Style Secret: Sculptural Lighting Natural light drives Japanese style, but fixtures with clean profiles and minimalist lines stand in after the sun sets. Here, a Japanese cricket lamp hangs pendant style above a floating nightstand, instead of a more traditional table lamp. You could also choose iconic fixtures that evoke the spirit of Japanese decor, such as the Nelson pendant lamp. East meets West: Hanging paper lanterns are quintessentially Japanese, but think beyond garden parties and kids' rooms. Lots of chain and specialty retailers (think Ikea, Crate & Barrel, West Elm) carry simple paper lamps that blend nicely with the Japanese aesthetic.
Style Secret: Tatami Mats Made of woven rushes, tatami mats are the quintessential Japanese floor covering, and they symbolize Japanese style in a way that few other objects can. They're minimalist and sleek, helping to ground the space in serenity. Traditionally, tatami mats are arranged in very specific sizes and patterns according to the dimensions of the room, but there's no need to adhere to old rules — choose the mat that works best for your space. East meets West: Think beyond the floor. Hung on the wall in the same way that you might mount a rug or quilt, tatami mats punctuate a space with quiet tone and texture. You can also use them as table runners or coverings.
Style Secret: Plants Introducing a touch of living greenery infuses a Japanese-style interior with vitality. Choose traditional plants such as bonsai and bamboo, potted in sleek, minimalist containers made of wood, stone or another organic substance. Keep the palette focused — green foliage is more appropriate than a bounty of colorful blooms. East meets West: Want to venture beyond classic Japanese plants? Bring in specimens that suit the style's sleek, minimalist look: horsetail, ornamental grasses and more. Or explore ikebana, the time-honored art of flower arranging (and there's no shame in having the florist pinch-hit if you're all thumbs when it comes to floral design).
Style Secret: Natural Colors Nature has an immense influence on Japanese style, and the palette is pulled from the world around us, inspired by earth, wood and stone. Use neutral, subtle colors that don't fall at extreme ends of the spectrum. Think creamy whites rather than stark ones, espresso browns instead of black, pale and midtone woods, and subdued greens and grays. East meets West: If you long for a bold stroke of color in a Japanese interior, you can pull it off — carefully. Limit yourself to one or two hues, in very restricted focal points, or else you risk upsetting the balance that's so vital to Japanese design. For instance, you might group a few sculptural red vases on a mantel or strew deep blue floor pillows in the living room.
Although this house is an example of a modern Japanese house with a deck-like engawa (exterior hallway) it wraps around its tsuboniwa in traditional style. The garden features moss, a stone lantern and a single tree against the exterior fence.
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