Now we can start to socialise indoors I wanted to share how we can make the experience feel really special, after all it’s been so long since we’ve been able to eat inside with our friends and family.
I’m a huge fan of the “Japandi” trend which has been around for the past few years and I now consider a staple interior style.
Simply, it’s the fusion of Scandinavian clean lines and muted tones with the irregular, natural and earthy colours and shapes of Japanese design, also known as “wabi sabi” (“beauty in the imperfect”). Both styles have similarities in their aesthetic, using a minimal colour palette, with nature at the heart and a focus on simplicity for an uncluttered life.
I wanted to share in this blog how to bring this look into your home with your dining table styling. Here are my key tips for creating the look at home;
Bring in the elements
In both Japanese and Scandinavian design, plants are really key. Bringing greenery and nature indoors is both relaxing and connects us to the outside world. Using foliage rather than flowers is important to the look, especially if you add in some statement branches as a center piece. It’s a great way to add interest and create an understated impact.
Here I have used the beautiful Nagpur paper mache object (with a plant pot inside for waterproofing) and styled with a large bunch of olive branches. Muted, organic in shape and beautiful imperfect, the grey Sira Concrete plant pot carries the greenery onto the shelves behind and the backdrop to my table.
Keep it irregular & imperfect
“Wabi Sabi” meaning beauty in the imperfect is key to the Japandi style look. Think about softening those clean lines of Scandi design with irregular shapes, and imperfect ceramic glazes. I have styled the table with the Etsumi desert plates with a hand finished white, painted edge and the Leiria stoneware dinner plates with speckled finish, imperfect.
Think hand made in look and matt in finish when looking for ceramics and simplistic cutlery as pictured above.
Nail the style with a centre piece
“Hygge” is at the core of Scandinavian style, meaning cosy and natural, therefore adding wood into your scheme is a quick way to nail the style. To balance the darker tones of the ceramics I selected I have used an oversized Mahot wooden tray as my centre piece, it adds warmth and becomes a real focal point when paired with the paper mache vase. It’s also a great functional piece to store
your oils, salt and pepper and everything you guests may need for their meal.
4. Add tones and texture
It’s really key to keep the table soft and inviting by layering in lots of texture. I have used the Victorine linen table cloth (the more creases the better!) and ribbed Turi tall glasses to add interest and irregularity to create the Japandi look on my table. I love how the table cloth adds lightness and warmth to the space.
I hope you have found my tips to creating a Japandi style table useful, my final thought would be to remember to keep it simple. Both aesthetics are about only using what you need, keeping it minimal but warm, interesting and full of natural textures and tones.
From Japandi style to Cottagecore, we invite the most tasteful interior influencers to share their take on achieving the hottest trends. Go check out Laura Hunter of @nofeaturewalls blog on incorporating Cottagecore within the home.
Happy dining! Katie
