One word sums it up: Zen. The modest interior designs conveying calmness and simplicity are an inseparable part of Japanese culture. This tradition has been developed for thousands of years to combine the architectural traditions of the past with the cheerful and innovative interior designs of modern Japan. The Japanese style has developed around a simple, balanced, and orderly life, following the ancient tradition and contemplating nature's beauty.

To embrace Japanese culture's charm and recreate it in their western homes, one must first understand Japan's centuries-old traditions, such as the tea ceremony. But even recreating a few Japanese motives in your home will give you the Zen you need to unwind after a hard day in the office.

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Japanese culture is full of love and respect for nature. The best way to maintain a strong connection with Mother Nature is to invite her inside. You can use traditional Japanese plants, such as bonsai and bamboo, to decorate your home with an eastern touch. However, you can achieve the same effect with other species of decorative plants that look like those such as, for example, orchids and small palms. Traditional Japanese homes have big windows that let in a lot of light and allow those inside to enjoy the view from every angle. Open your home to the wonders of nature today!

The calm sounds of bubbling water will fill your mind while you meditate and help you reach Zen. Just like plants, water elements are essential in traditional Japanese homes. Ofuro, which means a bath in Japanese, is a relaxing tradition that you can quickly transfer to your home. Japanese bathtubs are small but deep, usually with a seat. These eastern bathtubs have found their way to many western homes, and their popularity is growing. Turn your bathroom into a secluded shrine by installing a traditional Japanese Ofuro. This heartfelt hug between the East and the West and creates a spa-like experience in the bathroom.

Shoji, a traditional Japanese door, is another key element of this country's home decoration tradition. Housing costs a lot in Japan, and most of the Japanese rent small apartments, where every square inch of living space must be fully used. Shoji slides back and forth, saving a lot of space. The traditional Shoji is made of semi-translucent paper in a wooden frame. Modern-day Shoji designs feature a glass panel inside a wooden grille casing. They are so popular that you can order a Shoji door online. These screen-like doors do not block daylight and your view. If you can afford it, you can even install a Shoji wall in your home made of tempered glass in a wooden casing.

One of the best ways to reunite with nature is to install solid wood elements in your home. Japanese culture is known for its ample use of wooden elements in the home:  walls, doors, grilles, frames, etc., are made of natural wood. Western species like maple, cypress, and red pine can be found in Japanese forests. Bamboo is also very popular. Try bringing these natural wood elements into your home by installing a bamboo floor. You will love its deeply soothing effect.

Although traditional Japanese homes are not divided into different rooms, their simplicity can still be recreated in western homes with living rooms and multiple bedrooms. Japanese furniture is low-lying, so bringing the dining table as close to the floor as possible so that you can have your meal sitting on a cushion on the floor is one way to do it.

Japanese interior design is plain and minimalist. But how can you achieve its high aesthetics without sacrificing the modern furniture and amenities we all are so used to? The trick is to keep your design simple. Most modern designers will find this style easy to recreate. Stick to modern and yet plain furniture designs made of solid wood. You can use modern angular lighting or lamps that look like traditional Japanese lanterns. You can draw inspiration from modern interior designs to recreate this plain and straightforward style. Everything must have its purpose place. Studying the art of Feng Shui can help you design your minimalist interior.

Open spaces and minimalist designs dominate the Japanese interior tradition. So, let's look at another way to achieve this aesthetic look: using natural lighting. Traditional Japanese homes abound in natural light that brings in the colours of nature. Large windows and skylights are a perfect way to let the sunshine in.

Japanese homes are usually decorated in plain natural colours to be in harmony with the outside world's natural beauty. Brown wood elements and green plants are widely used. The floors are either wooden or covered with grey stone tiles, and most of the walls have been replaced with opaque paper screens. This design follows plain colour patterns that are relatively neutral. You can install wood shelves, wall panels, flooring or add brown or grey tones to your floors or furniture to achieve this natural look. Also, use plenty of green plants to reaffirm the link with nature. When trying to let nature inside, always keep things simple.

Try to dive deep into Japanese culture's tranquillity by turning your home into a peaceful retreat designed for meditation, drinking tea, or doing yoga. Find a quiet place in your home to put your meditation pillow or sit on the floor and relax. Be sure to add a water element like a small indoor fountain, whose trickle will muffle outside noises. Paint a room's walls in soothing green or brown, add some lively greenery, put on some relaxing music, and you are done! You have your Japanese Zen refuge. Although you may not have grown up in Japan, you will still fall in love with its simple designs and rich traditions.