October 9, 2024

Best Japanese Bedroom Decorations Ideas: How To Style

Minute Read

Japanese bedroom decorations are known for creating a tranquil space—the perfect remedy for a hectic lifestyle. 

A Japanese-style bedroom will definitely make you feel peaceful, relaxed, and as though you’re in some exclusive retreat, right in the heart of nature. 

The style itself keeps it very simple and minimalist.

It also re-uses imperfect or old elements, in a unique wabi-sabi (わびさび) style.

In today's blog post, we'll explore how you can use Japanese bedroom decorations to give your sleeping area a Zen-vibe!

Love Japan content? Also check out Best Japan Hotel for 2024: Ryokan Hotels In Tokyo and Best Japanese Luxury Car Brands In 2024 and How To Make Your Home Smell Good: 17 Amazing Ways From Japan !

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Wabi-Sabi, Japandi, Zen

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Wabi-Sabi, Japandi, Zen

Understanding Japanese Bedroom Aesthetics

"Less is more," the famous design principle, is really what minimalist design is all about—living better with less. 

Minimalist design tends to prioritize only what is needed, so built spaces—whether it be a home, an office, or a commercial business—are extremely functional and simplified.

One guarantee in a minimalist space: it will be altogether calming and zen-like due to its extreme organization and lack of clutter. 

Clean lines mean calm, as there's likely a place for everything, and therefore, everything is in its place (think #StoreGraphicProduce), making it an ideal design style for living and working quarters for two reasons.

First, it absolutely accommodates the busy, sometimes unpredictable and chaotic work from home life so many of us are trying to grapple with working parents in a pandemic; and second, there's really no room for any unnecessary clutter, cables included. 

This clutter-free aspect of minimalism helps create a sense of tranquility and order, which ultimately has a positive impact on a person's peace of mind, and in turn, their productivity.

While some people despise it (#NoOneAskedUs), we appreciate the pairing of minimalist design with organic and inorganic nature—in all of its forms. 

Given how cold and rigid minimalist furniture and form can be, pairing it with design that is more organic gives off a much more inviting, homey vibe.

A typically neutral color palette allows the minimalist designer to make the most out of different design elements and principles, such as color, texture, form, and space while helping to avoid visual clutter. This calming, homogeneous backdrop welcomes and is in fact complemented by otherwise unassuming, highly visible places for occasional pops.

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11/08/2024 07:22 am GMT

Key Elements of a Traditional Japanese Bedroom

Tatami mats (たたみ) and futon beds are symbolic of the Japanese aesthetic towards space and comfort. Tatami mats are made from rice straw and covered with an exquisitely crafted, soft rush-structure grass. The woven tatami that we all remember from woven rush mats continues on into flooring. 

This is nothing if not a logical response to wanting to optimize living conditions. 

Tatami mats are very pleasing to the eyes of simply natural, and the rice “marshy” texture is enjoyable to the human experience.

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For many, the futon is a cultural shock when they are first introduced to Japanese culture. 

But the futon overcomes the shock value with bringing a simple solution––versatility. 

By using the room for multi-purposed activities such as yoga and recreational activities for family and personal exercises, these are luxuries un-afforded with the Western-style pre-established rooms. 

By focusing on working only with the floor, Japanese culture adopts a minimalist philosophy and they defend it well. 

The same room used for sleeping can be cleaned. 

The futon is brought into a box-like box closed, but like the morning shift of the sliding doors, they too come around full circle and are constantly changing. 

A symbol of the interchanging seasons.

Of course, most people realize the sliding doors do provide more of a private space layout. 

Studies suggest that the paper sliding doors of shoji may offer more privacy from Japanese families. There is something about simply sliding a door from one end to another. 

From an outdoor perspective and Western take on its orientation, sliding doors provide a new phase for standard interior design principles. 

A new discovery from sliding away a new door layout that covers the paper, reflects into the new change, interior-style of the new transformation.

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Furniture and more

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Furniture and more

Japanese Bedroom Decorations Must-Haves

Pieces of furniture, wall décor, and other additional items will all be made of natural materials in a typical traditional Japanese home. 

This means wood, bamboo, and rice paper are popular items. 

To recreate this look, we suggest going for all-wood furniture. 

Look for simple items with clean, straight lines, and a more traditional nature color (i.e., no painted or glittery furniture!). 

And rice paper lamps or even room dividers will provide beautiful diffused light in the evening—so soft and dreamy!

Color themes in a Japanese home are almost always nature-inspired, and they’re usually quite subtle, too. 

Beige or very soft nature-esque colors such as taupe and mossy green will be great colors to start with. 

Use these as the main color theme, then apply it to your walls, your sheets, etc. 

Japandi Feel
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As for adding in motivating pops of color, choose another nature-based color that suits your main color theme.

Japandi Inspo
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Objects from nature are also popular in traditional Japanese homes as decorative pieces.  

Place a beautiful, woody bonsai tree on your windowsill. 

Or choose a peace lily to place in the corner of your room. 

Many indoor plants are very low maintenance, and they’ll really create a calming effect in your space.

If there’s one thing we love about a traditional Japanese home, it’s the open concept. 

The open concept enforces a sense of tranquility, and it really helps you relax after a really hard day. 

The furniture is also often cut very low, and the bed, couch, and side tables are all very low to the ground. 

Minimalist pick
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This creates quite a spacious living area, which definitely maximizes the small square footage. An open-concept room feels bigger for sure!

Incorporating Natural Light and Elements

Large windows and fresh air are combined to create a positive space for vitality and health.

Being in a bright, naturally lit space allows you to feel good. 

Abundant natural light affects you in more ways than you realize. 

A lack of natural light is known to affect your mood and mental health negatively. 

On the contrary, your mood and the overall sense of comfort and well-being can significantly improve in a light-filled room. 

Spaces with oversized windows and lots of light can create a genuinely uplifting experience for those inside the home.

Also, the large windows can create a lot of natural ventilation, bringing the much-needed fresh air in many homes today. 

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From the perspective of home design, large windows provide an essential facet of a holistic design theme – bridging the gap between the outdoor and indoor spaces. 

When you are inside and looking around, to one side, you might see a nice piece of art or interior design (set of chairs and a side table) while to the other side, you will see a beautiful sea of green shrubs and purple flowers.

Large windows and fresh air go together to create harmony in a home.

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Light and decor

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Light and decor

Color Schemes and Decorative Elements

Neutral color palettes are popping up everywhere in the world of interior design and for those that are seeking a calming atmosphere, and it is clear why. 

Soft hues of bone, gray, and white make you feel so calm and balanced as a part of space. 

Nooks for unwinding and bedrooms are the obvious choice for this palette, though by no means the only one. 

Beautiful bases of warm bone colors (a fantastic warm wall paint color) lend themselves to the promo

To go with the peaceful, calming wall colors, wall decorations that serve a similar purpose will be helpful. 

Beautiful traditional Japanese-inspired artwork can be purchased online to add a decorative layer to your home. 

An ukiyo-e (うきよえ )  woodblock painting print, for example, might feature beautiful mountain views, delicate cherry blossoms, or a peaceful nature scene. 

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Get this framed in a very basic, non-flashy frame to keep the main.

Another example is shoji screens (しょうじ). This is a sliding door that literally translates as “interlayer door.” 

Elegant pick
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The door is beautifully created in a complex lattice-work pattern of wood and filled in with thin, semi-transparent or opaque paper. 

Many are serving the simple purpose of acting as a low weight and easy to slide across the room during times of war when the weight of shoji paper would have been relatively low, allowing.

Complemented by the wall art, you may choose—for the area in which you’re doing the makeover—to have a few pictures of a similar origin. 

These are the most common amongst Zen Buddhism, which is practiced widely across the country. 

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Beautiful rock formations, very minimalist “box” formations with fine rocks curiously placed, and cute koi fish swimming can both add to the peaceful scene. 

At the end of the day, there are two types of.

Japanese textiles are useful in many areas of the home. Seigaiha (wave pattern) and asanoha (hemp leaf pattern) are two examples. 

Cushions, throws, and even rugs (light and tan in color) can help add a peaceful hue to the room of your choosing.

Creating a Zen Atmosphere

Incorporating a Zen design into our living spaces can create a serene atmosphere that inspires us to relax and be in the moment.

In Zen design, everything is about simplicity and all-natural, with a dash of elegance thrown in. 

The design emphasizes on decluttering things, which means tidying up all your mess. 

Let go of what you don't need, and keep only the things you need or give you joy/happiness. 

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This simplistic, natural approach to design allows your mind to be at ease and focus only on what "truly" matters, or perhaps, what matters right now.

Space and the objects it contains–regardless of whether we see them as power objects, keepers of a dream, "special" gifts, healers, spiritual teachers, or terrains that symbolically represent some aspect of your spiritual journey–are there to serve you. 

To release the old and call in something new into your life.

Thus, anywhere you can imagine placing a cushion, you have just created a place to sit, meditate, pray, dream, read a book, write a poem, connect with the elements, appreciate or play your music, write a song, commune with others, or just "be."

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Incorporating sound as an element in your meditative practice can help you focus or concentrate on the ritual or process you have established for yourself. 

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Whether it is fleeting, procedural, rudimentary, or complex, it can keep you right where you need to be: in your center.

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Modern Minimalist

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: Modern Minimalist

Modern Japanese Bedroom Inspirations

Modern Japanese bedroom designs incorporate a love of Japan's rich history and iconic designs with a taste of modern, clean lines, and open spaces. 

The home is a place of relaxation, and the bedroom especially should be a place that feels tranquil and private. 

Modern Japanese bedrooms are often opting for white oak as the material of choice. 

There's a simple explanation for this: incorporating this wood type into one's decor adds a signature touch for many items, including frames, baseboards, and more.

While traditional Japanese bedrooms opt for bare, tatami floor beds, we see a trend where many are gravitating toward buying futons. 

This is particularly interesting, as those that choose to relax on the floor, simply for those looking to keep it traditional. Modern Japanese bedrooms are vivacious and inspiring; they're a mixture of the beloved past and the future.

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If you take the time to decorate your bedroom with a Japanese theme, you can have a calming and elegantly styled room. 

The Japanese style is minimalist in design, with a calming—and usually natural—color palette. 

Tatami mat flooring, shoji screens, and simple futon-style beds may line the space. 

If you notice a reoccurring theme, these designs convey peacefulness and calm. 

Everything in the room should make you feel calm and at peace in your sanctuary.

Try to make as much use of natural light as possible. 

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Not only that, but as much natural open space as you can. 

Your room should have wide-open windows for large amounts of light to flow through. 

These large windows should have a beautiful view of your garden or some other type of natural beauty. 

Paper lanterns and warm-colored LED lights are also great ways to light up your room to stay cozy and calm.

Aside from light and open space, make use of as many natural items as possible. 

Wood, especially bamboo, and stone should make up most of the item's exterior design. 

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Bonsai trees and other types of green plants may also be welcome. 

You're looking to be as close to the earth as possible.

Your bedroom should also be a calm color to promote peace. 

Like the natural greens and grays, go for calming—or even uplifting—yellows or pastel pinks or blues. 

Just scatter your favorite patterns about the room, either by making the curtains or the bedding this color, or use washi ( わし) tape to make your favorite patterns on different items.

Style Your Own Japanese Bedroom

If you’re ready to transform your living space into a calming retreat, it’s time to style your own Japanese bedroom. 

The beauty of Japanese design lies in its balance between simplicity and cultural richness, making it the perfect choice for a peaceful yet elegant room. 

Incorporating natural elements like natural wood for furniture and wooden frames adds an organic touch that blends well with modern Japanese interior design. 

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Think about the color scheme too—soft neutrals paired with a touch of deep earth tones will create the right vibe. 

Don’t forget essential Japanese bedroom decor pieces like translucent paper screens, also known as shoji, which bring both light and privacy to the room, keeping it cool and serene.

You can also add soft lighting with Japanese lanterns, which create warmth and intimacy across various scenes.

Bring in a touch of Japan with traditional Japanese art or lovely prints that celebrate the rich history of Japanese architecture and culture. 

With all these different elements, your bedroom will reflect not just a style, but an embodiment of Zen philosophy—a personal haven where you can truly unwind.

Now’s the perfect time to get started.

Explore places like amazon, and make your room transformation happen!

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: My view waking up

Japanese Bedroom Decorations: My view waking up

じゃあね、Yama

P.S.:
If you want to bring some Japanese design ideas into your home, this is the place I recommend to all my friends:


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Originally from Tokyo, I am a world-traveling Japanese adventurer who loves connecting with people.

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