I truly feel a well-crafted piece of furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces! Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed furniture helps a space radiate an aura of warmth and calmness. They instantly make you feel at home. And, today a lot of designers are adopting ‘Japandi’ aesthetics when designing furniture. So, what is Japandi? It is an amalgamation of the words Japanese and Scandinavian and marries Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. It is the artful blending of both Japanese and Scandinavian design. These furniture designs are not only aesthetically but functionally pleasing as well! Incorporate this collection of Japandi-inspired furniture designs into your home, to create a living space that will truly feel like a safe haven.
1. Outside In
Outside In is a multifunctional, shapeshifting table that incorporates hand-carved grooves into its timber frame to resemble the raked ruts of Japanese zen gardens.
Why is it noteworthy?
Japanese zen gardens have supplied ceaseless inspiration for designers. While the sheer meditative quality of zen gardens is enough to insight some new ideas, the artful design of zen gardens rakes its own creative vision for designers. Melbourne-based furniture, lighting, and object design company Sabu Studio found its own creative vision by way of Japanese zen gardens when designing the minimalist Outside In table.
What we like
- Features a sinuous timber surface that resembles the hand-raked grooves of a zen garden
- Outside In is a crafty piece of furniture that would look right at home in hospitality common spaces or even event halls
What we dislike
- No complaints!
2. Lur
Lur is a furniture collection that includes pot planters which also double up as seating in the most organic manner. It was designed for Alki, a brand that is always seeking to collaborate with local businesses which makes it even more special because it unites distinct know-how and materials.
Why is it noteworthy?
To create the Lur collection, designer Iratzoki Lizaso went to Goicoechea Pottery and work with the local team. The pottery workshop is based in Ortzaize in Lower Navarre, just a few kilometers from Alki. The Goicoechea family has been working with terracotta for three generations. The materials used, the solid oak, and the clay from the Goicoechea family quarry are here entirely natural.
What we like
- All the products have smooth curves and organic shapes featuring a warm aesthetic thanks to the choice of materials and CMF details
- The collection is centered around the idea of plant pots that can work double duty as shelves and coffee tables
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The Diag Desk
The Diag Desk is a minimalist, modern desk built to optimize desk space while incorporating storage elements like removable leather compartments. When it comes to desks, the simpler the better. Desks that are rooted in simplicity, either through a minimalist approach or by embracing Scandinavian aesthetics, typically offer a lot of practicality while maintaining a stripped-down design.
Why is it noteworthy?
Considering its minimalist build, more space can be devoted to the desk’s tabletop, where most of the desk’s purpose is reserved. The Diag Desk from Polish designer Marek Błażucki is one kind of minimalist design that integrates storage systems into its build, ensuring that users have ample desk space while still keeping their necessary stationery within arm’s reach.
What we like
- Integrates ample storage systems into its build
- Ensures stationery doesn’t fall off
What we dislike
- There are a lot of visually similar desks on the market
4. Pagoda
Shanghai-based Stellar Works teamed up with American design studio Bassam Fellows to come up with an East meets West kind of chair that can fit your dining room, your office pantry, or your indie cafe.
Why is it noteworthy?
Pagoda is inspired by both the cafe culture in Shanghai during the 1920s and the cafe chairs from Vienna in the 19th century. Aside from the fact that it’s well-designed, it’s also pretty convenient to assemble it as there are only six parts in the package.
What we like
- Inspired by the cantilevered, upward-curving gates of pagodas in Asia
- You can choose from different finishes depending on the motif of your home or business space
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Plot Twist Bookshelf
Prolific German furniture designer Deniz Aktay has recently introduced the Plot Twist Bookshelf. It’s a piece of furniture that features four separate twisted wooden elements. They are connected to each other, shaping and creating a stable form.
Why is it noteworthy?
The bookshelf’s design allows it to be accessed from every side. As with most of Deniz Aktay’s product designs, this bookshelf is oddly satisfying. The curves are present as with the designer’s other projects. In addition, most of Aktay’s works have undergone some bending or twisting, as with the Wavelet, the Tie Stool, and The Pet Table.
What we like
- The shelves can accommodate similarly sized books for a clutter-free look
- The bookshelf is stable and stands on its own
What we dislike
- Space consuming design
6. Eleven
Eleven isn’t just a number or that fictional character from a TV series. Eleven can soon be known as a special desk designed to make working from home more fun and productive.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Eleven Desk designed by Alberto Monteón can be a godsend. The industrial designer has considered his experience and needs as a creative professional. The desk is ideal for those who have a lot of stuff and needs some organizing to help them finish tasks on time. The desk looks sturdy with the table top’s thickness and the legs. It has enough areas for everything you need for work.
What we like
- The table surface can accommodate your laptop, keyboard, monitor, and mouse. In addition, there is ample area for your books, documents, pens, and a mug
- There are hooks where you can hang your bag and headphones, plus another level for more stuff
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. Acrobat
Acrobat is a multifunctional storage piece that combines the safekeeping components of an entryway table with the hanging function of a coatrack.
Why is it noteworthy?
As we continue to downsize our living spaces, the more multifunctional our furniture is, the better. Smaller spaces don’t necessarily have to mean less living space. Multifunctional furniture helps make more room for living while taking care of a lot of our household tasks. We usually have our own system of arranging EDC items like key rings, wallets, and phones. Entryway tables and coat racks usually take the brunt of those organizational needs, so finding multifunctionality in their design is key to keeping our homes decluttered. Acrobat, a multifunctional coat rack designed by João Teixeira, combines the storage components of an entryway table with those of a coat rack.
What we like
- The metal tube tops can also be used to hang clothes or hats without the need for a hanger
- The wooden hull that interlinks the beams offers a safe space to store EDC items like wallets, phones, and keyrings
What we dislike
- Can occupy a substantial amount of space
8. The InsTable
The InsTable is a side table that you can easily move and transport. It can be easily carried and moved to a different place because you can grab the furniture and go. However, it really is unstable because it only comes with two legs. It can’t stand on its own as it needs to stand against a wall for support.
Why is it noteworthy?
This unique table may not always be reliable, but it can be the perfect conversation starter. It will definitely catch anyone’s attention with its unique form. Having just two legs doesn’t really require any permanent fix but this needs some form of physical support.
What we like
- It works as a place for items that you want to be within easy reach
What we dislike
- Can be an unstable design
9. The Cloth Coffee Table
Characterized by its curved bookstand that works as the table’s centerpiece, the Cloth coffee table’s curvy personality is echoed throughout its build. The bookstand also finds a balance between boldness and elegance, offering a weighty centerpiece that helps ground the coffee table, without dominating the available tablespace. Featuring softly bold elements like an undulating table edge that mimics the look of a live edge, the Cloth coffee table keeps a dynamic profile without dominating the room.
Why is it noteworthy?
Doing minimalism before it was cool, Japanese and Scandinavian share a lot of common design principles, including a focus on warmth, groundedness, and a subdued color scheme for an overall calming effect. With aim of merging these principles together to design Cloth, Teixeira hoped to find a “balance between boldness and elegance, depending on the angle.”
What we like
- An artful blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies
- The curved bookstand is a distinguishing feature
What we dislike
- Weighty/bulky design
10. Hidden
Hidden is an unconventional litter box conceptualized to be inconspicuous by design and fit into any modern home. The hardest part of owning a cat has to be taking care of the litter box. Cats mostly fend for and take care of themselves, but we’re in charge of the litter. Litter boxes aren’t designed for aesthetics, so cat owners usually have to find inconspicuous spots to keep the litter box out of sight and out of mind.
Why is it noteworthy?
It’s never a cute look to have a litter box in the bathroom or even the basement, but our cats gotta go when they gotta go. Designers with the studio YUPD took it upon themselves to conceptualize a litter box called Hidden that’s discreet by design, so it can be placed anywhere in the house.
What we like
- Discreet design
- Inspired by interior design elements
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!