A reader recently asked for help with transforming her bedroom to Japanese style decor. She sent photos and wrote:
“I really would love a Japanese style bedroom. I haven’t really decided whether I want a traditional Japanese style or a more Western-Japanese style.
I really enjoy the earthy tones like the browns and the tans. I understand a brick reddish color is a traditional Japanese color? I was wondering if maybe that would be a good accent wall for my window wall.
Also, I was thinking of getting bamboo shades for the window treatments. I’m not really a fan of drapes, so I am curious if shades would be an appropriate alternative.
I’m re-doing my floor into hardwood flooring. Should the stain for the wood be a dark or a light color?
I also really wanted to somehow incorporate Shoji screens into the room and maybe change the closet door into some sort of Japanese style door instead of the one I already have.
Another thing I was wondering was what sort of accessories I should have. Little things that would tie the room together, like plants, pillows, candles, artwork?”
Stacey
Japanese Style
Japanese design is based on harmony and simplicity. It creates beauty with minimal materials and space. Soft earth tones along with rounded corners and flowing patterns are used to reflect nature and project a feeling of peace and tranquility.
Low, simple furniture, soft lights, natural colors and finishes create a peaceful environment. Photo haikudesigns.com.
This bedroom is welcoming, peaceful and harmonious. Photo haukuidesigns.com
Warm earth colors, natural wood, simple and low furnishings, living plants as well as rice paper Shoji screens and lights create these Japanese style bedrooms.
Transform Your Room
Your room is rather small so the spare, clean, simple lines of the Japanese style will work well in your space. Using the photos above for inspiration, follow these 8 steps to create your own Zen retreat:
1. Clear your clutter. Pare the belongings in your room down to only a few essentials. Right now there are too many items spread around the room to create the minimalist, peaceful, Japanese style. Sell or donate things you no longer need. Store things you don’t use but can’t bear to part with. For items you use sometimes but don’t need on a daily basis, gather them into a decorative bin or basket and stash them in the closet or a drawer. Leave only a few things in the room – things that are functional and needed daily or a few beautiful things you truly love. Get rid of as much “stuff” as possible and any extra furniture. In Japanese styled rooms less is truly more.
2. Your furniture is a light finish, similar in tone to the furniture in the inspiration photos. Add a Japanese touch to your non-Japanese style items by changing the knobs.
Tranquility (pearl epoxy) drawer knob via HomeClick.com
3. A floor darker than your furniture will help ground the room. After laying your new hardwood floor you can also accent it and protect it by spreading out a small bamboo area rug or a tatami mat.
4. Keep the lucky bamboo you already have on your dresser and add a larger, round leaf plant somewhere in the room – perhaps to soften an empty corner and add height.
5. Bamboo or matchstick window shades would definitely suit a Japanese style room better than drapes. Since you like Shoji screens you might also consider using them as window coverings. One way to accomplish this is to hang Shoji panels on a sliding track so you move them over the windows for privacy and when you want to expose the window simply slide the Shoji screens to the right and they’ll act as wall decor.
Natural blinds, Bali, via BlindsGalore.com
6. The earthy red color you asked about can be seen in the edging of the inspiration room’s flooring. You can certainly use this color as an accent in your room – either in accessories or paint.
7. Since you want to change your closet door you can simply replace the door’s hardware, replace the door with a bamboo blind that rolls up for access and drops down to shut off the closet, or remove the door and replace it with a fabric panel hung from a tension rod.
8. Add a small table top fountain (perhaps on your newly empty dresser top) so you can enjoy the sound of water in your Zen environment.
Small bamboo table fountain, Amazon.com $17
And You?
Do you have a Japanese style room in your home? What makes it Japanese? What else should Stacey consider doing to her room? Leave a note by clicking ”Comment” just below after the advertising or email us at www.yourdecoratinghotline.com.
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