design is one of my favorites!

This bathroom by Phương perfectly combines Japandi aesthetics with an almost rustic and raw theme! A minimal bathtub is placed on smooth white stones and faces a floor-to-ceiling window which gives a sneaky glimpse of what seems like an exquisite view! I love the rocky and rugged wall, and how it interestingly contrasts the otherwise subtle tone of the bathroom.

Pretty and petite! This clean white bathroom design with a gentle touch of flora and fauna by Timber Trails Homes is ideal for all the lovely ladies out there.

Designed by Nazar Tsymbaliuk, this Japandi-inspired bathroom has an exquisite ocean view! The rugged and raw bathtub, as well as the tiny pebbles that surround it add an almost gritty and exciting vibe to the entire space. However, the muted grey walls, and generous use of glass add a soft and minimal effect to the bathroom.

The Delve Group paired up geometric tiles in shades of grey with matte black bathroom fixtures to create a warm personal space. I would love to hop in there for a quick shower!

The post Japandi-inspired Bathrooms designed to be the ultimate zen + de-stressing space you need in your home! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Japanese A-frame structure looks like a cozy Ghibli movie home got a modern yet minimal makeover!

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Japanese architecture is the epitome of minimalism and warmth, especially when it takes shape as an A-frame cabin. The Japanese culture and lifestyle have many deep-rooted practices about reducing waste, using only what you need, and living with essentials but not necessarily without luxury. All of these elements are seen in Hara House, an A-frame cabin that is all about minimizing your footprint, being efficient, and using as little material as possible. It was designed for a young couple who wanted a new home in a small agricultural village about four hours north of Tokyo that would restore the fading communal connection that they were witnessing.

Hara House is built out of 5-inch square timbers set 6 feet apart. A tent-like white steel rooftop the home mixes private spaces with a semipublic, open-air living and dining area – a stiff, yet giving structure that assimilates all human behaviors. “The estate already contained an assemblage of buildings and farmland that depended on one another. Our design direction was to create a home that revitalized these on-site structures and had the potential to adapt to new functions as the need or mood changed,” explains architect Takayuki Shimada.

The A-frame structure draped over a rectangular interior volume was the solution to create that semi-public space the couple desired. A set of parallel glass doors in the central living/dining room allows air to flow through the home and connect the residents with neighbors passing along the adjacent street. Instead of a traditional self-reliant building, Hara House is a space where workshops, meetings, and events can spill out onto the land and open the home to the village.

Two parallel pitches expose the central living and dining room to the outside air via sliding glass doors. The low openings give the impression of a tent that’s been propped up to reveal what’s going on inside and is reminiscent of older Japanese architecture. An open space on one side of the structure serves as an entrance and an informal gathering spot for the community while the covered, veranda-like spaces on both sides provide shady areas to sit and relax. The heart of Hara House is the large living/dining area that simple radiates warmth!

At one end of the first floor, a small bedroom and a bathroom create a private living area for the family. There is a loft area above that features a cozy workspace. The sleeping zone is on the first floor which has a spacious master bedroom. Interiors feature minimalist shelves for storage and a large pane of glass brightens the space as well as the loft above. Hara House’s high ceiling creates the traditional tent-like vibe, while the raised platform serves as seating as well as additional storage space.

“We started our design by conceptualizing the building as incomplete. The home should invite people from the village to utilize it, thus becoming part of the community. By establishing this type of architecture, with its blank canvas, a space is born that establishes itself as an attraction of interest and activity,” says Shimada. Hara House looks like a house from a Ghibli movie but with a modern makeover that doesn’t strip the magic from a wooden A-frame structure. It is reminiscent of a glowing lantern in the night that welcomes the community into a safe space.

Designer: Takeru Shoji Architects

The post This Japanese A-frame structure looks like a cozy Ghibli movie home got a modern yet minimal makeover! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This furniture collection also doubles up as pot planters with an ultimate Japandi vibe!

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After spending 99% of my time at home in the last two years, I have naturally developed a keen eye for good furniture designs. My preferred style is Japandi or Scandanavian design because I love their minimal aesthetic, functionality, and evergreen pieces – all of which I see in Lur! It is a furniture collection that includes pot planters which also double up as seating in the most organic manner. It was designed for Alki, a brand that is always seeking to collaborate with local businesses which makes it even more special because it unites distinct know-how and materials.

To create the Lur collection, designer Iratzoki Lizaso went to Goicoechea Pottery and work with the local team. The pottery workshop is based in Ortzaize in Lower Navarre, just a few kilometers from Alki. The Goicoechea family has been working with terracotta for three generations. The materials used, the solid oak, and the clay from the Goicoechea family quarry are here entirely natural.

The collection consists of planters and a bistro table. They all have smooth curves and organic shapes featuring a warm aesthetic thanks to the choice of materials and CMF details. It is minimal, timeless, and can work equally well for homes, offices, and public spaces. The idea of ​​being able to vegetate our interiors with pots that are also low tables or seating participates in the creation of living and changing arrangements. These terracotta containers with an eccentric hole on the upper part, house flower pots that allow many unique and artistic compositions that can change the look and feel of a space!

Alki, the pottery team, and Iratzoki Lizaso enjoyed bringing together different craft skills to create Lur. The collection is centered around the idea of plant pots that can work double duty as shelves and coffee tables that add an extra dose of greenery to our spaces. Everything is bio-sourced and made with the intention to work universally as well as for a long time. The clay is transformed into a beautiful rose terracotta with a distinct texture with an off-center opening ready to hold flower pots and plants. The Lur range shows beauty in simplicity while doubling the functionality with minimal design!

Desinger: Iratzoki Lizaso

This folding chair is inspired by origami and can be literally hung like clothes on a hanger!

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Chair designs are the first category designers are told to explore because it is simple and yet the smallest of tweaks can make it innovative. Also, let’s accept it – you never get tired of looking at new chair designs! It could be a new material, a bold shape, maybe it has a dual purpose or something like KERF – a space-saving chair that you can literally hang up like clothing!

It can be called a stool or a chair, but KERF gives the otherwise rigid object warmth and flexibility. You can literally put it on a hanger and store it like clothing in a wardrobe which makes it stand out from its counterparts. When needed, simply open the fold and you can get a setup ready for your guests in a few seconds.

The intention was to enrich plywood, make it flexible and fold it like it was paper for origami art. KERF has been designed for small living spaces and for practicality, it is perfect for those living in urban apartments or shared spaces. It reminds me of Japandi style furniture or Scandinavian home decor with its warm and minimal aesthetics.

The unique chair gets its name from the technique of kerfing – it is the method of bending plywood by patterned cutting. It is only good for doing it once to achieve the desired curvature, but not suitable for repetitive, long-term bending because that would cause the veneer layer to crack. The kerfing technique can be optimized for the CNC milling process to save production time and cost.

The mood board for the project shows bending plywood with kerfing, flat-pack laser cut furniture, folding chairs, and interlocking leather belts – all of these come together in the final design as details. The chair us.es kerfing, the hinges are made from leather, it can be compactly packed and it has an origami-like silhoutte.

To make sure it was durable yet flexible, Hamza decided to use thick leather instead of hinges. This detail lets KERF withstand repetitive bending cycles while the alternative hinge (leather) can outlast the traditional hinge making it a piece of furniture that stays with you in the long run (its moving-friendly too!). KERF is definitely a wonderful example of how chairs can be simple while still adding on to the existing form and function!

Designer: Hamza Bavčić

This prefab tiny home is made sustainably from cross-laminated timber & gives major Japandi vibes!

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Prefabricated architecture minimizes construction waste, reduces carbon footprint, and has a quicker turnaround than a traditional home. Minima is a 215-square-foot (20-square-meter) prefab module designed to be a flexible structure to serve as a standalone tiny home or as an additional unit in the backyard that can be used as a home office or spacious guest house. It is constructed with CLT (cross-laminated timber) which is a sustainable material and cuts down on the carbon emissions that concrete produces. The modern micro-home is giving me major Japandi vibes!

The boxy exterior is clad with a skin of cypress battens and a steel roof which maintains its minimal look. The unit has a streamlined, modern profile that still feels warm and human-centric. The facade opens up with hardwood-framed glass doors that can slide over to reveal its Scandinavian and Japandi-inspired interior. It can be partially closed off with a hardwood-encased screen door or a translucent curtain.

Australian studio TRIAS designed the unit in collaboration with prefab manufacturer FABPREFAB. The aim was to not only make architecturally designed homes more accessible and affordable but to make prefabs more widely appealing. “We did a lot of research into the Australian and overseas markets. In Australia, the emphasis tends to be on low cost, whereas in Europe the emphasis is on quality and longevity. This aligns perfectly with the philosophy of our practice. We wanted to create something consciously good quality, but also to explore how to make a prefab house not look like a prefab,” says Jennifer McMaster, Director of TRIAS.

Minima doesn’t need a concrete foundation and instead uses a special type of ground screw that can ease relocation if necessary which heavily reduces the impact on the construction site’s surroundings. Since it is a modular design, you can add an extra module in a T-formation to double the area. The impressive prefab home could fit almost anywhere there might be open space creating more opportunities to build accessible and affordable communities that can be scaled.

The compact floor area is divided into various zones that group different functions together. For instance, “wet” areas like the kitchen and bathroom are on one side of the micro-house while the living and sleeping areas are concentrated into one flexible zone in the center of the home.





The interior walls, ceiling, and floor are covered with lots of cross-laminated timber (CLT) – a sustainable engineered wood product that involves layers of fast-growth timber that are glued perpendicular to each other, resulting in a structurally robust and fire-resistant material that not only looks good but is also perfect for prefabrication.





Everything in the home has been intentionally made to look seamless.”Keeping all the joints and lines as simple and seamless as possible is important in a small space. We’ve lived in tiny apartment spaces, so we know how critical those lines are in making a space feel larger,” adds Jonathon Donnelly, Director at TRIAS.





In the living area, there is plenty of built-in furniture to help save maximize space, like this integrated seating bench, which also has storage space tucked below and above. Right in the center, there’s a wall-to-floor cabinet that actually has a bed, table, and shelving integrated inside. During the day, the bed can be folded away, and a multifunctional table pulled out for eating or working on. At night, the bed can be pulled down to reveal a sizeable queen mattress, as well as lighting and storage behind.





The kitchen features a pared-down countertop that has all the essentials of the sink, stove, oven, range hood, concealed refrigerator, and plenty of storage. Cross-ventilation is helped along with the addition of another small door off to the side of the kitchen, and which also functions as a secondary entrance. There is a bathroom behind the kitchen and past a pocket door. The slate-gray tiles, in combination with the CLT cabinets, create a soothing, calming atmosphere, lit with help of a skylight over the shower.





“Something that’s always stuck with us is a finding from a 2018 Grattan Institute report into Australian cities: ‘The quickest way to double density is to add something small to every existing block.’ Small insertions can help retain the suburban character while adding enormously to social cohesion and housing,” says the team and that wonderful sentiment is what we need right now to guide us away from skyscrapers and towards sustainable architecture.

Designer: TRIAS

Scandinavian and Japanese interior designs come together to prove Japandi is not just a passing trend!

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I’m sure you’ve come across the term ‘Japandi’. It’s been gaining a lot of momentum and popularity recently, so let’s dive a little deeper into it. An amalgamation of the words Japanese and Scandinavian, Japandi is an interior design trend that marries Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. It is the artful blending of both Japanese and Scandinavian design. Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality are merged together to create a style that makes a space minimal without it being cold. Japandi-style spaces are warm, neutral, and comforting, and are smartly integrated with natural materials, craftsmanship, as well as calming color palettes. If this is an interior trend that resonates with you, and you would like to integrate it within your home, then you’re at the right place! We’ve curation a collection of interiors designs that are aesthetically pleasing, wholly functional, and truly Japandi.

Designed by Norm Architects, Archipelago Home is a holiday home that embodies both Scandinavian and Japanese design philosophies. A neutral theme of creams, greys, and whites is maintained throughout the home, with light wood furniture providing the ultimate Japandi finishing touch.

Located in Tokyo, the Inua Restaurant perfectly merges Scandivanian and Japanese aesthetics as well. Designed by OED Studio, the restaurant features Danish cabinetry and Japanese-style gardens. Danish timber floorboards are accentuated by the presence of a grid pattern on the ceiling. This intriguing pattern was inspired by the Japanese Tatami mats and their unique arrangement.

Japanese furniture brand Ariake organized an exhibition at the former Mexican embassy in Stockholm. Several designers from all over the globe took part in it. Clean wooden furniture perfectly complemented the textured and crumbling walls and ceilings. The authentic and ancient craftsmanship of Japan displayed in the stunning pieces was further accentuated by the raw and rustic Scandinavian architecture of the location.

Magdalena Keck designed this holiday home in the Catskill Mountains. Keck infused Japanese minimalism and Danish design, along with a touch of American crafts for the interiors of this home. Wooden floors, Danish furniture designs, Japanese pottery, and aspen wall cladding were used to create a home that feels very Japandi.

Design Studio Daytrip renovated this East London home. They transformed it into a serene and tranquil space by adding white-washed walls, cabinetry crafted from Douglas fir wood, and neutral-colored pieces of furniture. A palette of pale off-whites was maintained on most of the surfaces in the home. It’s a modern and urban living space inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics.

HAF Studio designed this Japanese burger restaurant Yuzu in Reykjvík. Interestingly, even the interiors are a fusion…of Japanese and Nordic design. Raw natural materials which are seen in Nordic design such as concrete bricks, Douglas fir flooring, and yellow glass were used. Concrete walls left in their raw natural state, and uncolored wooden furniture add a sense of Japanese minimalism to the restaurant.

Norm Architects derived inspiration from both Scandinavian and Japanese design to create this workspace for Kinfolk magazine in Copenhagen. Wood, plaster, and glass were used to create an open and harmonious space, where people can move about freely. Muted and somber tones added a minimal touch, making the space feel less formal and more comforting.

Pan-Projects and Mok Architects combined Nordish and Japanese aesthetics to design Izumi in Copenhagen. The Japanese restaurant features interiors typically seen in Japanese restaurants such as translucent doors, as well as Nordish design such as the generous use of oak.

Designed by LA-based Working Holiday Studio, Casa Mami is a holiday home located in Pioneertown, California. The designers drew inspiration from Scandinavian and Japanese designs for the interiors of the home. Beige walls, grey floors, and minimal and muted furniture pieces create a very Japandi-style home.

The Pantechnicon Store in London was renovated by the architecture firm Farrells for almost five years. Wooden detailing, green plants, as well as a Nordish restaurant and a Japanese cafe create a space that is deeply influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese culture.