---
title: "Japandi: Japanese calm meets Nordic simplicity\n – dims studio"
description: "Japandi blends Japanese wabi-sabi with Nordic hygge: calm earthy tones, natural materials and handmade ceramics. Get the guide to the look."
url: "https://dimsstudio.dk/blogs/inspiration/japandi-1"
source: "https://dimsstudio.dk/en/blogs/inspiration/japandi-1"
---
# Japandi: Japanese calm meets Nordic simplicity

![Minimalistisk japandi-stilleben med en stentøjsvase fra Kersten og en tør gren](//dimsstudio.dk/cdn/shop/articles/hf_20260614_174605_d0f5d969-8ae4-4bd5-8a3d-287bc510b876.png?crop=center&height=195&v=1781461689&width=375)

In short

Japandi is a style that blends **Japanese simplicity (wabi-sabi)** with **Nordic cosiness and function**. Think calm, earthy colours, natural materials like wood, clay and linen, a few well-considered things and plenty of breathing space. The result is a home that's minimalist yet warm – handmade ceramics and stoneware fit right in.

Japandi is one of the most popular interior styles – and for good reason. It brings together the best of two worlds: Japanese calm and the warm functionality of the Nordic home. Here's what the style is all about, and how to bring it into your own home.

## What is japandi?

The word is a blend of **Japan** and **Scandi**. The style draws on *wabi-sabi* from Japan – the beauty of the simple, imperfect and handmade – and combines it with the Scandinavian focus on light, function and cosiness. What they share: purity, natural materials and calm.

## Colours and materials

The palette is calm and earthy: warm beige, greys, clay, black and deep, muted greens and blues. The materials are natural – **wood, clay, stone, linen and bamboo** – with matte surfaces rather than glossy ones. Handmade ceramics and stoneware with small irregularities are the very heart of wabi-sabi.

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**Tip:** Choose a few beautiful things rather than many. In japandi, a single handmade vase with a branch is more striking than a full shelf.

## The key principles

- **Less is more:** clear out, and give things room to breathe.
- **Natural materials:** wood, clay, linen and stone in matte finishes.
- **Calm colours:** earthy tones and muted shades.
- **Craftsmanship:** the handmade and slightly imperfect over the perfect.
- **Function:** everything should be both beautiful and useful.

## Japandi vs. Scandinavian

|         | Scandinavian            | Japandi                             |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Colours | Light, white, pale wood | Warm earthy tones, darker contrasts |
| Mood    | Light and airy          | Calm and earthy                     |
| Details | Function and cosiness   | Craftsmanship and wabi-sabi         |

## How to get the look

Start by clearing out and choosing a calm, earthy palette. Add natural materials and simple, handmade objects: a stoneware vase with a single branch, a ceramic bowl, linen on the bed. Keep the lines clean and let there be air between things – it's the empty space that gives japandi its calm.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is japandi?

A style of interior design that blends Japanese simplicity (wabi-sabi) with Scandinavian cosiness and function – calm colours, natural materials and a few well-considered things.

### What colours are used in japandi?

Calm, earthy tones: beige, grey, clay, black and muted shades of green and blue.

### What's the difference between japandi and Scandinavian?

Scandinavian is light and airy; japandi is warmer and more earthy, with a focus on craftsmanship and wabi-sabi.

### What materials suit japandi?

Natural materials such as wood, clay, stone, linen and bamboo – ideally with matte surfaces and handmade character.

### How do I start with japandi?

Clear out, choose a calm palette, and add a few handmade objects in natural materials with air between them.

## Summary

Japandi unites Japanese wabi-sabi and Nordic cosiness: calm earthy tones, natural materials, craftsmanship and plenty of air. Choose a few beautiful things rather than many, and let handmade ceramics and stoneware set the tone. It's a style that's minimalist – but never cold.

## Read also

- [Scandinavian interior design: minimalism with personality](/en/blogs/inspiration/skandinavisk-indretning-minimalisme-med-personlighed)
- [Minimalist interior design: less is more](/en/blogs/inspiration/minimalistisk-indretning-less-is-more)
- [What is ceramics? Everything you need to know about the material](/en/blogs/inspiration/hvad-er-keramik-alt-du-skal-vide-om-materialet)

Get the calm japandi look with our handmade [ceramic vases](/en/collections/keramik-vaser) and [vases](/en/collections/vaser).