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Exquisite minimalism is a distinctive feature of the interiors of the Land of the Rising Sun. Europeans find both the rigor and color scheme in three or four tones unusual, as well as the overall diminutiveness of the furniture. In addition, from the traditional Japanese interior there is a feeling of spaciousness and the overall integrity of the space. Preference is given to natural materials:

• tree;
• bamboo;
• ceramics.

Based on the harmony, comfort and tranquility inherent in the Japanese style, but at the same time striving for modernity, decorating a bedroom in elegant minimalism will be a good solution. In such a bedroom it will be easy to relax and indulge in sleep.

If you decide to decorate your bedroom in the Japanese style, you need to remember the principle of «wabi-sabi» — that side of the Japanese worldview, which, according to the indigenous people of Japan, «gaijin» (literally, a person-not-from-here) is not given to comprehend . But we’ll try. “Wabi” is modesty and discreetness, “sabi” is traditional, genuine. Only by following this principle of modest simplicity will you be able to properly organize the space.

A distinctive element that gives the bedroom a Japanese flavor is a screen. It is desirable that it be a sliding screen made of rice paper or fabric on a wooden frame. It can be decorated with a pattern (preferably a stylized landscape). The screen is designed to cover from prying eyes the main element of the bedroom — a Japanese-style bed.

About Japanese beds

Traditionally, the Japanese slept on mats, tatami and futons — special thick mattresses that are put away in the closet after sleep. For us, sleeping on the floor is a rather exotic thing, so sleeping in a futon may seem hard and uncomfortable if you are not used to it. It is the fact that the Japanese have slept on the floor for centuries that may explain the common feature of all Japanese beds — a squatness that is not inherent in other styles. Therefore, the Japanese-style bed is low.

A Japanese-style bed should be chosen only from natural materials. By design, the sleeping place is most often a wooden frame with two load-bearing beams that rest on the legs. Laths are placed over the bars with a lattice. The frame has very wide «sides», which, after installing the mattress, become like a step. It would be better to choose an orthopedic mattress, choosing the size depending on whether it is a single or double bed. The legs of Japanese beds are usually thick and sturdy; usually there are four of them (but wide beds may have a fifth in the center). By shifting them to the middle, a visual effect of the bed floating above the floor is created.

However, the legs may not be at all. On the one hand, such beds are more stable, and the space under the frame can be used to store things and bedding (for this, a lifting spring mechanism is installed). But if you look from the point of view of hygiene, then in order to remove dust from under the bed without legs, you will have to move the furniture. So if you are allergic, it is better to choose a bed with legs, or at least choose a frame raised from the floor as much as possible.

The head of the bed is an optional element, but if it is, it should be simple. It can be high, textured, with inserts of fabrics — the main condition is that it looks strict. There are also unusual design solutions, where the headboard replaces a long cushion, and the edges of the bed are decorated with soft materials.

A Japanese-style bed is best ordered from Japan, and this pleasure is not cheap. But if you dare to take this step, remember that usually a futon is attached to such beds. For convenience, it would be better to replace it with an orthopedic mattress.

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to the bedroom as a separate room; you have to combine it with the living room. For this occasion, there are stylized folding beds-armchairs and beds-sofas. Although they outwardly lose, they save a lot of space.

About the little things

When choosing bedding for a Japanese-style bed, the naturalness of the materials and their uniformity should be decisive, although bedspreads with patterns are also acceptable.

Decorative elements in the bedroom must be added so that they blend harmoniously with the rest of the interior. They should not distract attention from the bed, which is the main focus, and can be very simple. It is not recommended to place more than one painting in a room. An abundance of photographs and small souvenirs is considered bad taste; they do not go well with the Japanese style.