Japandi style living room: furnish your living room step by step
Japandi style is currently the favourite of interior design enthusiasts. Born from the Scandinavian home trend and enriched with Japanese influences, it is a style of living that became incredibly popular in a short time. And that's not surprising: Japandi combines the warmth and cosiness of Scandinavia with the peace and balance of Japan. The result is an interior that looks orderly, yet remains inviting and cosy.
Curious how you translate this into your own interior? With just four steps you can easily furnish your living room according to the Japandi style.
First: what is Japandi?
Where does the Japandi style actually come from? The answer is in the name: Japandi is a mix of Japanese Wabi-Sabi and Scandinavian Hygge. Two home worlds that seem far apart at first glance, but come together surprisingly well.
- From Scandinavia: light and fresh living, soft tones, cosy details and a feeling of cosiness (hygge).
- From Japan: simplicity and minimalism, natural materials, attention to balance and serenity (wabi-sabi).
By combining these elements, a style of living emerges that looks orderly and calm, but never cold or empty. The idea behind Japandi is deceptively simple: choose fewer items, but make sure each item adds the right value. So you can understand why Japandi is not just a trend, but a conscious way of living.
How do you furnish your living room in Japandi style?
With these four steps you can easily bring the Japandi style into your living room; from the right colours to the rug that brings furniture together and provides the basis for balance.
Step 1: Choose a neutral base
Always start with the walls. In a Japandi living room you avoid pure white and choose warm neutral tones such as cream, beige, sand or greige (a mix of grey and beige). This immediately gives the walls a soft look and provides the basis for the style. Do you want more depth, then paint one wall in terracotta, moss green or olive green. For contrast use black or charcoal grey, subtly applied in, for example, a skirting board or window frame. This way you create the calm base you need to furnish the rest of the room.
Step 2: Work with natural materials
Once the wall colours are in place, it's time to choose furniture and materials. In Japandi everything revolves around natural textures that bring peace and warmth. Think of a sofa made of linen or cotton, an armchair in bouclé or a woollen rug for extra softness. For tables and cabinets, light wood such as oak or ash works well for a fresh look, while dark walnut or black wood emphasises the Japanese depth. Accessories made of ceramic, stone or rattan add extra layers and complete the whole. By combining materials, such as wood with linen or stone with wool, you create an interior that is understated yet rich in atmosphere.
Step 3: Less is more
With the base and materials in place, the next step is: remove what is not necessary. Excess doesn't fit Japandi. Let the rug form the base and at most add a plaid or a few cushions. Ask yourself whether you really need more to create warmth and atmosphere. Often it is precisely the empty space that creates balance. This gives the room breathing room and makes your living room feel inviting, without becoming cluttered.
Step 4: Add texture with a rug
In Japandi, texture is the key to adding warmth and layering. A Japandi rug forms the base of the seating area, brings furniture together and softens the space. Ask yourself: do you want warmth and comfort, then choose a woollen carpet; if you prefer a bold, natural look, then a jute rug works better. Completely Japandi is an organic rug, which subtly breaks through straight lines. This creates the balance that characterises the Japandi style.
