If you wish to have a clutter-free home that diffuses peace and serenity, you might want to consider a Japanese-inspired home decoration.  After all, traditional Japanese homes are created and arranged to create a calm and tranquil environment.  This is done by selecting natural, minimalist colors for the interior.  Although bold and bright colors are used in Japanese homes, they are always applied with restraint and just to complement the more subdued ones.  Black, not considered a color in customary Western interior design, is actually a valuable color element in Oriental homes and is used to harmonize with white, not clash with it. The neutral, monochromatic colors are usually provided by dark hardwoods, bamboo, polished concrete and pebbles, which are usually found in Japanese home interiors.

Furniture is also used sparingly.  Therefore, most furniture has simple design yet complex uses.  A futon, for example, could be a decorative fixture which can double for a seat, a foot-rest, or even a bed.  A wooden trunk can also serve a dual purpose – it can both be a table and a storage piece.  Black ash furniture is perfect for a Japanese-inspired home.  The house should have plenty of open spaces; furniture and furnishings should therefore be kept at a minimum.

Lighting is also a key element in Japanese interior design.  Indirect lighting creates a more peaceful and tranquil environment.  This is achieved by diffusing light through rice-paper lamps to produce a warm glow.

Shoji (paper screens) and Fusuma (paper doors) are also important architectural elements in a Japanese home.  These are used to conceal and divide.  Fusuma is made of wood covered with rice paper and could be painted with scenes depicting nature such as bamboo, flowers and landscapes.  Both Shoji and Fusuma are readily available in shops and catalogue companies but those who wish to make one themselves can do so by attaching rice or tracing paper to a wooden frame.

In general, when decorating a home the Japanese style, it is always important to keep in mind the concept of yin and yang, the harmonious working together of opposites.  Colors, furniture and furnishings should complement each other to create the balance inherent in a Japanese home.

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