When a person enter a Japanese home, the first thing that a person notices is the quiet that exists within the home. The quiet is a result of the individuals who live in those homes knowing what belongs within the space and what does not. The traditional decor that exists in Japanese homes works to remove all of the unneccesary elements within those homes, allowing the remaining elements of the home to perform their function of those homes.
While it may seem as if this approach to decor is simple, such an approach is actualy formed due to centuries of Japanese taste developing within the culture, based upon Zen beliefs, limited available resources, and an appreciation of nature. By understanding the logic behind the choices made in the homes, individuals begins to see the decor in a different way… As something that is intentional within the homes rather than minimally decorate.
Consequently, an individual begins to change the way in which they view there own homes and their decor within them. For those who would like to introduce the decor and design elements of traditional Japanese homes into their own homes, it is important to understand that it is not necessary to tear down the walls of one’s homes or to purchase any decor that may come with great expense. Instead, only a few ideas need to be applied to an individual’s home to begin to transform that space.
Each of the ideas that will be discussed in this introduction will explain not only the reasons for which each of these ideas is applied within Japanese homes, but also how they can be applied to an individual’s home without the need to transform their entire home into a museum of Japanese decor. It is recommended that individuals begin with just one or two of these ideas, and the others will begin to natural develop within the homes of those who have learned how to allow their eyes to rest. One of the most important decor elements that can be applied to any home is the use of shoji screens.
Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Home Traditionally
1. Shoji Screens
Shoji screens are screens that are made of wooden frames that are covered in translucent paper. These screens can be used as an alternative to curtains that cover a doorway or window. During the day, the translucent paper will allow for the light to enter into the home.
During the night, if an individual places a single lamp behind one of these screens, the screen will function as a lantern for the home. These screens also help to muffle any sounds that enter into the home, which is one of the reasons that many of the rooms within a Japanese home begin to appear quieter when divided by these screens. Shoji screens can be purchased for an individual’s homes or the individuals themselves can build them and cover them in paper. If the wood screens are to be created for the home, the wood should either be left unfinished or stained a very dark color.
2. Tatami Mats
Another essential element is the use of tatami mats. Tatami mats are mats that are woven from rush straw and include a soft border of cloth.
These mats have a pleasant scent due to the rush straw, and provide some give to the individual who steps upon the mats. Mats are often used within Japanese homes to divide the space into rooms of certain sizes. Each room is measured in the number of tatami mats that is placed within that room, and those numbers are typically even numbers.
Rather than replacing the mats within an entire room, two or three tatami mats can be placed within a corner of the room to indicate a certain area within the room. Additionally, by placing mats within a corner of a room, individuals are forced to crouch when entering the area, which alters the sizing of any furnishings that exist in those rooms. The mats often age to a warm, honey-colored tone over time. Instead of using a broom to clean the mats, they should be vacuumed. Additionally, no wet items should be placed upon the mats. Within Japanese homes is an alcove within the home that is often referred to as the tokonoma alcove.
3. Tokonoma Alcove
Within the tokonoma alcove are decor items that pay respect to the season within which the home exists. The alcove may contain a single scroll of artwork, a flower arrangement, and one small ceramic item. There is nothing else within the alcove.
The restriction of items within the alcove is part of the decor. For instance, during the spring, a single branch of plum may be placed within the alcove. During the autumn season, a scroll of the harvest moon may be displayed within the alcove. For the remainder of the year, the tokonoma alcove may be empty. The emptiness of the alcove is one of its features. In homes that do not have a tokonoma alcove, an alcove may be created on a low shelf or on the top of a chest of drawers. The same rules apply to both of these alternatives to the alcove. Less is more. Ikebana is an art form in Japan that depicts flowers that have been arranged in an intentional way.
4. Ikebana Flower Arrangement
For instance, rather than creating a flower arrangement with dense clusters of flowers, the flowers may be arranged such that only one bloom exists, along with some grass blades. Additionally, the container in which the arrangement exists is just as important as the flower itself. Ikebana arrangements may use containers of low height and width, and may be colored matte black or earth tones. Incorporating the art of ikebana into an individual’s home even once each month will train the individual to focus upon the beauty of asymmetrical design and imperfect flowers. For instance, when first beginning to learn about ikebana, an individual may use the branches from a supermarket to begin their efforts into the craft. Japanese homes use natural wood tones to decorate the environments within.
5. Natural Wood Tones
Woods such as cypress, cedar, and keyaki are some of the most common woods within Japanese homes. These woods tend to have relatively quiet colors. Additionally, these woods should be finished in a manner that emphasizes their natural characteristics; using tung oil or leaving the wood as raw as possible will allow the wood to natural age and darken over many decades.
Additionally, Japanese homes often use wooden beams or tables that use the natural wood for both function and decor. For instance, if an individual introduces color to the decor within the home, the color will come from the items within the room (such as an indigo cushion) rather than the painted walls. The use of natural wood within Japanese homes is one of the reasons that the rooms within never appear to date within their interiors. Furoshiki cloths are square cloths that can be used for any number of decorative and functional items within the home. For instance, the cloths can be used to cover gifts, carry lunches, or to drape across a table to create an “instant” runner. These cloths also come in a variety of colors and patterns.
6. Furoshiki Cloths
For instance, the cloths can be hung upon the wall within the home as art decor, or they can be used to cover a selection of books that is placed upon a side table. Cloths come in a variety of sizes; smaller cloths can be folded to the size of a handkerchief and hidden within a dresser drawer. Thus, these cloths are popular with individuals looking for a decor element that has a variety of functions and is easily hidden away when not in use. Japanese homes also often incorporate stones into their decorations. Some of the ways in which these stones can be incorporated into a Japanese home include the placement of a granite basin within the home, the use of a river rock as a paperweight within a decorative stand, or even the placement of a small zen garden within the home. The stones should be chosen such that they include some form of visual interest; for instance, they should be of an interesting shape or exhibit subtle color variations within themselves.
7. Stone Decorations
Additionally, rocks may be utilized in a zen garden to be raked into designs that encourage the individuals within the home to focus upon their minds each day. Even smaller versions of these decorations, such as placing a box of sand upon a windowsill, can have the same visual function within the home. Bamboo is another natural element that is incorporated into the decor of Japanese homes.
8. Bamboo Elements
For instance, bamboo is often used to frame shoji screens, tea whisks have handles made of bamboo, and vases within the homes are made of bamboo. Additionally, bamboo is a strong yet flexible material, which makes it a symbolic element within Japan’s culture. Within the homes, bamboo can be incorporated into screens for the home, stools for the individual’s home, and even incorporated into the decoration of any item within the home. Because bamboo is a relatively strong natural wood, it does not need to be finished with any protective agent; a damp cloth may be used to clean the item. Additionally, the color of bamboo is the pale green color that it exhibits naturally; it is the only relatively cool color within Japanese homes. Japanese homes utilize low furniture items.
9. Low Furniture
For instance, rather than purchasing an armchair that lifts an individual off of the floor to an height of eighteen inches, Japanese homes use zabuton cushions to place upon tatami mats within the homes, or they may use a very low bench for the individuals within the home. The use of low furniture allows for an individual’s eyes to scan the entire home rather than stopping at eye level when they pass each object in the home. Consequently, Japanese homes often appear to be of larger size. Though it may take some adjustment for the guests who visit these homes, most will appreciate the change after just one visit. Additionally, the lines for these low furniture items may be left as visible as possible, indicating the craftsmanship of the item. Japanese homes often use a method of subtraction in the placement of the lighting within the room.
10. Paper Lantern Lighting
For instance, ceiling lights can be removed from the room, and paper lanterns can be used within the home instead. Additionally, the lighting within these homes may use both floor lamps and candles that are placed within stones of interest to the owners of those homes. Each item within the home is to receive a highlight from the lighting within, but the corners of the rooms may still remain in shadows. This lighting method is used to add depth to the rooms, even within the smallest of apartments. Additionally, bulbs of even color to the environment are utilized in Japanese homes; however, they are of a warm color with approximately 2700 Kelvin. Such bulbs mimic the color of oil lamps in the past, and even help the individuals in the room to have flattering tones to their skin. By changing the lighting in the homes from overhead lights to these alternatives, the atmosphere within the entire home immediately changes. Japanese homes often incorporate the use of negative space, or what is referred to as “ma” within Japanese homes. For instance, ma is the space between the notes within a song.
11. Negative Space (Ma)
Additionally, ma can also indicate the space between items within a home, or the space within the home that is cleared of any items that may distract from another item within the home. For instance, the negative space within the home may be used in which each design element has time to be appreciated. When cleared of any items, Japanese homes often appear to be starkly decorated. However, after providing the room and the home with a week to adjust to the negative space, the focus upon a single design element within the cleared space may draw more focus from the individual to that element than to the entire shelf of items within the home. Though it is difficult for an individual to trust the visual “ma” within their homes, it is also among the most rewarding visual elements that they can incorporate into those homes. Bringing the decor of Japan into the home is not about acquiring the appropriate objects for the space.
It is about learning to see through a quieter eye. From the screen to the vase of the single branch of a tree, each object asks you to take a closer look at your surroundings. These rooms will not call for your attention. Rather, the rooms will wait for you to arrive, to remove your shoes, and to finally exhale. That exhale is one that will be difficult to ignore once experienced. Start small and continue to make these changes to your home. Allow the empty spaces in your decor to work their silent but powerful magic.
