This Dezeen Lookbook presents seven interiors that combine design influences from Japan and Scandinavia in a style that has become known as "Japandi".
A hybrid of east and west, the style is increasingly popular as a way to create interiors that are minimal without being cold. Japandi makes clever use of craftsmanship and tactile materials, such as textured wood and handmade ceramics, to add comfort and warmth.
It features pared-back styling, precise craft and natural materials – qualities that have long been central to the design traditions of Japan, and the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark and Sweden.
This is the latest lookbook in a series providing visual inspiration for interior designers and design lovers. Previous lookbooks in the series have showcased bathrooms with views, calm living rooms and peaceful bedrooms.
Archipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
Norm Architects' Archipelago House is a pine-clad holiday home that was designed to embody Swedish and Japanese aesthetics, a theme that comes through most clearly in the double-height living room.
Here, the owners can lounge on furniture that Norm Architects designed together withKarimoku Case Study – the sister brand of Japanese manufacturer Karimoku.
Creamy white and pale grey hues complement the light wood furniture in the room, where the main light source is a bespoke cone-shaped lantern. This was designed in washi paper by Japan's Kojima Shouten, which has been making lanterns for over 230 years.
Find out more about Archipelago House ›
A Quiet Reflection show, Sweden, by Ariake
An exhibition by Japanese furniture producer Ariake at Stockholm Design Week showcased the label's wooden furniture, which was designed in collaboration with a number of designers from all over the world (above and top).
Set in the dilapidated former Mexican embassy in Stockholm, the clean lines of the furniture stood out against the crumbling walls and stuccoed ceilings, creating a mix of texture and colour and an appreciation for older craftsmanship that perfectly embodies Japandi.
Find out more about A Quiet Reflection ›
Pantechnicon, UK, by Farrells
Pantechnicon, located in a 19th-century building in London's Belgravia neighbourhood, is home to both shops and restaurants that focus on Japanese and Nordic culture. Tenants include a cafe by French-Japanese cult record label Kitsuné and a Nordic restaurant called Eldr.
While Pantechnicon's interiors are pared-down, plenty of wood detailing gives the space an inviting feel, and lantern-like lights and green plants have been added to soften the minimalist aesthetic.
Find out more about Pantechnicon ›
Upstate New York Home, US, by Magdalena Keck
A family with Japanese and American heritage live in this home in the Catskill Mountains, which has an interior that draws on both their backgrounds and adds plenty of Scandinavian style.
In the open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen, a table and chairs by Danish designer Finn Juhl share the spotlight with Japanese pottery and woven mats sourced from Tokyo. Mid-century design and American crafts also feature in the house, balancing out the Japanese minimalism.
Find out more about Upstate New York Home ›
Izumi, Denmark, by Pan-Projects and Mok Architects
A Japanese restaurant in Copenhagen is the perfect setting for an interior style that mixes the two cultures.
Izumi, in the city's Charlottenlund suburb, draws on both Japanese restaurant interiors, with translucent screens that reference traditional paper sliding doors, and Scandinavian design. This can be seen in the curving oak panels that surround the open kitchen.
"Japan and the Nordic countries have a rich history of cultural interactions," explained Pan-Projects' founders Yurioko Yaga and Kazumasa Takada. "Especially in the field of design, there are many examples that are rooted originally in Japanese culture yet developed uniquely in the land of the Nordic region."
Find out more about Izumi ›
K5 Tokyo Hotel, Japan, by Claesson Koivisto Rune
A converted bank building in Tokyo, bombed during world war two, was turned into a boutique hotel by Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune. The studio created a warmer interior style than is usually associated with Japandi, using tactile details and saturated hues.
Thin blue ombre curtains evoke the traditional craft of Japanese indigo-dyeing, or aizome, while sturdy wooden room dividers nod to Scandinavian mid-century modern design. The studio based K5's interior around the Japanese notion of "aimai", which is used to describe things that are ambiguous or unclear.
Find out more about K5 Tokyo Hotel ›
Powerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
As part of the renovation and expansion of this London townhouse, London-based Daytriploosely lime-washed the walls and added polished concrete floors to create a "calm and serene home".
The Scandinavian influence can be seen in the warm wood details used throughout the flat – as in this dining room, where a dark-wood chair complements a dainty table underneath the window – while elegant lighting fixtures add an East Asian feel.
A Japanese paper lamp from designer Isamu Noguchi's Akari range stands on a wood-burning stove stacked with logs, Scandinavian-style.
Find out more about Powerscroft Road townhouse ›
This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen's image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Japandi Style
As an expert in interior design and cultural influences, I can provide insights into the Japandi style, which is a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design influences. This style has gained popularity for its ability to create minimalistic yet warm and comfortable interiors by combining craftsmanship, tactile materials, and precise craft. Japandi interiors typically feature pared-back styling, natural materials, and a focus on comfort and warmth, drawing from the design traditions of Japan and the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark and Sweden.
The Japandi style is characterized by the clever use of textured wood, handmade ceramics, and a mix of creamy white and pale grey hues to complement light wood furniture. It often incorporates lantern-like lights, green plants, and a mix of texture and color to create a balance between minimalism and inviting warmth. The style also emphasizes the appreciation for older craftsmanship, as seen in the clean lines of furniture set against textured and aged backgrounds.
Archipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
The Archipelago House by Norm Architects in Sweden embodies Swedish and Japanese aesthetics, particularly in the double-height living room. The furniture in the living room is designed in collaboration with Karimoku Case Study, a sister brand of Japanese manufacturer Karimoku. The room features light wood furniture complemented by creamy white and pale grey hues, with the main light source being a bespoke cone-shaped lantern designed in washi paper by Japan's Kojima Shouten, a company with over 230 years of experience in making lanterns.
A Quiet Reflection show, Sweden, by Ariake
Ariake, a Japanese furniture producer, showcased wooden furniture at Stockholm Design Week, highlighting the clean lines of the furniture against the backdrop of a dilapidated former Mexican embassy in Stockholm. This exhibition emphasized the mix of texture and color, showcasing an appreciation for older craftsmanship that embodies the Japandi style.
Pantechnicon, UK, by Farrells
Pantechnicon, located in London's Belgravia neighborhood, is a space that focuses on Japanese and Nordic culture, housing shops and restaurants. The interiors of Pantechnicon are pared-down, with wood detailing and lantern-like lights adding an inviting feel to the space, softening the minimalist aesthetic.
Upstate New York Home, US, by Magdalena Keck
This home in the Catskill Mountains draws on both Japanese and Scandinavian styles, featuring a mix of Danish designer Finn Juhl's furniture, Japanese pottery, and woven mats sourced from Tokyo. The interior balances Japanese minimalism with mid-century design and American crafts.
Izumi, Denmark, by Pan-Projects and Mok Architects
Izumi, a Japanese restaurant in Copenhagen, combines Japanese and Scandinavian design influences, featuring translucent screens referencing traditional Japanese paper sliding doors and curving oak panels that surround the open kitchen, reflecting the rich history of cultural interactions between Japan and the Nordic countries.
K5 Tokyo Hotel, Japan, by Claesson Koivisto Rune
The K5 Tokyo Hotel, a boutique hotel in a converted bank building in Tokyo, features a warmer interior style than typically associated with Japandi. The interior design incorporates tactile details, saturated hues, and elements that evoke traditional Japanese craft, such as ombre curtains and sturdy wooden room dividers, while nodding to Scandinavian mid-century modern design.
Powerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
As part of the renovation and expansion of a London townhouse, the interiors reflect a mix of Scandinavian and East Asian influences. Warm wood details are used throughout the flat, complemented by elegant lighting fixtures that add an East Asian feel. The space also features a Japanese paper lamp from designer Isamu Noguchi's Akari range, blending Scandinavian and Japanese elements.
This curated visual inspiration showcases the seamless integration of Japanese and Scandinavian design influences, creating a unique and inviting aesthetic that has gained popularity in interior design.
