At PCS Niagara, we love caring for your floors- whether carpet, tile or stone. All three can enhance the look of your home. One style gaining popularity is a ‘less is more’ approach. Modern minimalism is sometimes perceived as cold, serious, or sparse. Beautifully designed spaces can be just the opposite, combining together unique design approaches with plenty of texture, smart storage solutions, and a balanced design.
A new trend is actually a very old trend- Zen. Yes, peaceful simplicity surrounds the modest designs of Japanese culture. Thousands of years steeped in minimalist tradition have influenced Japan’s architecture and interior design aesthetic, resulting in a serene and very cultural interior design.
Japanese style evolved around clean and uncluttered living, honoring balance, order, ancient customs and a love for natural beauty.
By editing down your positions and visual distractions to a few, well-chosen pieces, the space exudes peaceful simplicity. Incorporating Japanese style can bring a little bit of their well-honed Zen into our own lifestyles. Could you use a little bit of peace and harmony your home?
Let’s look at 4 ways to add some of this calming style into your home today.
As you can probably already tell, Japanese design is clean and minimalist. Clutter is not contained in these homes. Sometimes there isn’t even much furniture in an authentic Japanese home.
How can you achieve this design aesthetic and still have a home full of furniture and modern comforts? Edit down! The trick is to keep your design simple and uncluttered. Most modern design lovers will gravitate to this style. Great value is placed on the absence of non-essential internal walls to open up a space and allow an organic flow between the structure’s interior and exterior.
Furniture should be modern, clean-lined and made of natural wood. Everything should have a purpose and a place — nothing is out of order or lacking function. Studying the art of Feng Shui also helps you edit and plan your interior.
As mentioned above, open space and minimalist design principles reign in Japanese design. So let’s look at another way this design aesthetic is achieved — Natural Lighting.
Natural light abundantly fills these homes, bringing with it serene views and colors of nature Open space without walls allow more light and air circulation and organic flow between interior and exterior. What could be a better way to light up your home? Large, expansive windows and ceiling openings such as skylights, are the perfect way to add this bright design into your own home. Lighting can be angular and modern. Lighting could mimic an authentic Japanese lantern style, as well.
Heavy draperies are not conducive to a Zen look. All they do is block this natural light. Try keeping your windows super clean and clear of any obstruction. If privacy is a consideration, try a simple bamboo shade or sheer, gauzy curtain panels. Replacing a large expanse of wall with a glass-paneled sliding door could be a great way to incorporate this style into your own home. Natural light — what a bright way to light up your home!
Japanese culture is saturated in a love and respect for nature. The best way to maintain a strong connection with the natural world, is to bring nature indoors. Let the beauty of the wood and plant elements reflect and bounce light around.
Adding traditional Japanese plants, such as bonsai and bamboo, into your home will give it a small Japanese cultural touch. Any greenery can achieve a similar style. Consider adding sleek plants such as palm or orchid to your home. It is not typical to see a lot of colorful floral arrangements in a Japanese home, so whatever plant you choose, keep it simple, natural and green.
Japanese homes also bring nature inside through large, expansive windows that allow a view of nature from every angle. A large sliding glass door brings serene, natural views indoors. Open up your home to the wonders of nature today and stay true to the essence of this fierce minimalism in Japanese interiors.
At PCS Niagara, our goal is to help you love your home, whatever your style, all the way down to the floors. Every job we do comes with our risk-free guarantee. We pledge that you will be satisfied that our work is complete and done to the highest professional standards. We will re-clean any area(s) that you feel that we did not do our best for free. If you are still not pleased we will give you your money back for those area(s) & pay another company of your choice to redo them.
