How to Style Japandi Furniture: 5 Secrets for Perfect Balance

By Mery Lavigne, Creative Director at SereneHomeSpace

How to style japandi furniture is the question my clients ask me most during our consultations. Last autumn during my stay in Kyoto, I had this revelation while observing a simple wooden stool in a traditional tea house. It wasn’t the furniture piece itself that captivated me, but the way it was positioned, surrounded, breathing in the space.

This harmony lesson transformed how I approach japandi furniture styling. You’ve invested in beautiful furniture with clean lines and noble materials, but something feels off? Your living room looks like a cold showroom rather than a warm cocoon?

Learning how to style japandi furniture isn’t something you improvise – it’s cultivated with intention and subtlety. After 8 years of guiding my clients through this transformation, I’m sharing my 5 expert secrets to perfectly master the art of japandi styling.

See more: Japandi Furniture: Complete Guide for a Serene Home

How to Style Japandi Furniture: The Perfect Balance Challenge

Contrary to popular belief, how to style japandi furniture doesn’t simply consist of “emptying” your space. It’s a delicate art that requires understanding the fundamental principles of this decorative philosophy: ma (the importance of emptiness), wabi-sabi (the beauty of imperfection), and above all, the intention behind every choice.

According to experts at Architectural Digest, the japandi style combines Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics to create serene and functional spaces. This revolutionary approach completely transforms how we inhabit our interiors.

These 5 essential pillars for successfully styling your japandi furniture – I learned them the hard way during my first projects. Today, I’m sharing them with you so you can avoid my beginner mistakes!

Secret #1: How to Style Japandi Furniture with “Breathing Space”

The principle: Every piece of furniture must be able to “breathe” in your space.

During a recent consultation, my client Marie-Claire complained that her magnificent Japanese oak sideboard “didn’t work” in her living room. When I arrived at her home, I immediately identified the problem: the furniture was pressed against the wall, flanked by two imposing bookcases. It was literally suffocating!

My “magic 30cm” method for styling japandi furniture:

• Leave at least 30cm between your main furniture pieces
• Create “visual corridors” that guide the eye
• Position your statement pieces away from walls (when possible)
• Use dead corners as breathing spaces

Pro tip: Photograph your room from the entrance. If your eye “catches” somewhere instead of flowing smoothly, it means a piece of furniture lacks space to express itself.

This technique is validated by research from Elle Decor on the importance of negative space in contemporary interior design.

See more: Japandi Furniture on a Budget: 15 Genius Ideas Under $200

Secret #2: How to Style Japandi Furniture with Harmonious Heights

The principle: Create visual rhythm by playing with different furniture heights.

During my training at École Boulle, we were taught the “1-3-5” rule for floral compositions. I adapted this principle to japandi furniture with phenomenal success! Here’s how to style your japandi furniture according to different levels:

The 3-level method for perfect styling:

• Low level (0-40 cm): Coffee tables, ottomans, floor cushions
• Medium level (40-80 cm): Sofas, consoles, low bookcases
• High level (80 cm+): Wall shelves, lighting fixtures, hanging plants

Concrete example: In a living room, combine a walnut coffee table (low level), a linen sofa (medium level), and a bamboo pendant light (high level). This gradation naturally creates a sensation of balance and movement.

Secret #3: How to Style Japandi Furniture with Complementary Materials

The principle: Create subtle dialogue between textures and materials.

The mistake I see most often? My clients think that how to style japandi furniture = everything in light wood. Result: a monotonous interior that lacks depth. Perfect imperfection – that’s the whole art of wabi-sabi!

My material palette for styling japandi furniture:

• Neutral base: Natural wood (oak, ash, walnut)
• Softness: Linen, cotton, bouclé wool
• Contrast: Natural stone, artisanal ceramics
• Accent: Bamboo, rattan, jute

The 60-30-10 rule revisited for japandi styling:

• 60% soft materials (wood, natural textiles)
• 30% neutral materials (stone, ceramics)
• 10% textured materials (rattan, jute)

Experts at House Beautiful confirm that this material approach is essential for creating the characteristic depth of japandi style.

Personal tip: I always test the “tactile compatibility” of my materials. Close your eyes and touch your different furniture pieces. The sensations should harmonize, not confront each other.

See more: Minimalist Japandi Furniture: 7 Expert Tips for Perfect Style

Secret #4: How to Style Japandi Furniture with Perfect Lighting

The principle: Your furniture should bathe in soft, natural light.

A poorly lit japandi piece instantly loses 70% of its charm – it’s mathematical! I learned this lesson during my first exhibition, where my most beautiful pieces looked dull under the showroom’s fluorescent lights.

The 3 lighting layers for styling japandi furniture:

1. Ambient lighting: Indirect light, maximum 2700K temperature
2. Functional lighting: Spots directed at your star furniture pieces
3. Decorative lighting: Candles, LED strings, mood lamps

My favorite light sources for styling:

• Natural fiber pendants above tables
• Floor lamps with linen shades near seating
• Recessed spots with dimmers for bookcases
• Candles in raw ceramic holders

Mistake to avoid: Never place a direct light source facing wooden furniture. This creates unsightly reflections and distorts the natural beauty of the material.

Secret #5: How to Style Japandi Furniture with Intentional Accessories

The principle: Every decorative object must have its reason for being.

Your home should reflect you, not magazines! This phrase, I repeat to all my clients, because it’s the main trap when learning how to style japandi furniture. We tend to want to copy perfect Instagram interiors, forgetting our personality.

My “emotional objects” method for styling:

1. Select 3-5 objects that bring you positive emotion
2. Position them strategically on or near your main furniture pieces
3. Respect the odd number rule (1, 3, or 5 objects per composition)
4. Leave space between each element so it can “exist”

My styling essentials for japandi furniture:

• A stoneware vase with a simple branch
• Books arranged both standing and lying down
• A candle in a natural holder
• A plant with graphic lines (monstera, ficus lyrata)
• An artisanal object that tells a story

3 Mistakes That Sabotage Your Japandi Furniture Styling

❌ Mistake #1: Wanting to fill all spaces ✅ Solution: Accept emptiness as a decorative element in its own right

❌ Mistake #2: Choosing furniture only for its beauty ✅ Solution: Prioritize functionality that serves your daily life

❌ Mistake #3: Copying a style without adapting it to your lifestyle ✅ Solution: Gradually integrate elements that correspond to you

Your Action Plan to Master How to Style Japandi Furniture

Week 1: Observe your current spaces and identify missing “breathing zones”

Week 2: Reorganize your furniture according to the harmonious heights rule

Week 3: Adjust your lighting to enhance your statement pieces

Week 4: Style with intention by selecting your emotional objects

See more: Japandi Furniture Inspiration Ideas That Create Instant Serenity

Together, Let’s Create Calm — To Live Beautifully

Learning how to style japandi furniture isn’t a destination, it’s a journey toward more serenity in your daily life. Every repositioned piece of furniture, every object chosen with intention, participates in creating that precious balance between aesthetics and well-being.

Now that you’ve mastered the 5 secrets to perfectly style your japandi furniture, start small, trust your instincts, and above all, have confidence in yourself. Your ideal japandi interior already exists within you – it just needs to be revealed.

Have you tried one of these styling techniques? Share your transformation on Instagram with #SereneHomeStyle – I love discovering your creations!

To go further, join our community of enthusiasts at serenehomespace.

Mery Lavigne is Creative Director at SereneHomeSpace and certified japandi stylist. Trained at École Boulle, she has been helping women create serene and authentic interiors for 8 years.

Questions for “How to Style Japandi Furniture”