What is Japandi Style Design? A Designer Breaks it Down (2025)

While Japandi might sound like a trendy buzzword, this enduring design style is far more than a passing TikTok fad. “For those unfamiliar, Japandi is the thoughtful exchange and alignment of the refined design philosophies of Scandinavia and Japan,” explains Edie van Breems, cofounder of Eleish van Breems home. “This concept, initially a love affair between two admiring cultures, has blossomed over the last decade into a global movement embraced by not only architects and designers but homeowners as well.”

Together with cofounder Rhonda Eleish, the duo started Eleish van Breems as a fine antiques gallery in 1997, set in a historic 1760 house in Woodbury, Conn., that made for a compelling example of Scandinavian lifestyle on display. Their fresh take on Gustavian formal and country Swedish folk antiques mixed with contemporary accessories from the region quickly garnered an international following, and they later launched an interior design studio and line of Swedish reproduction furniture.

Now, the childhood friends turned business partners call themselves “huge fans” of Japandi, and we turned to their expertise to reveal how homeowners can embrace this peaceful design aesthetic for their interiors.

What is Japandi Design?

The key to Japandi style, Eleish explains, comes down to the importance of simplicity, sustainability, and authenticity. “Scandinavian and Japanese culture have much in common, rooted in a mutual reverence of nature — and hence a familiarity and masterful approach to fine materials such as wood, stone and iron and a strong tradition of handwoven textiles that continues in both countries to this day,” she adds.

Wood, in particular, is revered by both cultures who hold up fire as a symbol for life. “The ancient worship of trees and nature spirits go as far back as Japan's Shinto religion and Scandinavia's Norse Mythology where the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil, was the center of the universe,” van Breems explains. Today, sauna culture and forest bathing are standard “self care” practices in these cultures, and many city dwellers escape to family-owned wooden stuga cottages in the lakes and mountains to connect with nature.

In interior design, the wooden vernacular presents itself through architecture and furniture noted by fine craftsmanship and an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living. “Both cultures also have a tradition of using natural preservatives on wood to protect it from the elements, and these have been elevated to an artform, such as the use of cinnabar and shen sugiban in Japan and Falun red oxide paint in Sweden,” says van Breems.

Hygge Versus Wabi Sabi

Japandi style prioritizes a reverence for fine materials and craftsmanship found in Scandinavia and Japan and combines the best of both to create welcoming and soothing environments. The design philosophy also incorporates the principles of Japanese Wabi Sabi and Danish Hygge.

“Wabi Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy of life that encourages the appreciation of the moment and the temporal and fleeting nature of our time here,” explains Eleish. “Hygge is also about appreciating the moment but with others. It's the idea of creating a cozy space and gathering together those you love in a fun and welcoming way.”

Japandi: How to Get the Look at Home

Eleish and van Breems always prioritize the concept of indoor/outdoor living and entertaining in their designs, focusing on high-quality natural materials and custom artisanal elements. “The clean lines of Scandinavian and Japanese design have definitely influenced and inspired our work over the years because they are at once comfortable and welcoming,” Eleish adds.

While minimalism is at play, there is more to Japandi than just decluttering. The designers quote Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who said: “The essence of mindfulness is simplicity, but simplicity without depth is merely cheap. It is not enough.”

A thoughtfully designed space should feel soulful and layered. “We encourage all to be mindful and have fun adding some beautiful Japandi soul to your home,” van Breems says. “From the placement of windows to overlook a specific view to a particular weave of linens on a table to echo a color of artwork on a wall, to lovingly chosen furniture that is built with handcrafted wood for a specific room, thoughtful rooms can be successful, supportive, and transformative.”

The designers walk us through how to do just that.

How to Create a Japandi-Inspired Space

1. Think minimal but not cold. Remove any excess items and furniture.

2. Add handcrafted items that move you, like pottery vessels, baskets, or boxes made from natural materials with an aged and weathered patina.

3. Incorporate soft textiles in muted earth tones and soft whites to create calm.

4. Add living plants, even if it is one fern or orchid.

5. Bring the outdoors in with elements like stone, water features, wood, or “anything that honors the vast natural beauty of your surroundings, whether you live in snowy mountains, lush forests, or ocean coastlines.”

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