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Japandi kitchen ideas

Japandi joins the clean lines of Japanese kitchens with the warmth of Scandinavian wood, and in this room the result is low-key and very orderly. Picture handleless ash or oak fronts, a honed stone or microcement worktop, an oat or clay-coloured wall and charcoal used sparingly on a tap or a run of base units. Nothing is shiny. Handmade ceramics sit on one short shelf and everything else is hidden, which suits people who cook a lot and want a quiet room afterwards.

Try Japandi on a photo of your kitchen

Palette

• Oat (#d4c7ad)
• Soft clay (#a4785f)
• Charcoal (#3a3937)
• Pale ash (#e2d8c3)

Key pieces

• Handleless ash or oak veneer cabinet fronts
• Honed stone or microcement worktop in warm grey
• Matt handmade-look tiles in oat or clay
• Matt black tap over an undermount sink
• Washi paper pendant above the table
• Low timber stools or a plain bench

Materials and finishes

• Ash, white oak and dark-stained oak
• Honed limestone or warm grey microcement
• Matt glazed ceramic and stoneware
• Bamboo and rattan details
• Blackened steel or matt black fittings

Tips

• Plan more storage than seems necessary, including a tall larder unit and deep drawers, because the look depends on bare worktops. An appliance cupboard for the kettle and toaster makes a big difference.
• Microcement and honed limestone mark with lemon, vinegar and red wine, so seal them well and clean with a pH-neutral product. A matt quartz is the safer pick for messy cooks.
• Choose routed finger-pull edges over push-to-open catches on drawers used all day, since spring latches wear out and leave greasy marks on the door faces.

What to avoid

• High-gloss doors
• Bright accent colours
• Busy patterned tiles

Questions

Does a Japandi kitchen need open shelving?

One short shelf is enough. Use it for a few ceramics, a teapot and a plant, and keep oils, packets and utensils behind doors. A whole wall of open shelves gathers grease and dust near the hob and soon looks cluttered, which works against the edited, calm feel the style relies on.

Island or no island in a Japandi kitchen?

Only with at least a metre of clear walkway on every side. A low, plain timber island with a stone top and two backless stools fits well. In a smaller room a narrow freestanding oak table does the same job and keeps more floor visible, which helps the space feel open.

More kitchen styles

• Scandinavian kitchen ideas
• Mid-Century Modern kitchen ideas
• Minimalist kitchen ideas
• Industrial kitchen ideas
• Boho kitchen ideas
• Modern Farmhouse kitchen ideas
• Coastal kitchen ideas

Japandi in other rooms

• Japandi living room ideas
• Japandi bedroom ideas
• Japandi bathroom ideas

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