Turn your bedroom into a cozy, relaxing area by combining the minimalism of Japanese homes and the natural simplicity of Scandinavian interiors.
Whether you've heard of it as Japandi, Scandinese, Scandi-Japanese, or Japanordic, it doesn't matter: the main thing is that this style drawing inspiration from Japanese and Scandinavian interiors can be the perfect compromise for your home and especially your bedroom.
Nature-inspired, simple, and minimalist, both decor styles share core elements while distinguishing themselves through unique accents and nuances.
This gives you the exciting opportunity to create a Japandi bedroom that's truly yours, focusing on what makes you feel cozy, comfortable, and at peace.
To help you get inspired, here are some creative Japandi bedroom ideas from our interior design experts.
1. Start with a minimalist mindset
Both Scandinavian and Japanese interiors are characterized by a minimalist approach to decor, so move away from the idea that every corner must be filled with something, whether that’s a piece of furniture or some other object.
Instead, focus on functional pieces and aim for a clean visual flow by leaving plenty of room in between them or in your bedroom in general.
2. Consider a declutter first
It’s tempting to start finding ways to rearrange everything you already own, but that doesn’t really align with the principles of Japandi interiors. And let’s be honest: do you seriously want extra stuff to dust and store?!
So, we recommend conducting a thorough declutter before creating the perfect Japandi bedroom. That way, it’ll only include functional or meaningful items that actually matter to you.
3. Break free from trends and popular choices
Both decor styles prioritize quality and meaning over quantity to create a setting that works for you personally.
Just because something happens to be a popular choice in other homes, it doesn’t automatically mean that you should introduce it in your Japandi bedroom.
For example, it’s common practice to add some artwork or shelves above bedframes, but this room swaps them for a more minimalist and spacious approach.
4. Stick to clean lines
Cabriole legs, ornate wood carvings, harmonious frames? Forget all about them!
Japandi interiors thrive on clean and sleek lines that reinforce a sense of simplicity and a clear visual flow.
Whether they’re vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, we recommend sticking to them especially when it comes to your main bedroom furniture pieces and items, such as your bedframe, mirror, nightstands, and chests of drawers.
5. Embrace open spaces
An airy open feel can help you highlight the tranquility of Japanese interiors in particular.
For example, you could place your bed in the middle of the room instead of against the wall, or separate different areas with a smaller Japanese room divider rather than a bulkier or more permanent solution like a partition wall.
6. Choose furniture in natural materials…
Since both decor styles draw inspiration from the natural world, you can’t go wrong with some Japandi bedroom furniture made of wood, and especially models that showcase its unique hues and veins.
Alternatively, you could experiment with other natural materials like bamboo furniture.
7. … and decorate it with natural fabrics
Natural materials should go beyond wood in your Japandi bedroom: think textiles!
From throws to fluffy pillows and bed benches, choose natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool.
Thick or heavily textured items will also help you reinforce the sense of coziness that characterizes hygge.
8. Keep decorative items to a bare minimum
Whether that’s your walls or any horizontal surface like nightstands and chests of drawers, it’s easy to start filling your bedroom with decorative items without even realizing it.
In most cases, however, they end up becoming clutter rather than actively complementing your interior style or improving your experience.
For a proper Japandi bedroom, only include meaningful items that help you feel happy or relaxed whenever you look at them.
9. Have a limited number of statement pieces
You want your Japandi furniture to work together so that you can maintain a cohesive palette and balanced feel.
It still wouldn’t hurt to have a statement piece or two, but don’t go overboard!
For example, while this Japandi bedroom boasts some geometric paneling that steals the scene, it balances it with a plain wall on the opposite side that only includes one item.
10. Use open storage strategically
Open storage can be a trusted ally to avoid clutter: while closed storage tempts us to chuck something in the back and forget about it, shelves and similar open elements make us think twice since everything will be on display.
When decorating your open storage, create simple and aesthetically pleasing compositions by pairing up items that work well together, such as small book collections or plants next to some picture frames.
11. Consider floating furniture
If you’re big on the minimalist inspiration that characterizes Japanese and Scandinavian interiors, you can take it to the next level by removing the legs of some pieces of furniture.
You could draw inspiration from this floating console desk or apply the same idea to other items like nightstands, too.
This choice will result in an even cleaner visual flow and a more spacious feel in your Japandi bedroom.
12. Prioritize lighter wood finishes
While you can totally embrace darker options if that’s what you personally prefer, keep in mind that lighter woods tend to be more popular with these styles, and with Nordic interiors in particular.
This is not without good reason: lighter finishes maintain an airier vibe, inspiring a spacious feel which will work even more in your favor if your Japandi bedroom is on the small side.
13. Decorate with geometric patterns
While they wouldn’t look out of place with the clean lines of Japanese interiors, geometric shapes are a staple in Scandinavian rooms.
Several busy prints could clash and lead to a cluttered feel. Sticking to fewer patterns that rely on simple lines or geometric shapes, on the other hand, will look much more cohesive.
Harness this trick for smaller accents like cushions, wall prints, or even your bedsheets.
14. Create a natural palette
Both Japanese and Scandinavian interiors embrace colors from the natural world.
While each style has different nuances (for example, Nordic homes tend to include bright cheerful accents like yellow, whereas it’s not rare to find purple in Japanese rooms), there are also several hues that work with both.
For example, you could consider natural colors like brown, dark blue, and forest green.
15. Neutral hues are ideal, too
Another element shared by Scandi and Japanese palettes is the predominance of neutral colors like white, gray, and beige.
Use them wisely to create a cohesive base to which you can then add more noticeable accents in brighter natural colors.
16. Create a conscious contrast
One thing is to choose colors that end up clashing, another is to create a balanced contrast on purpose.
The latter is a popular aspect of Japandi bedrooms, and it can help you make certain items pop while still inspiring a cohesive feel whenever you walk into your room.
For example, some light blue cushions or bedsheets would really stand out when placed against a dark bedframe.
17. Don’t be afraid of big white interiors
With other decor styles or trends, we’re pushed to bury our white walls behind dozens of decorative items and pictures and to choose other colors for the rest of our room.
On the contrary, white is a key element in Japandi bedrooms. Not only is it a peaceful color, but it’ll help you emphasize natural light.
From walls to curtains and bedsheets, consider experimenting with white instead of shying away from it.
18. Welcome natural light into your Japandi bedroom
With light being so scarce during the colder months, it’s no wonder that Nordic homes try to make the most of it. Plus, natural light is important in Zen interiors, too.
So, embrace it as much as you can! This is easier if you already have large windows or glass walls, but you can also choose sheer curtains or place a mirror on the wall that’s perpendicular to the window.
19. Lighting is key
Turn off that huge overhead light immediately! In both Japanese and Scandinavian interiors, light is used strategically to create a special ambiance.
As well as embracing natural sunshine, you should aim for multiple smaller fixtures that create pools of light—from table lamps to flickering candles—rather than a single bright source.
It also helps to choose overhead lighting solutions that ensure a dimmer, softer glow.
20. Experiment with creative lighting fixtures
To further emphasize your Scandinavian inspiration, you could consider Le Klint pendants, hand-folded models, or simple geometric shades.
For more of a Japanese spin, think lanterns (including paper models), square or rectangular paneled designs, and intricate bamboo shades.
Either way, while the main focus should stay on the light, we can’t deny that the right lighting fixture can be a bold Japandi accent in itself.
21. Choose a platform bed…
Like the rest of their low furniture, platform beds are popular in Japanese interiors because they help you stay grounded and connected, which is obviously very Zen.
Stick to lighter finishes and simple lines if you want to homage your Scandi inspiration, too.
Platform beds without a headboard are another popular option, but take comforts and your personal habits into consideration (e.g. do you sit up to read in bed?).
22. … and add layers to it
When it comes to your bed, you can emphasize the Scandi side of things even further by focusing on fabric elements.
Create layers by placing blankets, throws, and cushions on top of your bedsheets.
As well as adding to the coziness and hygge of your bedroom, this trick will obviously keep you even warmer during winter.
23. Homage Japan and Scandinavian countries (tastefully!)
Think of your Japandi bedroom as an opportunity to homage these cultures rather than appropriating them in a tasteless way.
For example, if you introduce some Asian symbols or morphographic kanji characters, make sure that you actually know what they represent in Japan, and the same goes for runes or Norse myths.
24. Include some plants
The natural inspiration behind both styles wouldn’t be complete without some green.
Whether on your nightstand or in a corner, consider including houseplants or even some small trees.
Woody options like bamboo and bonsai trees tend to be more popular than colorful scented flowers in Asian Zen interiors. If you personally love the latter, however, you can always draw inspiration from Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangements.
25. Break the barrier between indoor and outdoor
Plants aren’t the only way to bring nature inside your home.
If the layout of your house allows it, another inspiring Japandi bedroom idea would be to remove this separation altogether by relying on large windows or doors that you can open onto your garden.
That way, it’ll really feel as if your bedroom had become one with nature and the outdoors.
26. Think of your bedroom as a natural sanctuary
From plants to glass sections and meaningful artwork, your Japandi bedroom can become a proper sanctuary on which you can always rely whenever you need to switch off from the outside world, find quiet, and reconnect with nature.
27. Even walking can be a sensorial experience
This concept works with both Asian Zen interiors and cozy Scandinavian rooms: walking barefoot around your home can help you feel more grounded and connected, so make sure that your floors facilitate this.
For example, wooden floors are a popular choice, and you can add some soft rugs made of natural materials to create some warmer, fluffy sections.
28. Introduce your kids to the Japandi mindset
Why limit these Japandi bedroom ideas to your own bedroom?! Instead of filling it up with clutter, a clash of patterns, and more toys that they’ll ever play with, make your children’s room a playful but peaceful and inspiring place, too
From maintaining a cohesive palette to choosing natural materials and fewer decorative items, your children’s bedroom can be just as relaxing and cozy as the rest of your home.
29. Think outside the box
Because you’re already opting for exotic decorative approaches rather than common trends, your Japandi bedroom can be your chance to showcase your decorative flair.
And we’re not suggesting that you do that just to wow anyone who visits it, but rather to find solutions that work with your specific needs and vision.
For example, this bedroom replaced the usual nightstand lamps with a candelabra and fixtures dangling from the ceiling.
30. Make it cozy for you
You could check the work of dozens of interior designers or more Pinterest boards, but your core idea should stay the same: create a space that matches your definition of coziness, peacefulness, and comfort.
For instance, while we recommended lighter wood finishes, it might be that darker wood panels are what makes you feel at home.
So, don’t ever compromise on your vision just to tick a certain ‘Japandi’ box!
Caroline Patterson
Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.
