Japanese furniture has been around for many years. Many Japanese furniture brands offer unique products laced with elements of Japanese culture. They are also guaranteed to elevate your home.
Most of traditional Japanese furniture is designed with the concepts of balance and simplicity in mind. It is also very simple and functional, while also managing to be very creative at the same time. There is a wide variety of elements of furniture with unique architecture and atypical designs in the Japanese realm that you cannot find anywhere else.
If you are looking for Japanese style furniture, it is important to look at the different aesthetics offered by each brand. The Japanese design style is so intricate and varied that you cannot possibly find everything in one store. Each store has a different design style and a way of expressing themselves through their products, and it is impossible for each brand to speak to you and your unique taste. Some of the major commonalities when it comes to Japanese furniture is that it is elegant, flexible, built to save space, and tranquil. Most of these furniture pieces are made of natural materials like wood, few decorative materials and in some cases the focus is more on outdoor spaces or drawing inspiration from them.
The following are some of the well-known quality Japanese furniture brands.
Japanese Furniture Brands
IKEA
IKEA is one of the most popular Japanese stores worldwide. It was founded in 1943.They are designed in a warehouse-like space, and the décor in the store itself represents the vibe and culture of the products they offer. They describe themselves a s a global home furnishing brand that bring affordability, design and comfort to people all over the world – and they do just that. They started off as a business catalogue business, and now they are a worldwide furniture chain producing the most contemporary and functional furniture that complements simple and modern interior design styles.
You can find housewares, furniture and sometimes ready to assemble ones, and different home décor pieces. Things like closets, cabinets, living room showcases, vanity closets, lighting and school materials are all available at IKEA. Lastly, they are known for their IKEA café and famous meatballs, so you are guaranteed to get something good out of your IKEA run.
Haiku
Haiku is a brand that is dedicated to helping their customers create the perfect Asian-inspired home. They have all the elements to help you create a perfect room or home that embodies balance, simplicity, relaxation and ease. From minimalistic paintings to small décor, they have it all. In addition, Haiku also values being one with the environment. Their products not only embody the beauty of nature, but are also manufactured with regard to the environment. Some examples of such products include their all-natural latex mattresses and organic sheets.
Hida furniture
Hida is one of the old furniture brands that still exist today. In started in 1920 within the forests of Takayama within the Japanese Alps by producing chairs. Their origin was actually very difficult because they were trying to establish new ways of making use of timber without appropriate technology. Today, they are considered very unique because they have been specialized for a long time and have become masters of the chair industry, making products and tackling challenges that other brands have failed to tackle. Because of their lasting existence, they are unique in many ways. They have used different materials and resources in the past to try to perfect their craft. So, when you shop at Hida, you know that what you will get is legitimate. They started off just selling classic chairs and other furniture. But now that they have expanded a lot more, Hida has taken on to making green manufacturing products and commodities while simultaneously still promoting their classic chairs.
Maruni
Maruni started off as a woodworking company back in 1928. Since then, they have grown so much to becoming one of the leading Japanese furniture brands. Maruni is mainly specialized in wood furniture and houseware. They were actually the ones who established the technique of bentwood crafting which was actually considered to be one of the more difficult techniques in the art of furniture production, and they are still known for using unique methods like artificial wood drying. Essentially, they are the pioneers of quite a few things in their industry. Because of their growth and expansion, Maruni of course have adapted some elements of Western design. However, they are still committed to linking all their products to traditional Japanese origin. If you are looking for a modern take on traditional Japanese furniture, then Maruni is definitely the store for you. Their main aim is to bring western furniture to Japan, while still retaining the core Japanese values and aesthetics.
Mujirushi
Muji, or Mujirushi Ryohin, is also a big brand that sells more than just home furniture. They started in 1980 and have a very distinct minimalistic style to all their products. This can be seen in their line of furniture, home appliances and stationery. Their products are very simple and craftly and because of that, they do not even have to put their brand name or logo on their products. The products themselves attract people. One additional key feature of Muji is their emphasis on negative space, which is also a core traditional Japanese belief. They are a simple and minimalist brand, and a lot of their products come from a very rational manufacturing process. Today, they are one of the biggest retailers in the market.
What is Japanese style furniture?
Japanese furniture reflects so much of Japanese culture. Some people argue that it does so more than any other country. Most of the houseware originating from Japanese culture is simple, minimalistic and elegant. Every object is functional and serves a specific purpose. This is because the Japanese believe in the idea of ma or negative space, which is why they leave many of their houses so spacious. So, some furniture that you would find that reflects this idea are mats, low tables and stools, and rounded edges.
The Japanese pay close attention to their tradition, the incorporation of nature, a lot of open spaces, minimalism and natural light in most of their traditional homes. Their architecture as well has unique style and craftsmanship that not only allows them to stand out in a western-dominated architectural world, but also maximizes comfort and functionality for the users themselves. The beauty about the Japanese furniture style is that it goes beyond more than just aesthetics and convenience. Different concepts, beliefs and values of the Japanese people are incorporated into their houses, architecture, furniture design and their view of a ‘home’. Want to know more about the different elements of Japanese furniture style and culture? Read on.
Table
In Japanese style, the tables are commonly low. These tables are usually used during meals and sometimes social interactions. The low height is actually of cultural significance to the Japanese. These tables are usually wooden, set over a Tatami mat and surrounded by soft cushions. It is a long-held belief that such a sitting style improves posture. At the same time, this setup strengthens the family and cultural bond between people because it emphasizes collective eating and interaction. In addition to the setup, shoes are not allowed around the table because it is an eating place. In general, there is a lot of cultural significance behind the Japanese low-heighted tables.
Table
In Japanese style, the tables are commonly low. These tables are usually used during meals and sometimes social interactions. The low height is actually of cultural significance to the Japanese. These tables are usually wooden, set over a Tatami mat and surrounded by soft cushions. It is a long-held belief that such a sitting style improves posture. At the same time, this setup strengthens the family and cultural bond between people because it emphasizes collective eating and interaction. In addition to the setup, shoes are not allowed around the table because it is an eating place. In general, there is a lot of cultural significance behind the Japanese low-heighted tables.
Lantern
Traditional Japanese lanterns, or Toro, are made of stone, metal or wood. They are widely used in homes, temples, parks and gardens. They essentially represent nature and its elements. Different parts or sections of the lantern represent a different element, like earth, water and fire. Outside the house, lanterns bring a special atmosphere to the environment. Inside the house, they bring a special flare to the place. The most common type of Japanese lantern though, is the chōchin. It is a traditional lantern or lamp made of a frame of split bamboo covered with silk or paper. These lanterns are usually hung up on a hook or pole, and can take on different designs, from the simplest plan designs to ones with very intricate artistic patterns. They are the types of lanterns that can be seen outside of shops or businesses or during special Japanese festivals.
Futon
A futon is a Japanese traditional thin rectangular style of mattress or bedding. It is comprised of three things; the shikibuton or the spreading futon, the kakebuton or the duvet and the makura or the pillow. Futons are usually laid on Tatami mats to increase comfort. Futons are thick enough to lay in comfortably but are also able to be folded and put away for during the day. This complies with the general idea of negative space valued by the Japanese because the rooms that were used as bedrooms during the night can be used for other purposes like dining or for social events. There are several claimed benefits of futons over normal beds and mattresses. Some specialists claim that they provide slight resistance from the floor which helps to strengthen the joints and straighten posture. In addition, futons are arguably more hygienic than classic mattresses because they can be washed and hung out to dry. Other claimed benefits include saving space and money as well as their durability. Over the years of course the popularity of futons has lessened, and there is a new generation of futons from the west. Futons that are made in the west resemble sofa beds but still embody the same characteristics of comfort as the traditional futons.
Tatami
Tatami is a type of mat-type flooring used in classic Japanese homes. They are primarily made of materials like hemp or cotton. The more modern versions are sometimes made of things like compressed woodchip boards and foam. Tatamis are edged with plain cloth or decorative fabric. They are less common in modern Japanese households, but still bring a huge element of culture when you have one in your home. The standard size of a Tatami is 88 cm x 176 cm in Tokyo. This may vary from place to place.
Traditionally, Tatami was the most common type of flooring in Japanese style homes and living spaces. However, in the more recent years, in some places they are limited to one or two rooms in the house and in others a Tatami is just a small rug placed on the floor. The traditional purpose of Tatami was more of a thematic one; during social events in Japan people would get together and sit on a Tatami since shoes are not allowed and most of their furniture is low heighted anyway. Over the past few decades, this purpose has been evolving of course. Another primary purpose is to adjust to temperature differences. During cold season when the floor is cold, Tatami provides an extra layer of insulation to keep everybody warm. Similarly, during the hot season, Tatami is there to provide a slightly cooler surface. Tatami these days provide more of a decorative and identification purpose for the most part, because of the widespread incorporation of the style even in households that are not primarily Japanese.
What is Japanese interior design style?
Zen: The art of creating peace and calmness through Furniture
A term that comes to mind when you think of Japanese culture is the term Zen. Zen essentially means the search for meaning that is expressed through simplicity. It is not only a principle of peace and simplicity, but also a way of life. The history of the concept of Zen dates back to thousands of years ago. As a way of life, it is considered and incorporated into every aspect of Japanese culture and lifestyle, including how they design their homes. When it comes to interior design, Zen subscribes to a minimalistic philosophy; use of natural materials, simple designs, little or no patterns, lots of natural light, open spaces and little to no clutter. A home that embodies Zen is calm, simple, spacious and beautiful. The appearance and energy of the home translates to the energy that is transmitted by those that live in it. This is why Zen is so important, because as a way of life, it is a part of every single element of the Japanese culture and lifestyle. Some specific design aspects that speak to Zen include the use of shoji windows to allow natural lighting and privacy and tranquility at the same time, traditional plants, hand-woven materials, large bathtubs, low height furniture and a lot of homemade or hand-woven materials.
Another important element of Zen incorporated within designing living spaces is the belief of imperfection. This is a concept that explains that we need to learn to accept the world as it is in order to avoid stress and disappointment. This is known as wabi-sabi to be specific, essentially meaning a blend of normality and imperfection. Again, such Zen concepts go way beyond just interior designing – they are principles that are guiding people’s lifestyles and cultures. As mentioned earlier, the more these elements of Zen are incorporated into different parts of one’s lifestyle, the more likely and easily they are to incorporate and internalize it into their mindsets as well.
The following are some of the things that are considered important if one seeks to achieve Zen within the home.
Simplicity and quietness in interior décor
A key component of Japanese style living spaces is simplicity. Nothing should be overdone or overused. The collection of all the different elements of design and décor should in the end create a very simple and quiet living space that provides nothing but comfort. Embrace minimalism, use light colours, incorporate nature and prioritize functionality. All of these features are design to create a final product of a living space that generates peace and calmness for the inhabitants. In Japanese style of design, the space in the room as well as all the materials in the room are of equal importance. In order to create a simple space, it is advised that everything should be functional – it should be at the right place in the right time with a specific purpose – and clutter should be minimized – including décor. You can also incorporate more structure in the design and the flow of the space. The goal here is to achieve that aesthetically pleasing appearance while also making it a simple and peaceful space to be in.
Lighting
In Japanese style, natural light is preferred. There are plenty of sources of natural light, which is diffused into the interior to make it more spacious and breathable. The designs of the houses themselves are built to optimize the entrance and diffusion of natural light. There are big windows, large spaces accentuated by sliding doors and dividers, and in the case of conveniences many of these houses are built in a way that is oriented towards availability of sunlight throughout the day.
Fun fact, natural light is considered a human right in Japan. So, it only makes sense that so many, if not all Japanese style homes, incorporate natural lighting into their home layout.
Not only does it prioritize access to natural light, but Japanese interior design style also takes the diffusion of this light into account. Realistically, not every room in the house gets the ideal amount of sunlight, so through elements like shoji screens, such light is being distributed a little more evenly.
This is not to say that such style of design does not use artificial lights – Japanese furniture design style is a modern style after all. However, they take a slightly different approach. When artificial lights are used, it is very sparingly, and they are mostly complimented by the use of natural materials like papers and fibers.
Natural fabrics and natural elements
Traditional Japanese furniture style really values using natural materials in the home. This is because it brings a feeling of connectedness with nature as well as calmness within the home. Some natural materials used include fine woods, bamboo, silk, rice straw mats and paper. Adding natural elements adds landscape and dimension, but also makes the space look more elegant.
Many Japanese homes have materials made of wood, sometimes with an oil finish to boost texture, bamboo frames, translucent panels to allow for natural lighting to come in and the presence of traditional plants like Bonsai. Many of their furniture pieces are made of natural materials with processed or artificial materials being very sparse. Tatami mats, shoji screens, their classic low tables all make ample use of natural fabric and materials. Some of these furniture pieces are actually hand woven.
There can also be other non-exotic plants, but the idea is to sort of bring nature into the home since in the Japanese culture nature is very important, essentially as a way of people to connect with the world. In an attempt to bring nature into the home, a key strategy to implement is to bring as many natural plants into the house as possible without compromising space. In addition, you can bring in smaller plants inside vessels, and play with natural tones like greens, browns and beiges to bring a sense of nature and coziness inside.
Minimalistic Ideas
Minimalism is almost an identifying factor when it comes to any Japanese inspired home. It is important to have as few things as possible with an uncluttered appearance. Even decorations are not overused. This creates more negative space and calmness within the home.
A surefire way to appear more minimalistic is the use of white and light tones within the space. This makes it brighter and brings in more light, making the space feel and look a little bigger. As a result, automatically, things will feel a little less cluttered and it will feel a little more spacious. In order to maximize minimalism in a Japanese style home, every element in the living space needs to have a purpose. Any décor should be minimal, and if there are any cabinets or accessories, they should take up as little space and occupy as little things as possible. To implement this strategy, you can opt for furniture that serves storage as well as decorative purposes, but also keeps items (like shoes and accessories) out of sight. This way, you are getting the best of both worlds.
Have signature pieces
Japanese culture has many elements that can be incorporated into the home to make it a little more special. Since most of their furniture is unlike others around the world, it is easy to make it a signature piece in a modern home. Adding elements like a large lantern, a signature low table or iconic painting is going to guarantee compliments from everyone who visits.
The key purpose of signature Japanese pieces within the home is to first, identify and tether the individual’s home to the Japanese culture. The Japanese are a collectivistic culture therefore have great integration systems to their traditions and practices, so signature pieces are not uncommon for inhabitants of Japan or even those living abroad that want to incorporate elements of Japanese culture into their homes. The second reason is that Japanese décor draws inspiration from the culture and its elements of design to create something iconic that is guaranteed to elevate the living space. For example, simple bamboo panels or a classic cast iron kettle made from old crafting methods; these are iconic pieces that are not typical or essential, but are guaranteed to give that extra touch to the space and slightly juxtapose the simplicity of it.
Choice of color
The choice of colour in Japanese home mostly tends to gravitate towards natural tones and tints. To tie together the whole idea of nature and simplicity, the best colours used are those of natural materials. So the use of materials like bamboo, paper and wood all contribute to the development of the colour palette of the entire space. On occasions where there is any use of unnatural colours, such colours tend to be fairly muted or subdued tones. Examples of these are blacks, off-whites, grey and brown. The idea is to incorporate simplicity, minimalism and nature into the home, so there is no reason to go for loud or flashy tones that will most likely be inconsistent with the theme of the rest of the space but is also not representative of the typical design style of the Japanese. On the other hand, however, there are colours that are representative of the four seasons of the year, that can sometimes be used in the home. These are mostly expressed in wa-fu designs, and each colour has its meaning. Not straying too far from Japanese culture’s affinity for nature, these colours also evoke the ideas and impressions of natural objects like plants and animals. The only difference here is that the wa-fu designs may be a little brighter and less muted, but they still represent elements of nature in their own unique way.
Some of the wa-fu colours include the following;
Hana A Sagi, the light blue of flowers;
Uguisu Iro, the colour of nightingale;
Kakitsubata, the colour of iris;
Kikuchiba Iro, the colour of withered leaves;
Ebizome, the colour of grapes;
Akacha Iro, the colour of red tea;
Budou Nezumi, the colour of a grape-coloured mouse;
Kogecha Iro, the colour of pan-fired tea
Focus on comfort
A lot of the Japanese style furniture is functional and comfortable. Their classic low tables are complimented with sitting on the floor or adding a tatami or any other soft surface under the table to sit on. Most of their hand made mats and bedding are made of comfortable soft material like cotton and rice paper straw. The entirety of their spaces is usually simple and calm. Another common feature is shoji – paper screens which separate rooms or parts of a room for the sake of privacy. As a modest culture, comfort, privacy and peace are highly important. Together with the presence of natural light, plants, very few things in the space in general and light and simple or subdued colours, comfort becomes achievable quite easily. In its totality, the cumulative comfort created by the whole Zen idea is very evident in the layout of Japanese furniture.
When considering the type of style that you want to embody, whether you belong to the Japanese culture or not, it is important to assess the factors that speak to you. What are your absolute wants, and what are your deal breakers? What vision do you have for your living space? Is it elegant? Traditional? Is it tied to a certain colour scheme? You also need to assess if you want specific values or meaningful elements embodied in your living space. Are there cultural elements you want to display? Is it for décor or is it because they are personal to you? Do you want to display aspects of your personal life like pictures or awards? Or do you just want it to be an expression of your style?
Once you have the general idea or outline of your living space in mind, it is very easy to decide on the elements that you want and those that you do not want. If you choose to go with Japanese style furniture and interior design styles, there is still more to figure out because there simply isn’t one Japanese style aesthetic.
For Japanese Furniture, Try Buyee
The journey for a better home life and stylish furniture doesn’t have to end here! Proxy shopping services like Buyee allow for you to easily search for any Japanese piece of Japanese-designed decor. Check out more via the link below!
