[Cover image –Nordiska Kök]
Japandi style kitchens are a relatively new trend, but one that already has some serious staying power. It’s functional yet stylish, combining everything you need with nothing you don’t.
What does that mean in practice? Just think minimal, calm, and organised with natural elements.
In this post, I’m sharing 15 Japandi style kitchens to help give you some inspiration for your next kitchen renovation project.
Let’s get into it!
What Is Japandi Kitchen Style?
Japandi (sometimes called Scandinese) kitchens combine Japanese design with Scandinavian style. This trend takes its influences (and the best bits) from both design styles and combines them into the perfect blend of form and function.
Japandi style aims to take the Scandinavian concept of ‘Hygge’ and entwine it with the Japanese notion of ‘Wabi-Sabi’.
Hygge – a quality of cosiness and comfort that brings on a feeling of contentment or well-being.
Wabi-Sabi – appreciating the beauty found in imperfection.
In order to design a Japandi style kitchen, there are a few core design elements you’ll need to be aware of and work with. I’ve listed a few below to help you with your Japandi style journey.
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Japandi Kitchen Design Concept
I’ve outlined some of the main Japandi kitchen design ideas to take into consideration when looking to achieve this kitchen design aesthetic.
Natural Elements
Bringing the outdoors in is a cornerstone in Japandi design. This could be using natural textures and materials such as wood for your cabinets or accessorising with plants to help bring a little bit of nature inside. Big or small, natural accents are the way to go.
Minimal
Keeping things simple is key to a Japandi kitchen. The clean and clear design comprises intentional and functional items.
With Minimalism, you want to avoid cluttered and messy spaces, but equally, you don’t want an empty white box. It’s about being thoughtful and considering which items and colours you introduce. Everything must have a purpose.
However, it doesn’t just have to be a functional purpose. It could also be aesthetic. This could mean an item or colour that brings joy or calm when you see it day-to-day.
Contrast
Light and dark, modern and traditional – Japandi style kitchens are all about contrast. This adds visual interest without cluttering your space. Just make sure you’re mindful of the contrast you create. There’s a big difference between contrast and clashing!
Texture
Texture is so important in a Japandi style kitchen, so don’t be afraid to add beautiful textures to your walls, worktops, or wares. Just be mindful of how and when you are mixing your textures. As with contrast, you can definitely have too much of a good thing!
Japandi Colour Palette
Japandi will often use a neutral but warm colour palette as its base. Soft greys, off-white, warm beiges and browns are popular core colours. It takes much of its inspiration from natural elements and earthy tones. However, you are certainly not limited to these colours.
Japandi kitchen design will then introduce elements of contrasting darker hues and textures to create a bold look. Such as walnut or darker-coloured painted cabinets still in keeping with its nature-inspired look.
Some common colours used in Japandi include:
- White: Clean and bright, soft and off-white, white is a staple of both Scandinavian and Japanese design.
- Grey: A range of cool and warm greys is often used to create a serene and calming atmosphere in Japandi interiors.
- Beige: A warm, neutral beige is another popular colour in Japandi, adding a touch of natural warmth to a space.
- Black: Black is often used as an accent colour in Japandi, adding contrast and depth to a neutral palette.
- Brown: Warm and earthy browns are often used to add natural texture and depth to a Japandi space.
- Muted blues and greens: Soft, muted blues and greens can add a pop of colour to a Japandi space without overwhelming the overall aesthetic.
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‘Form and Function‘
1. Mid-century Modern Mindset
Mid-century modern design chimes perfectly with Japandi style kitchens. Using dark wood cabinets, light worktops, and vintage elements adds richness without overcrowding the space. A large quartz island adds dramatic contrast to the space.
2. Blue and Brown and Grey All Over
This gorgeous kitchen combines natural worktops and dark wood with an unexpected splash of blue for the base cabinet run. Statement pendant lights bring this otherwise rustic kitchen straight into the 21st century.
3. Small and Soothing
Good things do come in small packages – and this kitchen proves it. Minimalist style with maximum functionality, this kitchen uses light wood and an open shelf to keep the space from feeling enclosed. This limestone worktop is also one of my personal favourites!
4. Dreaming of White
Straight lines and white walls might sound clinical, but this kitchen adds warmth with stunning oak base cabinets. Small details – like the assortment of white bowls – add a touch of whimsy to this otherwise blank canvas. Want to warm it up even more? Add some plants for a splash of green.
5. Family Friendly Form and Function
Just because Japandi style kitchens are super stylish, that doesn’t mean they can’t be family-friendly. With lots of cabinet space and a super functional layout, this kitchen is perfect for a family home.
6. Contrast and Texture
I love the use of different cabinets and textures in this kitchen. The subtle lines on the main cabinets work beautifully with the rustic finish of the island cabinets. The clean white worktop ensures the space isn’t overwhelmed by these other elements, keeping the kitchen’s minimalist style.
7. Dark Design
While many Japandi style kitchens use light or wooden cabinets to achieve the look, this design opts for the unexpected option – black. Pairing them with a light quartz splashback and worktop keeps the kitchen feeling light as a feather. A fun lantern-style lampshade finishes off the look.
8. Thinking in the Box
This kitchen uses a small, boxed-in space to great effect. The playful inset and small open shelf add visual interest to an otherwise flat run of plain white cabinets. The addition of some small plants, dark wood fold-out shelves, and stunning dark wood panelling makes the kitchen deliciously interesting to the eye.
9. Quartz Fantasy
The real standout of this kitchen is the gorgeous marble worktop and splashback. Leaving this as the main feature of the kitchen, pairing it with white and neutral wood cabinets, ensures a minimalist style. Even the simple yet beautifully designed dark wood bar stools have that japandi aesthetic. And notice the handles on the full-length cabinet – it’s these tiny details that really set a kitchen apart.
10. Texture, Texture Everywhere
From the cabinets to the chairs to the worktop to the walls, this Japandi style kitchen is all about texture. The warmth and visual interest this creates are perfectly complemented by the subtle colouring used. To introduce more colours would be to overcomplicate the scene. Instead, this design uses soft neutrals to make the cabinetry texture the standout feature.
11. Modern Luxury
The name of the game is minimalist for this kitchen. Neutral grey/beige (greige) cabinets, a clean quartz worktop, and minimal accents offer a sense of peace and tranquillity. Adding feature lighting keeps the space from being impersonal.
12. Don’t Save the Drama
It’s easy to say this design has a flair for the dramatic! The dark cabinets – offset only by the light worktop on the island – are both minimalist and exciting. This kitchen also benefits from lots of storage space, meaning you can keep it clutter-free!
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13. Building Blocks
The island of this kitchen is the definition of form and function. The single-block design offers ample workspace, while the seating cut-out means it operates as an additional dining area. And don’t forget the beautiful black and white contrast – a key feature of Japandi style kitchens. The open shelving is another way to keep things looking clean and simple.
14. Going for Gold
I love the delicate gold accents of this kitchen, as they add subtle opulence to an otherwise unassuming design. The solid white island and light wood cabinets are minimalist yet modern. Throw in a concrete-style floor, and you have yourself a winner!
15. Room With a View
Not everyone has the option of a window as a splashback, but if you do then you should certainly consider it. This design is striking yet simple, drawing your attention to the natural world while leaving the interior clean and functional. A poured concrete floor keeps it cool – in more ways than one.
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FAQs
When did Japandi become popular?
Japandi is a relatively new kitchen design style that has emerged over the last decade. It combines elements of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian simplicity to create a unique, harmonious aesthetic that is popular in interior design and home decor.
The term “Japandi” is believed to have originated on social media platforms, such as Pinterest and Instagram, where users began to share images of interiors that combined the clean lines, natural materials, and minimalist aesthetics of both Japanese and Scandinavian design.
Japandi’s popularity has grown steadily in recent years, as more people embrace the simplicity and tranquillity of the style. Its appeal lies in its ability to create a calming, comfortable space that is both functional and beautiful, without overwhelming the senses with too much clutter or colour.
Whether or not it will stand the test of time as a design trend, we will just have to wait and see.
Can you use black in Japandi Design?
Yes, black can be used in Japandi design as an accent colour or to add contrast to a neutral colour palette. However, it is important to use black sparingly and thoughtfully, as too much of it can create a harsh, heavy look that detracts from the calm, minimalist aesthetic of Japandi.
In Japandi design, black is often used to highlight the clean lines and simple forms of furniture and accessories, or to add depth and contrast to a space. For example, a black accent wall or black window frames can create a striking focal point in a room, while black metal or wood accents can add texture and visual interest.
When using black in Japandi design, it is important to balance it with lighter, softer tones such as white, beige, or light wood tones, to maintain a sense of balance and harmony in the space.
Final Thoughts…
After reading this post, I hope you are as full of Hygge and Wabi-Sabi as these Japandi style kitchens! And I hope you feel inspired to give this style a shot.
The Japandi style is a great choice if you want to create a little bit of calm in your kitchen, love interior design, and enjoy a minimalist lifestyle. Or maybe you just enjoy the texture, natural elements, and contrast – that’s okay too!
It’s easy to see why Japandi kitchens are becoming a popular design choice.
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Author
Michael Reeve
About
Michael is a kitchen designer from the UK. He's been designing and project managing new kitchen installations for over 10 years. Before that, he was an electrician and part of a team that fitted kitchens. He created Kitchinsider in early 2019 to help give people advice when it comes to getting a new kitchen.
