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Japandi cuisine - minimalism at its best

    24/09/2025

    5 min.

    Annick Vernimmen | SOLA Kitchens London | ERBEE Keukens

What do the purist Japanese interior design style and understated Nordic coolness have in common? In a Japandi kitchen, natural materials, soft colours and clear shapes merge to create a calm, homely atmosphere. What is the concept of the Japandi style, what colours are used - and how do you decorate in this style? 

What is a Japandi kitchen and what are the advantages of the style?

Japandi comes from the east and north: The Japandi kitchen combines the aesthetic clarity typical of Japan with the warm cosiness of Scandinavia. But what exactly characterises the Japandi style?

 

In keeping with the motto "less is more", a Japandi-style kitchen has a reduced, functional look: Furniture and decoration in clear lines, a light, warm colour scheme, natural materials, matt surfaces and wide, sparsely furnished and decorated areas. This creates a room to breathe in which you can easily keep things organised. A room that impresses with stylish functionality

    What is the origin of the Japandi style?

    The roots of the Japandi kitchen trend go back many years. Classic Japanese design is based on reduction to the essentials, naturalness and simplicity. In the 20th century, designers in Scandinavia shaped a style that also focussed on purist simplicity, natural materials and clean lines. In the 2010s, interior designers began to specifically combine the commonalities of both styles - the Japandi style for the kitchen was born.

     

    Good to know: The boho look also plays with natural materials. Like Japandi, he relies on untreated materials and earthy colours. Instead of no-frills straightforwardness, however, lush details such as fringing, feathers, embroidery and macramé create a visual wow effect.

    Colours, materials and their effect

    Which colours are used in the Japandi style, which wood blends harmoniously into the look? The same applies to all materials and colours in the Japandi kitchen: Calm, simplicity and elegance are the trump cards. You choose from shades such as ... 

    • off-white

    • light grey and greige tones

    • Muted earthy colours such as olive green and terracotta

    Create strong contrasts and depth with dark accents, for example with matt black surfaces. 

     

    Natural materials complement the soft colours of the Japandi kitchen: 

     

    • Kitchen fronts made of solid wood radiate warmth. 

     

    • Rough textures such as linen textiles and untreated, grained wood with a striking tree edge create natural accents and provide visual variety. 

     

    • Accessories such as bowls and vases made of bamboo provide the typical Asian touch. 

     

    • Wall panelling with light wood slats emphasises the Japandi style. 

     

      How do you decorate a kitchen in Japandi style?

      Functional and with a clear look: Decorative objects come in handy in the Japandi kitchen. Roughly glazed ceramic vases in a clear design, woven baskets, linen tea towels, storage boxes in a stone or concrete look emphasise the perfect symbiosis of North and East.

       

      Tip: With individually arranged eucalyptus branches in narrow, tall stone vases, you can bring freshness and structure into the room. In our guide, we reveal more decorating ideas for your kitchen.

        Elegance meets nature and functional storage space: Ideas for your Japandi-style kitchen

        Would you like to make minimalism a statement in your home? A Japandi style kitchen is ideal for open interior concepts, large rooms, but also for classic kitchens in a separate room. To emphasise the characteristic width, a room size from approx. 15 m² is recommended. 

         

        • In Japandi kitchens, for example, a large table with a natural solid wood top and striking tree edge in the centre of the room invites you to socialise. 

         

        • Bar stools at the centrally positioned kitchen unit create additional seating and emphasise the convivial atmosphere. 
        • Matt black fronts on cabinets and the carcase of a kitchen island create a skilful Scandinavian-Asian look in combination with warm, white-washed oak

         

        • Narrow wooden slats as a kitchen splashback reinforce the Japanese flair. 

         

        • A worktop made of a cool material skilfully breaks up the visual warmth of the wooden elements - for example, a variant made of white Makaubas quartzite. The stone comes from Brazil and is characterised by different colour combinations and patterns. 

          Tip: Bring nature into your Japandi kitchen - for example with a large olive tree as an eye-catcher or bamboo plants for an Asian touch. 

            Functional Japandi kitchen: Clever integration of storage space and appliances

            Simplicity is the leitmotif in the Japandi style kitchen - and this also applies to the integration of the electrical appliances. Built-in versions remain elegantly in the background, while small appliances disappear into cupboards and behind closed fronts.

             

            To emphasise the open, light atmosphere, installing a cooktop extractor system such as BORA Pure is a good idea. Particularly when integrated into a central kitchen island, this preserves the generous width of the room - and in open-plan layouts you can enjoy an unobstructed view into the living area

              Fresh air in sight Design meets technology

              The BORA cooktop extractor system extracts vapours directly from the cooktop. Which solution suits your kitchen?

              In the Japandi kitchen, the BORA cooktop extractor system not only ensures fresh air in the natural kitchen: The low height guarantees maximum storage space for pots and other kitchen utensils in the base unit. 

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