The beauty of a Japanese home is derived from its simple and uncluttered appearance that creates an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Its interiors are normally painted in neutral colors to serve as a bare and simple backdrop to the beauty of the architecture. Because a Japanese home places greater emphasis on architecture, the tendency is to create a sense of geometric order. Natural colors are used on the interior walls to avoid the sense of clutter and uphold the philosophy of simplicity.
Unlike western homes that are filled with large, comfortable and attractive furniture and ornate decoration with splashes of color here and there, the Japanese home remains clean and uncluttered and normally creates a dramatic decorating statement simply by highlighting a single strong color or a dominant texture.
You can, however, bring the Japanese touch into your own home and office by applying some of the more popular Japanese design principles that you know —most especially, the Shoji design system which has inspired a great number of the world's great architects and designers like Frank Lloyd Wright, Bruno Taut, and Terence Conran, to name a few. Before you can effectively apply the Japanese touch to your home, however, you need to understand the basic elements of Japanese interior design and the manner by which the Shoji designs can be incorporated into these elements. This should not prove difficult as the Shoji Design caters to the needs of both contemporary as well as traditional Japanese design. Bear in mind that components of the Shoji design include Shoji screens, Japanese furniture and Shoji lamps which all help to give a western home an elegant look.
Other elements that may enhance the Japanese flavor you may want to add to your home or office interiors include the tategu or sliding doors and windows in a Japanese house; the tatami or Japanese woven floor mats; the tokonoma which is an alcove and the spot where family treasures and seasonal decorations are displayed very similar to the fireplace mantle commonly found in most western homes and where other Japanese decorative items like a bonsai plant, an ikebana or Japanese hanging scrolls may be displayed.
Remember, the Japanese home hardly has furniture although some pieces that can be found in traditional homes include the tansu, hibachi and kotatsu.
Keep in mind that the best method to test if you are keeping true to the Japanese decorating principle is to remind yourself that, for the Japanese. "less is more" and the simpler and more uncluttered, the more beautiful the decorating design is. That should be simple enough.
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