How to decorate your bathroom Japandi style

Containing Japanese Zen and Danish hygge sentiments, Japandi is the go-to style for creating comforting spaces. It is rooted in traditional ritual and cultural practices, so it’s unsurprising that it’s a timeless choice for bathroom decor.

Lauren Kavanagh, Art Director at Hovia says, “Japandi style is an excellent choice for a bathroom, as its emphasis on cultivating a serene and inviting sanctuary with a Zen-like ambiance is perfectly suited for this space in the home.”

Japandi bathrooms are a popular option as they can be achieved relatively easily and cost-effectively. By opting for a pared-back color palette, wooden furniture, black accessories, and a couple of houseplants, you can accomplish the aspirational and minimalist Japandi aesthetic using accessible materials.

The Japandi bathroom aesthetic creates a relaxing environment to enhance wellness and self-care routines. This can be achieved via these key design principles:

1. Soft, neutral colors such as off-white, beige, brown, and warm grays on walls, floors, and fabrics help to calm the mind.

2. Mood-boosting lighting through low-key ambient at night (think candles) and maximum natural light during the day.

3. Natural, organic, and sustainable materials, especially wood, stone, and granite, accompanied by houseplants to bring the outdoors in.

4. Black accents on taps, mirrors, and accessories.

5. Functional but stylish furniture, for instance, showers, which may have a black framed shower panel, reminiscent of Japanese “shoji” screens to bring detail to the everyday.

There are bathing facilities and natural hot springs called “Onsen” across Japan, and the indigenous Japanese Shinto religion prioritizes cleanliness through frequent purification rituals. Therefore, plenty of elements of the traditional Japanese style work well in Japandi bathrooms.

Try incorporating handmade tiles to align with the “wabi-sabi” philosophy of celebrating imperfection and stone, or stone-effect elements where possible, to recreate that spa-like finish. Wood slat panelling on the walls also creates a Japandi space, as do circular elements and rounded edges on decor items such as mirrors and vanity units.

Scandinavian bathrooms are minimalist, sleek, and functional; there is a Swedish proverb, “lagom är bäst” which translates as “just enough” and is very similar to the “less is more” mantra of minimalism. Using high-quality furnishings, Scandi bathrooms are built to last and keep a connection to nature via wooden details and houseplants.

Hygge isn’t just for living rooms and bedrooms - bathrooms too can become a cozy sanctuary away from the elements with candles for ambient lighting and soft, high-quality fabrics on towels and mats. For the walls, Splice Light an excellent way to add warmth and personality to your bathroom in a Scandi way.

If you’re looking for top tips on how to decorate a Japandi bathroom, here are all the do’s and don’ts you’ll need:

• Use nature-inspired colors typical of the Japandi style, such as off-white, beige, taupe, and lighter browns for walls; a dusky pink or muted sage works nicely as a highlight. Or consider leaving the walls in bare plaster for texture and warmth.

• Try subtle, barely there Japandi wallpaper as an excellent way of incorporating authentic Japandi color and shape. We love Rhythm Green and Sync for their earthen shades and delicate Zen-like curves.

• Add warm wooden elements to soften the space - woods like oak work beautifully against the neutral backdrop. Wooden-effect vinyl flooring is an effective option, too.

• Incorporating a circular or organic-shaped mirror with a wooden or black rim adds curves to soften harsh angles while acknowledging the Zen circular symbol “Enso”, meaning connection.

• Choose elegant, clever storage options or recessed alcoves to ensure your space remains clutter-free to achieve Zen-like serenity.

• Add textiles with high-quality, soft towels, simple rugs, and accessories like houseplants and candles.

Dont:

• Go extreme - avoid colorful, patterned tiles, but at the same time, don’t go for brilliant white throughout. If you are worried about the room looking too plain, Japandi wall murals like Tempo are a great way to introduce subtle, rhythmic patterns and a bit of monochromatic elegance to the bathroom.

• Fill the space with too much stuff - keep the floor as clear as possible. Consider a wall-mounted toilet if space is at a premium. And avoid displaying toiletries on surfaces - remember clear room, clear mind.

• Use harsh lighting - the room should feel warm and inviting.

• Add too many fabrics or shiny surfaces; go matte where possible.