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Century Furniture Living Room Akimi Coffee Table AE9-601<\/p><\/div>\n

Most urban Japanese homes are not single-family homes. In fact, their apartments are small yet you will still see the beautiful traditional features like step-up entryways and the deeply-relaxing soaking tubs.<\/p>\n

Even Westernized Japanese style homes have one Japanese room complete with tatami<\/em> flooring. This means that the traditional Japanese elements are still widely incorporated by many Western architects. The essential concepts are the following \u2013<\/p>\n

Gates<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you go to Japan, one of the things that you would immediately notice are the gated entryways. This is because many residential streets do not have sidewalks. The line of demarcation, therefore, rests on the property\u2019s gate.<\/p>\n

The gate is also traditionally roofed especially in Kyoto, Japan. It is also common to find cherry trees in the garden that greets the visitors once they are welcomed into the property.<\/p>\n

Walls<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since there are gates, naturally, there are walls. The Japanese always make their properties secure and private so they set up walls right at the property lines. The most common material is the concrete block whether the home is situated in a quaint village or in a city.<\/p>\n

There are also bigger homes with stone walls that are topped with wooden fences. There are even those that are topped with actual trees.<\/p>\n

Tiled Roofing <\/strong><\/p>\n

Japan is constantly bombarded with rain, hence, their roofs are designed for water drainage. The broad eaves allow the opening of exterior doors without letting in unwanted rain splashes.<\/p>\n

Step-Up Entryway<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is that transitional space between the interiors of the home and the outdoors. This is that very spot where the shoes are exchanged for the slippers. Called the genkan<\/em>, this is also where a shoe cupboard can be placed also some decorative objects like art, flowers or ceramics.<\/p>\n

This area may also face the tokonoma <\/em>or the alcove where artwork or scrolls are prominently displayed. Ikebana <\/em>or flower arrangements may also be featured there.<\/p>\n

North-South Views <\/strong><\/p>\n

Japanese houses are often set up north-south, meaning, the house gets a steady amount of sunlight during the day.\u00a0 The outdoor views are often mountains or lovely water features.<\/p>\n

Would you believe that natural light is actually a human right <\/em>in Japan?<\/p>\n

Sliding Doors <\/strong><\/p>\n

The lovely louvered doors are also essential parts of every Japanese home. These also feature slatted windows which are common in live-work homes.<\/p>\n

Wood and Straw Everywhere <\/strong><\/p>\n

No Japanese home can be called such without an element of wood in it. Japanese homes often stain their wooden features but they never paint them. It is crucial to feature the wood grain insomuch that they can even feature an entire tree as a roof beam.<\/p>\n

Another important material in Japanese interior design is straw matting. On any tatami <\/em>flooring, a type of grass called igusa <\/em>is woven. This is used to keep the house cool during the summer months and warm during winter.<\/p>\n

Straw matting can be a tad costly but they are known to last for many, many years. Remember how the Japanese never use their dirty shoes indoors? This is the reason why the tatami<\/em> flooring remains undamaged for many years.<\/p>\n

You can also follow this same concept. To add to the Zen atmosphere, you can also bring in standard rectangle mats. Get the ones that have black cloth or brocade edges.<\/p>\n

Multi-Purpose Rooms <\/strong><\/p>\n

Traditional Japanese homes also have multiple purposes for every room. The futon <\/em>or traditional bedding can be folded during the day to reveal a larger room where people can relax, sit or even dine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"