BathEmpire

Bathrooms trend: Japanese styling

Posted on 24. May, 2011 by Charlotte Laing in Design Tips

It’s always nice to take inspiration from other cultures in your interior design, and the bathroom is an area where it’s easy to do this.

A few foreign references in your home will make you look well-travelled, and will help to ensure that your rooms are unique – after all who wants a bathroom that’s just like the neighbours’?

One of the cultures which offers lots in the way of interesting design ideas is that of the Japanese. It’s full of tradition and ritual, which we think makes it the perfect source of inspiration for bathrooms.

So what are the key elements of the look?

One of the main considerations is that Japanese designs are typically very grounded in nature.

Natural materials like wood, pebbles, stone, sand and plants can all be combined to create a relaxing ‘zen’ space where you can retreat to. Isn’t that something we all want in our homes?

You can have a plain white bathroom suite, as this is practical and the best idea if you’re ever planning on changing the look of your bathroom. Choose baths and sinks with stream-lined, modern, simple shapes for best effect – anything too ornate won’t work.

Then you can then make the accessories work hard to create the Japanese atmosphere. Set to work on decorating the room with dark, atmospheric colours – perhaps choose a dark wood floor, deep red walls or black tiling.

Keeping plants in your bathroom is one of the easiest ways to get a Japanese look – the obvious candidates are bonsai trees, bamboo or cut cherry blossom branches (or even some faux ones, we won’t tell anyone).

You can choose to take the look one of two ways – either make it all very earthy, light and spiritual, or take it darker, make the surfaces glossy and create a more grown-up vibe. Which one is right for you will depend both on your home and your lifestyle.

If you want to make the look really authentic, you could recess the bath and have a ‘moat’ around it containing smooth black pebbles.

Another option, and much cheaper, is to have simple colourful paper lanterns which you can light when you want the bathroom to become a relaxing rather than practical environment.

Then all you need is a Yukata robe (a light cotton Japanese robe) hanging on the back of the door, and you’ve created your very own Japanese bathing temple.

 

Tags: bathroom design ideas, interior design ideas bathrooms, Japanese bathroom bath, Japanese bathroom design, modern bath, pebble shaped bath