Japanese small homes have a quiet confidence. They rarely shout for attention, but look closer and you’ll see the details. Layered textures, thoughtful storage, and everyday objects placed with care. In this piece, we explore some of our favourite spaces and the small design decisions that make them feel so liveable and so distinctly Japanese.
We’ve picked apart the clever and compelling details and decisions in some of our favourite Japanese small apartments so you can steal some Japanese style.
Everything has its place and that place doesn’t need to be inside a cupboard or drawer. Highly efficient and hyperspecific storage solutions that keep belongings – or the baskets, boxes and vessels they’re housed in – on show is what we see a lot of. And yes, MUJI is a regular feature.
Carefully curated and closely cared-for plant collections are a hallmark of the contemporary Japanese small homes we visit. Variations in form and foliage add visual interest, pops of green and bring nature inside. And houseplants aren’t just for furnishing floorspace and shelves. Get creative with hanging and draping to brighten up dull walls and corners.
While many people might think of sleek, calm minimalist spaces as being typical of Japanese homes, the compact homes we’re most familiar with in Japan often feature vast collections of books, characterful collectibles and gradually acquired keepsakes. As the theory goes: the things that we love will naturally go together and it’s these thoughtful or naturally evolving curations that make these homes so charming and interesting.
Many of the homeowners we speak to in Japan express a desire to be surrounded by the things they love and hold a sense of story for them. In turn, humble yet precious belongings often take precedence over fancy and flashy art. Or perhaps there is a mix of the two. A photo or flea market print, taped to a wall or a handmade basket or gifted piece of pottery – these unassuming treasures are not self consciously placed but lovingly displayed.
Concrete-rich interiors and a fresh take on what we might have once described as ‘industrial chic’ are recurring themes in the Japanese apartments we visit. In many cases, internal walls are removed to gain space and more flexible floorplans, and designers are actively working to celebrate the rawness of what they find. From there, both the designers and homeowners are finding exciting complements for this edgy and industrial look in the form of unexpected materials and décor.
As featured in Issue 3 of our magazine!
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