This Dezeen Lookbook presents seven interiors that combine design influences from Japan and Scandinavia in a style that has become known as "Japandi".
A hybrid of east and west, the style is increasingly popular as a way to create interiors that are minimal without being cold. Japandi makes clever use of craftsmanship and tactile materials, such as textured wood and handmade ceramics, to add comfort and warmth.
It features pared-back styling, precise craft and natural materials – qualities that have long been central to the design traditions of Japan, and the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark and Sweden.
This is the latest lookbook in a series providing visual inspiration for interior designers and design lovers. Previous lookbooks in the series have showcased bathrooms with views, calm living rooms and peaceful bedrooms.
Archipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
Norm Architects' Archipelago House is a pine-clad holiday home that was designed to embody Swedish and Japanese aesthetics, a theme that comes through most clearly in the double-height living room.
Here, the owners can lounge on furniture that Norm Architects designed together withKarimoku Case Study – the sister brand of Japanese manufacturer Karimoku.
Creamy white and pale grey hues complement the light wood furniture in the room, where the main light source is a bespoke cone-shaped lantern. This was designed in washi paper by Japan's Kojima Shouten, which has been making lanterns for over 230 years.
Find out more about Archipelago House ›
A Quiet Reflection show, Sweden, by Ariake
An exhibition by Japanese furniture producer Ariake at Stockholm Design Week showcased the label's wooden furniture, which was designed in collaboration with a number of designers from all over the world (above and top).
Set in the dilapidated former Mexican embassy in Stockholm, the clean lines of the furniture stood out against the crumbling walls and stuccoed ceilings, creating a mix of texture and colour and an appreciation for older craftsmanship that perfectly embodies Japandi.
Find out more about A Quiet Reflection ›
Pantechnicon, UK, by Farrells
Pantechnicon, located in a 19th-century building in London's Belgravia neighbourhood, is home to both shops and restaurants that focus on Japanese and Nordic culture. Tenants include a cafe by French-Japanese cult record label Kitsuné and a Nordic restaurant called Eldr.
While Pantechnicon's interiors are pared-down, plenty of wood detailing gives the space an inviting feel, and lantern-like lights and green plants have been added to soften the minimalist aesthetic.
Find out more about Pantechnicon ›
Upstate New York Home, US, by Magdalena Keck
A family with Japanese and American heritage live in this home in the Catskill Mountains, which has an interior that draws on both their backgrounds and adds plenty of Scandinavian style.
In the open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen, a table and chairs by Danish designer Finn Juhl share the spotlight with Japanese pottery and woven mats sourced from Tokyo. Mid-century design and American crafts also feature in the house, balancing out the Japanese minimalism.
Find out more about Upstate New York Home ›
Izumi, Denmark, by Pan-Projects and Mok Architects
A Japanese restaurant in Copenhagen is the perfect setting for an interior style that mixes the two cultures.
Izumi, in the city's Charlottenlund suburb, draws on both Japanese restaurant interiors, with translucent screens that reference traditional paper sliding doors, and Scandinavian design. This can be seen in the curving oak panels that surround the open kitchen.
"Japan and the Nordic countries have a rich history of cultural interactions," explained Pan-Projects' founders Yurioko Yaga and Kazumasa Takada. "Especially in the field of design, there are many examples that are rooted originally in Japanese culture yet developed uniquely in the land of the Nordic region."
Find out more about Izumi ›
K5 Tokyo Hotel, Japan, by Claesson Koivisto Rune
A converted bank building in Tokyo, bombed during world war two, was turned into a boutique hotel by Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune. The studio created a warmer interior style than is usually associated with Japandi, using tactile details and saturated hues.
Thin blue ombre curtains evoke the traditional craft of Japanese indigo-dyeing, or aizome, while sturdy wooden room dividers nod to Scandinavian mid-century modern design. The studio based K5's interior around the Japanese notion of "aimai", which is used to describe things that are ambiguous or unclear.
Find out more about K5 Tokyo Hotel ›
Powerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
As part of the renovation and expansion of this London townhouse, London-based Daytriploosely lime-washed the walls and added polished concrete floors to create a "calm and serene home".
The Scandinavian influence can be seen in the warm wood details used throughout the flat – as in this dining room, where a dark-wood chair complements a dainty table underneath the window – while elegant lighting fixtures add an East Asian feel.
A Japanese paper lamp from designer Isamu Noguchi's Akari range stands on a wood-burning stove stacked with logs, Scandinavian-style.
Find out more about Powerscroft Road townhouse ›
This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen's image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I can provide information and insights on a wide range of topics, including the concept of "Japandi" and its design influences from Japan and Scandinavia. The term "Japandi" refers to a design style that combines elements from both Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. It has gained popularity as a way to create minimalistic interiors that are warm and inviting, rather than cold and sterile.
Japandi design incorporates the craftsmanship and tactile materials often associated with Japanese design, such as textured wood and handmade ceramics, as well as the pared-back styling and natural materials commonly found in Scandinavian design. The style emphasizes simplicity, precise craft, and the use of natural materials, which have long been central to the design traditions of both Japan and the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark and Sweden.
To provide more information on this topic, let's explore some examples of interiors that showcase the Japandi style:
Archipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
Norm Architects' Archipelago House is a pine-clad holiday home that embodies Swedish and Japanese aesthetics. The double-height living room is a key feature of the house, where the owners can lounge on furniture designed by Norm Architects in collaboration with Karimoku Case Study, the sister brand of Japanese manufacturer Karimoku. The room is adorned with creamy white and pale grey hues that complement the light wood furniture. The main light source is a bespoke cone-shaped lantern made of washi paper by Japan's Kojima Shouten, a company with a history of over 230 years in making lanterns.
A Quiet Reflection show, Sweden, by Ariake
An exhibition by Japanese furniture producer Ariake at Stockholm Design Week showcased wooden furniture designed in collaboration with designers from around the world. The exhibition was set in the dilapidated former Mexican embassy in Stockholm, creating a mix of texture and color that perfectly embodies the Japandi style. The clean lines of the furniture stood out against the crumbling walls and stuccoed ceilings, highlighting the appreciation for older craftsmanship.
Pantechnicon, UK, by Farrells
Pantechnicon, located in a 19th-century building in London's Belgravia neighborhood, is a space that houses shops and restaurants focusing on Japanese and Nordic culture. The interiors of Pantechnicon are pared-down, but plenty of wood detailing gives the space an inviting feel. Lantern-like lights and green plants have been added to soften the minimalist aesthetic.
Upstate New York Home, US, by Magdalena Keck
In this home in the Catskill Mountains, the interior design draws on both Japanese and American heritage, incorporating Scandinavian style. The open-plan living room, dining room, and kitchen feature a table and chairs by Danish designer Finn Juhl, Japanese pottery, and woven mats sourced from Tokyo. The house balances Japanese minimalism with mid-century design and American crafts.
Izumi, Denmark, by Pan-Projects and Mok Architects
Izumi, a Japanese restaurant in Copenhagen, combines Japanese and Scandinavian design elements. The interior features translucent screens that reference traditional Japanese paper sliding doors and curving oak panels that surround the open kitchen, reflecting Scandinavian design influences. The founders of Pan-Projects, Yurioko Yaga and Kazumasa Takada, highlight the rich history of cultural interactions between Japan and the Nordic countries, particularly in the field of design.
K5 Tokyo Hotel, Japan, by Claesson Koivisto Rune
The K5 Tokyo Hotel, located in a converted bank building in Tokyo, showcases a warmer interior style than is typically associated with Japandi. Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune designed the hotel with tactile details and saturated hues. Thin blue ombre curtains evoke the traditional craft of Japanese indigo-dyeing, while sturdy wooden room dividers nod to Scandinavian mid-century modern design. The interior is based on the Japanese notion of "aimai," which describes things that are ambiguous or unclear.
Powerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
As part of the renovation and expansion of this London townhouse, the walls were loosely lime-washed, and polished concrete floors were added to create a calm and serene home. The warm wood details throughout the flat reflect Scandinavian influence, while elegant lighting fixtures add an East Asian feel. A Japanese paper lamp from designer Isamu Noguchi's Akari range stands on a wood-burning stove, combining Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian style.
These examples demonstrate how the Japandi style combines elements from both Japanese and Scandinavian design traditions to create interiors that are minimalistic, warm, and inviting. The use of craftsmanship, natural materials, and pared-back styling are key characteristics of the Japandi style.
I hope this information provides you with a better understanding of the Japandi design style and its influences from Japan and Scandinavia. Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!
