In the world of kitchen design, trends come and go, but every so often a look sticks around because it answers a deeper need than “what’s popular right now”. Japandi kitchen design is one such style – a meeting of Scandinavian simplicity and Japanese calm that prioritises wellbeing, longevity and materials that earn their place in your home.
Part of the appeal of the Japandi aesthetic is that it doesn’t rely on loud colour or statement features to feel considered. Instead, these kitchen ideas are built around warm neutrals, natural textures and craftsmanship, with the kind of subtle detailing that feels grounded day to day and still looks good years down the line.
In this guide, we explain what Japandi kitchen design really means, covering the palette, materials, lighting and finishing touches that make it work, with expert advice to help you get the look right at home.
What does Japandi kitchen design mean?
“Japandi is the meeting point between Scandinavian ease and Japanese restraint,” explains Alex Main, director at MAIN. In practice, that means you get the clarity and practicality associated with Scandinavian design – lightness, simplicity, everyday usefulness – paired with the Japanese focus on restraint, craftsmanship and a more considered sense of calm.
At their core, Alex says Japandi kitchens feel “deeply functional while also aesthetically grounding”, with quality doing the talking. “A key element is craftsmanship,” he adds, with beautifully made joinery and cabinetry that shows subtle detailing rather than decorative fuss. Instead of relying on statement features, “interest is added through texture and the quality of the kitchen itself.”
That “fewer, better” approach is also why Japandi has become a standout 2026 kitchen trend — not because it’s a flash in the pan, but because it offers an enduring style. As David Balko, kitchen specialist at Wren Kitchens, puts it: “It appeals to homeowners looking for longevity over trends, thanks to neutral tones and natural materials that don’t date quickly.”
It also ties into a wider shift in what people want their homes to feel like. David points to “a growing emphasis on sustainability and quality,” and Japandi aligns with that mindset by “valuing craftsmanship and durability over excess.” The result is a kitchen that feels premium without being showy – a kind of quiet confidence where, as David says, “luxury is about subtle detail and considered design.”
Alex Main is director at The Main Company, a family-run company that has been creating highly individual bespoke kitchens that are full of personality and unique style since the 1970s. The family business has built up its knowledge from the vast experience gained from trading within the national and international markets.
David Balko brings over 25 years of brand, design and client-side experience to his role as CMO at Wren Kitchens. With deep knowledge of kitchen retail, production and omnichannel strategy, he helps bring functional, aspirational kitchens to real homes
How to design a Japandi kitchen
Start with warm neutrals (not stark white)
Warm neutrals should provide the base of your Japandi kitchen scheme, with shades like oatmeal, stone, soft greige, and warm taupe providing a solid foundation. According to David Balko, these shades create a relaxed backdrop that feels connected to the outdoors and they’re also part of a wider shift away from bright white kitchens – with “dusky hues, browns, and subdued greens” emerging as key kitchen wall colours for 2026.
Japandi does depth and contrast through tonal layering and a few darker anchors like timber, kitchen hardware or lighting. If neutrals feel too safe, earthy green is an easy way to introduce colour without breaking the brief. David Balko notes that “soft greens like sage, olive, and moss” are appearing more often as accent cabinetry or splashback colours. They keep the palette natural, add gentle depth, and still sit comfortably within the Japandi brief.
Shop warm neutrals
This versatile beige is the result of a collaboration between Lick X Soho House. For kitchens and high-traffic areas, opt for the ‘Ultra Flat Matt finish’ for its moisture-resistant technology, supreme coverage and Class 1 Scrub Rating.
Mochi™ by Little Greene
For a warmer neutral shade what could fit the Japandi brief better than a shade named after Japan’s favourite sweet treat? This rich, pinky-brown shade has real depth, creating a cosy, grounding base without feeling heavy.
Tempted to go for a green hue in your kitchen? Coat offers their most popular earthy green shades in easy Peel & Stick samples to try at home – with two complementary whites and two complementary darks.
Use wood to bridge the Scandi and Japanese influences
Wood is one of the quickest ways to make your kitchen feel authentic and it’s also where the “fusion” element of this aesthetic shows up most clearly.
“Scandi kitchens usually have light wood for floors and worktops teamed with pale kitchen doors,” explains Josie Medved, design manager at Symphony Group, “while the typical Japanese look is dark timbers with dark greys and blues.” Mixing pale woods with darker accents is therefore often what creates that ‘Japandi’ balance.
You don’t have to commit to a full wooden kitchen to get the effect, either. Wood can come in through a worktop or breakfast bar overhang, open shelving, an oak-edged kitchen island, or even smaller details like a slatted end panel or tambour door.
Let texture do the decorating, not pattern
Japandi doesn’t rely on bold prints or statement kitchen floor tiles to feel interesting. Instead, detail comes through surface texture (the kind you notice up close). David Balko points to “fluted panels, subtly patterned wall tiles or honed surfaces” as ways to add “quiet interest” without disrupting the minimalist base – ideal if you want the kitchen to feel layered rather than flat.
Glossy surfaces can quickly pull a scheme away from Japandi, so aim for tactile materials with a softer finish. For kitchen worktops and splashbacks, David recommends “honed or matte stone/quartz”, especially in warm neutrals or light veining, to keep the overall feel calm and natural.
Keep cabinetry simple and workmanship-led
In a Japandi scheme, the kitchen cabinets do most of the talking, so it’s worth keeping them simple and well made.
“When a space feels authentically Japandi it’s usually because the materials are doing the work, not the styling,” says David Balko. That means finishes should feel solid and surfaces shouldn’t be overly uniform.
Josie Medved adds that the style of your cabinet doors matters, too. “Flat, slab doors work best to create the Japandi look (Shaker is a bit too traditional),” she explains, “and handles need to be minimalistic, preferably integrated into the door or a flat lip handle.” She also notes that pairing light units with black accents brings in a stronger Japanese edge.
How to master lighting in a Japandi kitchen
“Lighting should feel soft and organic in a Japandi kitchen,” says Victoria Robinson, style and trend expert at Hillarys. She recommends ceiling pendants in materials like wood or paper, or simple sculptural shapes that suit the aesthetic. “Layered lighting is essential,” she adds – it needs to work hard for cooking and prep, but it also set the calm, softened mood the style is known for.
According to David Balko at Wren Kitchens, kitchen lighting should be tailored to “how you live and move within the space.” One of the easiest ways to do that is to light by zone: prep, cooking and social areas can each benefit from “discreet spotlight lighting” that keeps things practical without cluttering the ceiling line.
To maintain the clean Japandi aesthetic, hidden lighting tends to work best. David notes that “under-cabinet, drawer, or integrated strip lighting” provides focused illumination while staying visually unobtrusive, and warm-toned cabinet strips in particular create “a soft, inviting glow” that reduces the need for harsh overheads.
Finally, make the most of daylight where you can. Victoria Robinson suggests using blinds that “filter rather than block” natural light – a small detail that helps the room stay bright, soft and serene.
Victoria is a Product Manager, specialising in Roman blinds and curtains. She joined Hillarys in 2013 when she designed, developed, and launched the company’s first exclusive designer Roman blind and curtain capsule collection ‘Country Retreat’. Victoria is passionate about interior design trends and keeps abreast of new fashions.
Shop Japandi Style Lighting
Cleo Travertine Pendant Light
With its pared-back silhouette, this pendant blends Japanese restraint with Scandinavian warmth.
Nordlux Vico 1 Light Pendant
A slim, ribbed cylinder pendant with a soft white stem, this light captures Japandi’s mix of clean Scandinavian lines and Japanese simplicity.
17 Stories Rebote Light Pendant
These trio pendants feel Japandi thanks to their ribbed opal glass, warm timber collars and clean lines.
Get the flooring right
“One of the most standout features of a Japandi kitchen is the abundance of wood and natural textures in the flooring,” says Graeme Shelley, managing director at Factory Direct Flooring. He notes that lighter toned boards – say, sun-bleached oak and beech – are especially common, although some schemes will mix “two or three different wood tones that complement each other and celebrate the natural material.”
If you love the idea of real timber underfoot, Graeme recommends looking at engineered wood flooring for kitchens. “Because it has a more stable, moisture-resistant core than solid wood, it tends to cope better with the temperature and humidity changes you get in a cooking space,” he explains.
Stone flooring and polished concrete also suit the Japandi brief – particularly if you want something more minimal and hardwearing.
Graeme Shelley has 20 years’ experience in supporting customers with their project needs from sourcing to buying. As managing director of Factory Direct Flooring, Graeme leads a team of experts helping customers with all their flooring needs across wood flooring, vinyl flooring, LVT, SPC and laminate floors.
Don’t forget the finishing touches
Japandi kitchens can fall flat when they’re too bare, but they can also lose their calm if you over-style them. So, instead of filling surfaces with décor, choose a small set of everyday pieces that earn their spot: minimalist kitchen storage containers, a beautiful knife block, a timber chopping board, and a few wooden utensils. These kinds of finishes bring that lived-in ease without tipping into clutter.
Open elements can work too, as long as they’re curated. A short run of open shelving or a simple rail can add character and make the kitchen feel more like a room, not just a workspace. The trick is to keep what’s on show edited and cohesive (a few ceramics and cookbooks beats a full display of everything you own). One small piece of art can also help, especially if the rest of the scheme is very pared back.
Finally, don’t be afraid to lean into wabi-sabi – the Japanese philosophy that beauty comes from subtle imperfections and the traces of time. Timber that gains character, bowls with a handmade feel, and finishes that develop a soft patina will make a Japandi kitchen feel warmer and more authentic as the years go by.
Shop Japandi Kitchen Decor
Featuring an organic, rounded shape and natural wood grain, this chopping board makes for a simple finishing touch that suits Japandi-style kitchens.
Antique Dark Grey Terracotta Pot
Featuring a textured stone-like finish in a chic dark grey hue, this vase complements a variety of interior styles, from contemporary to rustic and Japandi.
Homary Hatto Solid Wood Chair
Clean, low-slung lines, warm natural timber, and a woven cane back give this chair Scandi simplicity with Japanese restraint.
If you’re drawn to the calm, spa-like feel of Japandi, it’s worth taking inspiration beyond the kitchen too. Our guide to Japanese bathrooms explores the same design principles translated into a space that’s made for switching off.
View the original article and our Inspiration here
Leave a Reply