| Japanese design and culture has now entered | | | | either side of the bed and have bright enough light |
| bedroom decor. This is for good reason: Many people | | | | for reading or soft, romantic lighting from the same |
| find its simple lines soothing. Since your bedroom is | | | | lamps. Shoji doors could replace French doors leading |
| your innermost retreat, your sanctuary, it should | | | | into your bathroom or out onto your deck. Skylights |
| offer you comfort as you enter the room. By utilizing | | | | also look classy framed to appear shoji-style. |
| sparing, but luxurious, Japanese decor and design, you | | | | Remember to keep bedside tables and other tables |
| can create a relaxing, meditative, bedroom. How do | | | | in the bedroom area low. Keep them in proportion to |
| you go about creating a Japanese styled bedroom? | | | | the height of your bed. If your bedroom also has a |
| Let's find out. | | | | sitting area, consider keeping the Japanese theme |
| Start from the bottom up, and consider your flooring. | | | | and use a low table and zabuton (the seating |
| Would you like traditional tatami (tightly woven | | | | cushions). |
| straw) mat flooring? It is very comfortable to bare | | | | You should also consider adding a tokonoma, which is |
| feet. Traditional Japanese design requires a certain | | | | a small, raised alcove in which you might display a wall |
| mat layout that dictates certain room dimensions. | | | | scroll, and other decorative features. A sliding-door |
| Modern Japanese-inspired decor may use a traditional | | | | wall closet can be opened up and trimmed to make a |
| tatami mat layout as a floor insert surrounded by | | | | deep tokonoma. A shallow alcove can be framed out |
| other flooring or one tatami mat on top of hard | | | | and set in the wall. If you are displaying a tall, narrow |
| flooring to use as a yoga mat. | | | | object, you can even put a tokonoma between |
| Next is the central feature of a Japanese-style | | | | studs. Traditionally, the decorations are changed |
| bedroom - a futon or platform bed. In Japanese | | | | every month or so. Small geisha dolls, a bonsai tree, |
| design, this bed does not have a footboard or, | | | | or a Buddha statue are other ideas for your |
| sometimes, a headboard. It has an extended | | | | tokonoma decorations. |
| platform on which the mattress sits in the middle. It | | | | So there you go. |
| usually does not have box springs. It sits low to the | | | | When you are ready for a soothing bedroom |
| ground and sometimes well away from all walls. Use | | | | makeover, consider Japanese design ideas. Whether |
| all silk bedding in a single rich color to continue the | | | | you go completely traditional with a tamaki room, and |
| Japanese theme (and to pamper yourself). Add | | | | all the proper accents or whether you choose a |
| several silk pillows to your platform bed to complete | | | | lighter impact, only incorporating a few |
| the effect. | | | | Japanese-inspired items in with your traditional bed |
| Add shoji-style lamps for lighting. Their translucent | | | | and flooring, a bedroom with Japanese style |
| panels are especially good for creating warm, | | | | elements is a mentally soothing retreat that you will |
| diffused lighting. Put one on a dimmer switch on | | | | look forward to visiting at the end of a stressful day. |