Living Room Essentials For A Japandi Inspired Design

Are you interested in giving your living room a Japandi-inspired makeover? It's important to understand the ins and outs of this simplistic interior design style in order to pull this off successfully. House Digest's design historian, Sarah Bilotta, shared a brief rundown of what Japandi-inspired design entails. "Japandi is a portmanteau for Japanese and Scandi," Bilotta explained while speaking exclusively with House Digest. "This style combines elements of Scandinavian hygge-inspired design and Japanese modern design." The expert also revealed the living room essentials you'll want to get your hands on if you're looking to incorporate Japandi-inspired design within your space. "Key decor pieces might include an area rug, sofa, and loveseat, accented with lots of potted plants," she said.

Keep in mind that simplicity is key when it comes to this popular interior decorating style. Bilotta explained that you should leave plenty of open room between furniture and decor pieces. This creates a light and airy feel, which is a vital component of Japandi-inspired design. Now that you understand what living room essentials you should use to embrace this decor style, you might be even more inspired to incorporate it into your home. From amplifying natural light to opting for pieces made of natural materials, there's much more you can do to make your living room a simplistic, Japandi-inspired wonderland.

While speaking exclusively with House Digest, Sarah Bilotta shared the design elements you should be aware of when shopping for Japandi-inspired pieces to fill out your living room. According to the expert, decor and furniture made of eco-friendly materials are a great fit for this style. "Japandi is all about natural woods, especially light-colored woods found in nature in these areas, like bamboo and birch," she added. "Blend in some hand-crafted touches, like a braided rug purchased at a craft fair for a cozy, homey accent."

If you have no clue where to find pieces that fit these requirements, fear not. Bilotta shared her recommendations: "The best place to look for 'starter' pieces on a budget is HomeGoods or Homesense," the expert said. "Here you can find durable, sustainable materials for less than you would pay at a big retailer like West Elm or Crate & Barrel." If you're on a tight budget, consider shopping at second-hand stores.

Don't overlook used pieces just because they have a bit of wear and tear. There are many easy ways to revitalize thrifted furniture so that it looks just as flawless as the inventory sold by retailers. If you're perusing the aisles of the aforementioned stores in search of Japandi-inspired furniture and decor, Bilotta recommends opting for light colors and cozy textures. She revealed that handmade pottery pieces are great picks, too.

Although incorporating Japandi-inspired design techniques into your living room is relatively straightforward, there is one major mistake you'll want to avoid. According to Bilotta, you might not be able to nail the right look with cheap IKEA pieces. "IKEA dominates our western interior decor landscape, so believe it or not, our eyes will read IKEA style in a specific way — and these pieces may not fully communicate the Japandi look you're going for," she explained while speaking exclusively with House Digest. If you want to make IKEA pieces work to save a bit of money, Bilotta shared that you should purchase high-quality staple pieces from other stores and accessorize with IKEA items.

Bilotta also recommended incorporating earthy elements like natural materials and indoor plants. "If you don't have a green thumb, try foraging natural materials from your property," she said. "A bundle of branches from a bare tree can make a cozy, rustic accent arranged in a clay pot." The expert also suggested snagging a piece of driftwood to add to a tabletop.

Bilotta's final tips will help you incorporate this design into a tiny living room. She recommended opting for decor and furniture made of light-colored wood (rather than wood with a dark finish) to make the space feel larger. According to the expert, letting in natural light will also open up the space more. You can add the feeling of natural light to your home with this LED hack if you don't have very many windows to work with.