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Japandi living room ideas

Japandi blends the low, grounded furniture of Japanese homes with the warm timber and comfort of Nordic interiors. In a living room that means a linen sofa sitting close to the floor, oat and clay walls, a few handmade ceramics and plenty of empty space between pieces. Colours stay muted and surfaces stay matt. It suits people who want the room to feel like a place to switch off, and it hides the visual noise of daily life better than most styles.

Try Japandi on a photo of your living room

Palette

• Oat (#d4c7ad)
• Soft clay (#a4785f)
• Charcoal (#3a3937)
• Raw linen (#e6dfd0)

Key pieces

• Low oat linen sofa with a deep seat
• Long, low coffee table in ash or charcoal-stained oak
• Washi paper floor lamp or pendant
• Round bamboo or wool rug in oat
• Slatted timber media bench close to the floor
• A single branch in a handmade ceramic vase

Materials and finishes

• Ash and oak, natural or stained charcoal
• Raw linen and slubby cotton
• Limewash or clay-effect wall paint
• Bamboo, rattan and paper
• Honed stone and unglazed ceramics

Tips

• Keep furniture low and close in height so the eye travels across the room without interruption. If a tall bookcase is unavoidable, paint it the same colour as the wall behind it.
• Give each object room to breathe. Group ceramics in odd numbers on one surface and leave the next surface empty, which is what makes the room read as calm rather than bare.
• Use black only as a thin line, such as a picture frame, a lamp base or the legs of a stool. Large black pieces tip the balance away from the soft oat and clay base.

What to avoid

• Bright primary colours or neon
• High-gloss lacquer and chrome
• Busy patterned cushions and rugs

Questions

Where does the TV go in a Japandi living room?

Mount it low above a long slatted timber bench, or set it into a wall of closed oak cabinets so it reads as one dark rectangle among the wood. A charcoal wall behind the screen helps it disappear when switched off. Route every cable inside the wall or the cabinet.

Can I do Japandi in a rented flat?

Most of it is movable. A low linen sofa, an oat rug, paper lamps and ceramics carry the look without touching the walls. Swapping a harsh ceiling fitting for a paper shade takes minutes, and a freestanding timber screen can add warmth if painting is not allowed.

More living room styles

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

Japandi in other rooms

• Japandi bedroom ideas
• Japandi kitchen ideas
• Japandi bathroom ideas

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