Home Style Guide: Japanese Style Houses - NewHomeSource (2024)

Japan has mastered the art of seamlessly blending moderntechnologies and lifestyles with traditions and culture dating back more than30,000 years. One way this culture is upheld is through the architecture oftheir homes, which reflect values that continue to guide the country.

What are Japanese Houses Called?

Traditional Japanese homes are called minka, and are often what people picture in their heads when theythink of a Japanese style house. This includes tatami flooring, sliding doors, and wooden verandas circling thehome. Additionally, there is minimal furniture; tables are low to the ground,and chairs and beds you might be used to are often nonexistent.

While modern homes vary greatly, a consistency throughoutJapanese architecture is the idea of “form following function,” making houseshighly efficient without requiring as much space as typical Western homes.

Involvement of Nature

Traditional Japanese architecture makes use of – andhighlights – nature in the immediate area. In traditional Japanese homes,almost every room opens to the outdoor garden, due to the wraparound veranda,or engawa, that serves as primaryhallway to navigate the home.

Sliding doors called shōji also are foundthroughout the traditional Japanese home – wooden lattice frames with thinpaper, wicker, or cloth as screens. Shōjidoors are intentionally thin enough to provide some privacy without blockingout the sunlight. Because the materials are porous, these screens help withairflow and controlling humidity as well.

To fully embrace a minka-inspiredaesthetic, you’ll need to incorporate Mother Nature. Plan for large windowswith thin curtains to allow light and a breeze to flow through. If you have themeans, a balcony for upstairs bedrooms is another way to bring in the outdoors.

If you’re looking for less renovation-heavy ways to modifyyour home, bring the outdoors in with plants, or wall décor of plant life andnature. If you’re inclined to turn your home into a jungle paradise withsucculents and ivy on every available surface, go ahead, but know that’s notreally keeping with traditional Japanese style. Instead, opt for one or twosimple plants so as not to overwhelm the space; color and minimalism areimportant aspects of Japanese design.

Minimalism

Marie Kondo’s advice didn’t just take off in Americanbecause Americans have a tendency to over-clutter and hoard (although we do) –it’s also because it’s a sustainable way of life that Japanese culture hastaken up wholeheartedly.

Remember, the goal isn’t to get rid of everything you own(if that’s what you want, a tiny house might be more up your alley) but ratherto create an organized and comforting home. No one wants to live in squalor,and with a bit of intentionality, this is feasible without giving up all of theluxuries you’ve come to enjoy.

When designing your new home, think about how your home canbe built to support owning less stuff.Do you really need three linen closets upstairs? A butler’s pantry in additionto the kitchen cabinets? If you reduce the spaces for clutter to hide, you’remore likely to keep your home organized and chaos-free.

If you’re not in the process of designing a new home butstill want to tidy up your space, focus on downsizing. Some people tackle thisby season, some by room, and some all at once; there are plenty of tips andtricks to minimize your material possessions.

Color

There is no one color to truly capture the aesthetics ofJapan. Some people think of the red Shinto Shrines or the rising sun on theJapanese flag; others think of the electric neon of Tokyo’s nightlife or thevivid colors of the Harajuku District; and still others might picture cherryblossoms or the snowcapped Mount Fuji.

When it comes to traditional Japanese homes, the colorpalette is typically neutral. Varying shades of brown, from the tatami flooringcoveredwith woven rush to the exposed wooden beams supporting the roof, are common, asare white and black. Because minka reliedon natural materials, homes tended to reflect the surrounding landscape.

Plants are common elements in Japanese homes as well. Tokonomas, or alcove used to displaydécor, often include ikebana flowerarrangements in addition to a tapestry or incense burner. Plant life broughtindoors often emphasizes the luscious, bright greens more than the colorfulflowers adorning it. Gardens, on the other hand, are meant to highlight and payrespect to the surrounding landscape; as such, they’re more likely to featurethe reds, whites, and pinks that attract homeowners.

Because most people are naturally drawn to neutrals, you likelywon’t have to work very hard to bring in this color palette. Browns are themost common color; bring this in with exposed beams, window panes, or hardwoodfloors. Remember, though, this isn’t rustic; avoid making large visual areasall the same shade of brown, as the natural vibe you’re looking for will belost.

As mentioned earlier, bring in plants that are strong shadesof green. You might have a bamboo or bonsai plant, or a philodendron forsomething leafier. Outdoors, use azaleas or cherry blossoms for a pop of color,Japanese maples to cover large areas, and niwakior “garden trees” that can be sculpted for a unique look.

Low-to-the-Ground Furniture

In traditional Japanese homes, residents and guests sat andslept directly on the tatami flooring.The comfortable and durable nature of these mats meant chairs were zabutons, or cushions on the ground, andbeds were rolled out futon that wereeasy to store out of sight during the day. What furniture was present was muchlower than what Westerners might expect, such as chabudai tables, which can be used comfortably while sitting on theground.

If your joints allow you to embrace low profile furniture,lowered couches and tables in a small room are common in Japan, not to mentionthey do well to not overcrowd the space. Go with neutral-colored woodenfurniture designed in clean, precise lines to bring the look of your entirehome together.

Create Your Peace

Like most aesthetics inspired by other cultures, embracingthe aesthetic comes down to a feeling. For minkadesign, that’s an overall sense of tranquility. Peace has been a guiding principleof Japanese architecture for thousands of years, and continues to be evidenttoday.

Plan your layout to capitalize on natural light and scenicoutdoor views, downsize your material possessions and remove the clutter towhich we’ve grown accustomed, and simplify the color palette of your home so asnot to visually overwhelm yourself or visitors. Take things a step further bydesigning a meditation room inspired by the Japanese Zen principles. Natural tatami flooring, lots of natural light,and low-profile seating would all work beautifully in this space.

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