35 Japandi Kitchen Ideas for a Harmonious, Functional Space

Merging the minimalist elegance of Japanese interiors with the functional simplicity of Scandinavian spaces, the Japandi style creates spaces that are both visually appealing and highly practical.

And Japandi kitchens are no exception. Featuring natural materials, clean lines, neutral hues, and smart storage solutions, every element in these spaces is thoughtfully chosen and serves a purpose.

A modern kitchen with light wood cabinets and island, two stools, a built-in oven, and a potted plant. A pendant light hangs above the island, and sunlight filters through sheer curtains.

So if you’re planning a remodel or seeking inspiration for subtle updates, incorporating Japandi elements into your kitchen is a great way to increase its efficiency and also achieve a calming aesthetic.

To give you inspiration, we’ve provided a curated selection of Japandi kitchen ideas below. Read on to see where designs where beauty meets utility in perfect harmony!

35 Japandi Kitchen Ideas: Practical Minimalist Designs

1. Open Shelving

Minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets, open shelves holding plants and bowls, a white farmhouse sink, and a round wooden table. Sliding shoji screen door on the right.

Epitomizing functional elegance, the open shelving in this Japandi kitchen is made of sleek wood. These offer the perfect spot to display thoughtfully arranged potted plants or artisanal dishware.

2. Neutral Color Palette With Deep Earthy Accents

A bright kitchen with wooden accents, open shelves holding dishes, a countertop with utensils, a large window, and a dining table with chairs. A plant is visible by the window.

Hues of beige and taupe dominate this kitchen, while wood tones as accents inject hints of warmth and texture. Opt for light granite countertops and limewash walls for a wabi-sabi element.

The balance between light and deep tones creates a visually stimulating but nonetheless calming atmosphere.

3. Wooden Island With Clean Lines

Minimalist kitchen with a large wooden island, bar stool, built-in shelves, and light wood accents. Neutral tones create a serene atmosphere.

Clean, smooth angular lines define the wooden island in this kitchen, with ample space for prepping food and keeping kitchen essentials within reach. Plus, the light wood blends in with the space’s light neutral scheme.

Go for slatted wood panels as accent pieces throughout the space for that distinct Japandi look.

4. Slatted Wood

Modern kitchen with vertical wooden slat walls, light-colored countertop, two wooden stools, cookware, and pottery on surfaces. A single bulb hangs from the ceiling.

Whether used in an accent wall or part of the island, slatted wood can invigorate your Japandi-style kitchen. Its vertical lines create a visual rhythm and add interest without overwhelming your space’s overall design.

5. Black Fixtures

Modern kitchen with light wood cabinetry, open shelves, black accents, and large windows. A minimalist design with natural light and a tree visible outside.

The timeless style of Japandi kitchens makes them versatile enough to go with different accents of your choosing, including black fixtures for a modern contrast. In this space, black faucets and a black sink lend a contemporary edge.

Decorate the space with black stoneware for traditional Japanese accents.

6. Beadboard Paneling

A small, minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets, open shelves, and potted plants. A window to the right lets in natural light, illuminating the neutral-colored decor.

To add dimension and charm to your kitchen, go for beadboard paneling. This subtle feature complements traditional interior styles while aligning with Japandi minimalism, open shelves, and slatted wood.

7. Handleless Wood Cabinetry

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinets and countertops. A hanging plant and assorted pottery are on shelves. Sunlight streams through a window above the sink.

Handleless cabinetry gives your kitchen a sleek, uninterrupted flow, which is a hallmark of Japandi designs. Opting for this minimal approach is great for a clean, streamlined aesthetic.

8. Natural Stone Backsplash

A modern kitchen with a stone accent wall, wooden cabinets, hanging pendant light, and a countertop holding oranges, cutting boards, and small containers.

If you want to introduce a wabi-sabi focal point to your kitchen without disrupting a minimalist kitchen’s serene aura, try a natural stone backsplash. It has a raw, earthy, and slightly rugged feel that prevents a dull or bland look.

9. Light Wood Flooring and Dining Set

Minimalist dining area with wooden table, chairs, and pendant lights. Neutral tones and natural light create a warm atmosphere.

This eat-in Japandi kitchen’s dining set echoes the light wood flooring to achieve the consistency that the interior style prioritizes. With these elements, the kitchen feels warm, expansive, and perfectly cohesive.

10. Wabi-Sabi Elements

Minimalist kitchen with natural wood elements, including a rough-hewn countertop and three wooden stools. Bowl and jug on the counter.

Live-edge bar stools and counters and handcrafted wooden bowls introduce the wabi-sabi ethos into your kitchen, which is all about celebrating imperfections and irregularities.

11. Integrated Appliances

One of Japandi’s fundamental design principles is aiming for a combination of form and function, and integrated appliances perfectly embody this.

They blend in with the rest of the room’s features to prevent visual clutter while increasing the space’s functionality.

12. Open-Concept Japandi Kitchen

Minimalist room with a wooden dining table and chairs, a lounge chair, a potted plant, and wall shelves. The space has a neutral color palette with natural light from large windows.

Yes, the Japandi style is perfect for an open-concept kitchen! By eliminating barriers between different areas in the home, it facilitates a smooth flow for cooking, dining, and socializing.

13. Soft Textiles and Linens

A minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets, potted plants, and a light curtain. A stovetop, oven, and stools are visible. Natural light streams in through large windows.

Soft linens drape over surfaces in this space, including curtains, tea towels, and cushions. Each one infuses a subtle texture and contributes to a cozy, welcoming atmosphere within the kitchen.

14. Green Kitchen Cabinets

A modern kitchen with green cabinets, open shelving, and a wood countertop. Sunlight streams through a large window, casting shadows on the wooden floor.

Soothing yet dynamic, muted green cabinets are right at home in a Japandi kitchen. The pop of color maintains tranquility while subtly freshening up the space and pairing well with light wood tones.

15. Handmade Pots

Minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets and open shelves, featuring wooden bowls and a few small potted plants, lit by natural sunlight.

An emphasis on craftsmanship is another of Japandi’s most defining characteristics, so artisanal handcrafted pots are a great choice for decorating a Japandi-style kitchen.

Not only do they contribute an earthy, tactile depth, but they can also be used for cooking!

16. Simple Pendant Lighting

A minimalist kitchen features spherical pendant lights, open shelving with various items, and a central island with a round tray and vase.

In this Japandi kitchen, simple round pendant lights resemble Asian lanterns and provide ambient lighting to illuminate the soothing environment. Their unfussy design makes them a stunning choice for the space.

17. Bamboo Kitchenware

Wooden kitchen with pots, plates, utensils, and open shelving. Minimalist design with hanging tools and potted plant near faucet.

Bamboo kitchenware subtly ties together all the elements in this space and lends a feeling of cohesion. Serving as a tactile link to nature, these pieces double as decor and functional essentials for everyday tasks.

18. Large Windows

Sunlit kitchen with wooden cabinets, black stove, potted plants, and a large window. A wooden table and chairs are in the foreground.

The large windows in this kitchen let in a flood of natural light to ensure a bright and inviting setting. What’s more, it provides a breathtaking view of the outdoors.

19. Marble and Wood

Minimalist kitchen with wood and marble design, featuring an island, stools, and a potted plant. Natural light streams through floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking greenery.

A delightful organic blend of marble and wood elevates the natural elegance of this Japandi kitchen. Soft white marble countertops complement the warmth of wooden cabinets for a sophisticated contrast that enriches the room.

20. Sustainable Materials

A sunlit kitchen with wooden shelves, potted plants, a woven rug, and bamboo blinds, featuring a window view of green trees.

Embracing eco-friendly design, this kitchen uses recycled bamboo and sustainable fabrics. All these materials help you create a harmonious, eco-conscious kitchen.

21. Vertical Subway Tile Backsplash

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinets, a gas stove, and white countertops. Tiled walls, a potted plant, and a small window with wooden trim complete the decor.

With a clean, consistent pattern, this vertical subway tile backsplash complements this Japandi bathroom’s minimalist aesthetic. It offers a much-needed hint of texture and also draws the eye upward to create a sense of height.

22. Subtle Patterns in Wallpaper

Minimalist kitchen with bamboo-patterned wallpaper, two hanging lights, open shelves with pots, and potted plants by the sink.

Don’t worry; you don’t have to sacrifice your love of patterned wallpaper for a Japandi-style space.

You can go for subtle, nature-themed prints — like leaf silhouettes or minimalist renderings of bamboo stalks — in soft neutral tones to keep to the theme.

23. Rattan Dining Set

Minimalist dining area with a wooden table and chairs, pendant light, and open shelving. Soft natural light filters through the window and sliding door, highlighting the decor.

A classic choice in tropical interiors, a rattan dining set can introduce organic texture and provide a chic, cozy dining experience. Decorate it with Japanese ceramics and stoneware to celebrate style fusion.

24. Black and White Color Palette

A modern kitchen with black cabinets, a white countertop, and wooden accents. A pendant light hangs from the ceiling, and a small wooden stool is placed near the counter.

While the Japandi leans toward serene color schemes, a high-contrast palette can also work well with the right design.

For instance, this kitchen features matte black cabinets, white countertops, and wooden accents for a less harsh contrast, offset by wood countertops, warm gray walls, and live plants.

25. Scandinavian-Style Pot Rack

Minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets and a speckled backsplash. Pots, pans, and utensils hang above the counter. Two wooden stools are at the island, and potted plants decorate the shelf.

Here, a Scandinavian-style pot rack saves space while offering eye-catching flair. It’s a clever way to display cookware without cluttering counters.

Opt for wabi-sabi elements on the floor, fixtures, and walls for a predominantly Japandi look.

26. Mix of Light Wood and Dark Wood

Modern kitchen with a marble backsplash, light wooden shelves, and a dark countertop island. Wooden chairs line one side, and a large pendant light hangs above.

Scandinavian interiors often prominently feature light wood, while Japanese interiors favor dark wood. Mixing the two in your space can help you achieve visual interest while preserving cohesion.

27. Natural Fiber Roman Shades

A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a woven rug, and a large window with bamboo blinds. A potted plant is by the window. Natural light illuminates the space.

Window treatments like natural fiber Roman shades enhance your Japandi kitchen’s privacy without compromising its soft, warm, and airy vibe.

Plus, their earthy texture complements white stone counters, wooden cabinetry, and woven accents.

28. Indoor Plants

A narrow kitchen with wooden cabinets, green bamboo plants in pots, and natural light from a tall window with a grid pattern.

Here, lush bamboo in stoneware planters bring a refreshing vibrance. They pop against the kitchen’s sleek wood cabinetry, granite countertops, and limewash walls, with their leaves introducing organic shapes to the space.

29. Square Tiles

Minimalist kitchen with wood cabinets, grid-patterned tiles on the wall and floor, stainless steel hood and faucet, and two potted plants on the countertops. Natural light streams in.

Forming a refined backdrop, this kitchen’s backsplash features square stone tiles that emphasize symmetry and order. Similar tiles are used for the flooring to create a polished, uniform appearance.

30. Leather Bar Stools and Dark Wood Island

Modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, black countertops, and two brown leather barstools at an island. Pendant lights hang above.

For a moodier take on a Japandi-style kitchen, go for this setup. Leather bar stools and a dark wood island with a stone countertop bring depth to the room while still providing a functional, comfortable spot for prepping and dining.

31. Shoji-Style Sliding Doors

A minimalistic kitchen with wooden elements, a white countertop, open shelves with bowls, and a shoji screen window. A pot sits on the counter, and there are trees outside.

Shoji-style sliding doors enhance this kitchen’s functionality and elegance. They’re particularly suitable for smaller spaces, as they can help define and separate areas without creating a closed-in feel.

32. Minimalist Artwork

A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, granite countertops, and decorative vases. Six framed botanical prints hang on the wall above the counter.

If you’re looking to bring a splash of personality to your Japandi kitchen, framed minimalist art is your best bet. You can even create a gallery wall with a series of nature-inspired paintings in similar frames.

33. Floating Shelves

A kitchen with wooden shelves displaying dishes, glasses, and bowls. The countertop has jars, cutting boards, a kettle, and potted plants. Light wood cabinets are below.

Floating shelves like these can display a wide variety of items, from dinnerware to decor, without making the space look untidy. Complement them with low-profile base cabinets to maximize vertical space.

34. Granite Countertops and Island

Minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinetry, open shelves, and concrete countertops. Neutral tones and simple decor, including small potted plants and kitchenware.

There’s a robust vibe to this Japandi kitchen, thanks to the granite countertops and the matching island. Paired with light wooden cabinetry, they create a balanced contrast of raw and refined textures.

35. Reclaimed Wood Cabinets

A minimalist kitchen with wooden cabinets, a central island with chairs, a hanging light, potted plants, and assorted tableware on shelves.

Reclaimed wood cabinets can highlight Japandi’s emphasis on sustainability and style. Remember to balance them out with sleek fixtures, which make their unique grain patterns stand out.

Simplicity Meets Elegance in a Japandi Kitchen!

As you can see from the variety of ideas above, Japandi design principles can help create visual harmony and smooth efficiency in your kitchen.

The natural materials, calming color palettes, and thoughtful organization showcased in these designs provide the perfect blueprint for transforming any kitchen into a tranquil haven.

So embrace the Japandi approach for a kitchen that meets your practical needs and enhances your sense of well-being at the same time.