Zen and Japanese Home and Garden

Depending on where you live, you may have already seen furniture stores that offer a range of Japanese and Zen furniture options, but do you really understand “Zen Style?” As Americans, we tend to accumulate a lot of “stuff;” stuff that clutters our countertops, tabletops and floors. How do we incorporate the principles of Zen and unclutter a living space without getting rid of everything we own?  The answer is simple:  Japanese shoji screens.  They may not have been designed with the intent of hiding our junk from view but they do an amazing job of it, nonetheless.

(more…)

When tatami furniture was first introduced, it was the long-awaited answer to decorating a tatami room, but it has become a whole lot more.  People who love Japanese furniture often seek out tatami furniture for its ease and simplicity.  Starting with a foundation of organic fiber tatami mats, one might think it wouldn’t matter what you put on top, but it’s important to keep the rest of the room just as restful as the flooring.  Whether it’s a low-profile table topped with a Ginza paper table lamp, a soft futon mattress on a platform bed, or a subtle Japanese print, tatami furniture often has the same organic character as the flooring beneath.

Rather than focusing this article on the actual pieces of furniture, such as platform beds and shoji screens, I will make some suggestions for ways to accessorize a tatami room.  What goes best with tatami furniture?  Here are some unique options to consider.

(more…)

Is it time to renovate your home and give it a fresh new look?  As spring approaches, thousands of homeowners will be looking to Japanese style home décor for inspiration.  One reason for this is the way a Japanese interior can open up the home and make it more restful and inviting.  Rather than cluttering up their homes with piles of books, endless nick-knacks and over-sized furniture, Zen interior designers know that less is more.  Instead of looking for more ways to personalize their space, Japanese home decor focuses on the people in the room by employing neutral tones and low profile furnishings.

In a recent poll of U.S. interior designers, Japanese or Zen design is the most requested type of décor for the home.  Even those who choose a American contemporary furniture often include an element of Japanese style home décor here and there, whether it is a Shoji screen, a Japanese print or a futon bed.

(more…)

If you’ve never visited a Japanese home, it may be hard to imagine how differently they are decorated than typical Western homes.  Unlike American homeowners, Japanese decorators seek to maximize “white space” and create a peaceful sanctuary within the home.  It should come as no surprise then, that Japanese bed frames would be designed to promote rest and relaxation.

Many people have found that non-traditional mattresses, such as futons and memory foam, are much more conducive to a good nights’ sleep.  Not only do they take up less space and make a room seem less crowded, they are much less expensive.  Traditional mattresses on the other hand can cost thousands of dollars and may not last more than 10 years. For years, decorators have been encouraging homeowners to convert their bedroom to a Zen design, inspired by Feng Shui.

(more…)

Are you the kind of person who needs a firm, tightly woven mattress in order to get a good night’s sleep?  Do you prefer sitting on the floor on a firm cushion over sitting on a cushiony couch?  Then tatami mats may become your new “best friend.” Recommended by orthopedists and back specialists, tatami mats are also perfect for people with allergies to synthetic mattress materials.  These Japanese inspired rectangular mats are made with high-grade organic materials such as rice straw and rush grass.  This makes them more harmonious and natural and adds a pleasing aroma.

(more…)

January is here, and it’s the best time of year to stop procrastinating about those home improvement projects.  Nothing beats a snowy indoor weekend and an easy project, especially when it will make a noticeable improvement on your home décor.  If you want to transform your interior space without opening a single can of paint, why not check out the shoji door kits at Chopa.com. With these easy-to-install doors, you can make the kind of improvement you would expect to see on HGTV, only it will be in your own home.

Ever since home improvement channels became popular, people have taken more of an interest in home makeovers.  Of course, not everyone can afford to have a team of contractors descend on their home for a weekend, but there are some small things that can make a huge impact on the look of your home.

(more…)

If you’ve always wanted a Japanese style bedroom or an overall “Zen” look for your home, then there is no better way to get started than with Japanese bed frames.  Among the most popular ways to decorate a contemporary bedroom, young couples cannot get enough of these elegant, low-profile frames.  Not only do they work perfectly in a low-key bedroom, they only need a platform bed mattress to be complete.  With the rising price of mattress and box-spring sets, many homeowners are finding Japanese bed frames to be a more practical choice.

(more…)

For some reason, home decorators still think there is something mysterious about decorating in Zen style, like they have to get a degree in Asian studies in order to carry it off.  While there are many aspects of Asian décor that may seem foreign to the Western mindset, there are some simple ways to get started with Japanese style furniture.  Platform beds and other Asian accessories can give the bedroom an instant facelift without much effort.  In fact, it is in the bedroom where many would-be Zen decorators begin their journey.

(more…)

Japanese style tatami mats haven’t made inroads with American homeowners quite as much as some other Zen furnishings, such as futons and shoji screens.  However, as more designers incorporate elements of tatami rooms in their contemporary designs, the concept is so foreign to upscale buyers.  The only problem with tatami mats is trying to incorporate them into a home setting that includes Western style furnishings.  Many decorators believe that the best way to use these organic rice straw mats is in a tatami room setting.

(more…)