How to Create Your Own Japanese-Style Bathroom

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We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. Updating your home, whether it’s a little touch-up or full remodel, can be an exciting experience that makes your home more enjoyable to live in.  Not only does it provide you with the opportunity to step back and really think about how you want your home to express those things you love, but it’s also a chance to learn something new.One of the most unique routes to creating a space in your home that has purpose in its design is to incorporate culture.  Here we will consider incorporating a very tranquil and Zen culture to your home through the Japanese art of bathing.The bathroom is a space in the home that is used daily and the Japanese have redefined this room’s purpose over time from an efficiency-based space to an area where peace and tranquility reign.We have done the research for you, so here’s a look at some of the most important steps when it comes to creating an interior oasis of calm in your home’s Japanese style bathroom:

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Décor that Delights the Senses

Much like a Japanese garden, a Japanese style bathroom must be built with nature in mind. Utilizing greenery such as bamboo plants or mossy potted plants is a key element to creating the feeling that the peaceful natural world can exist within your walls.  Placement of these plants is just as essential. Make sure that bamboo plants or potted moss is lined up in pleasing, lines that don’t overwhelm the senses.Lighting is another essential element in your Japanese-style bathroom. In order to create a space where your mind is free to relax, harsh lights and bold fixtures should be avoided. Keeping interior lines simple and accent pieces minimal is important in allowing for a calm and clear experience.Color schemes in Japanese style bathrooms should also be kept on the neutral or natural side depending upon your preferences. Clean lines matched up with light tones or natural hues are going to create a Zen atmosphere where you can experience peace and tranquility. Bright colors are too distracting in this type of environment and take away from your mind and body’s opportunity to find true calm.Don’t forget to bring bamboo into your décor wherever possible, but with a clear purpose. Whether it’s bamboo floors, trim or plants, it’s a feature worth investing in. Bamboo is going to seamlessly incorporate a natural feel with the moisture resistance a bathroom requires to stand up under general use. Similarly, it’s one of the world’s most renewable resources, which means your Japanese-style bathroom not only provides Zen, but works side by side with nature.

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Tub Time and Tranquility

While it’s not uncommon to think of a bathroom space in the home as a place that is visited only briefly, the Japanese have a different take on this room. In Japanese culture, a bathroom is a space for rest and rejuvenation as much as it is for cleanliness.  Because it’s a space that is lingered in, a Japanese-style bathroom is built for enjoying, and not simply efficiency.One of the most popular recent imports when creating a Japanese bathroom is the incorporation of a small soaking tub. These are placed in bathrooms with the sole purpose of relaxing a tired body and giving you time to collect your thoughts and inspirations.  Their size indicates that they are not for bathing for hygiene, but for peaceful meditation and calm.Oils and salts for a soaking tub should be readily available if you are looking to create an authentic Japanese bathroom. These gentle products are used to enhance relaxation and can be incorporated in the simplistic and linear décor if lined up against a soaking tub or even on a countertop with purpose.A Japanese-style bathroom should have the option for relaxing music as well. Making an effort to hide the technology within the décor is essential so it’s not a distracting feature. However, having natural sounds available to play while you soak is an ideal process for achieving Zen in a space meant for rejuvenation.

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Hygiene Essentials to Consider

A Japanese-style bathroom has a clear focus on relaxation and hygiene. It’s important to understand that while these two concepts go together in this space, the Japanese believe in keeping them separated. In an authentic Japanese bathroom the place you relax will always be partitioned off in some form from the place you achieve cleanliness and maintain hygiene.Because the bathtubs are viewed as a place to soak, they are not primarily used as a place for bathing or cleanliness, and won’t be found in large sizes like in many households today. Additionally, the toilet will always be found separate from a soaking tub. In many cases, a door or separate small space is created singularly for the toilet.If it’s not possible to craft a separate room for the toilet in your given bathroom space, a DIY partition will suffice. A paper partition or hanging curtain will act as a barrier between the desire to relax and the necessity of hygiene.Behind that partition however, hygiene is of the upmost importance in a Japanese-style bathroom. In fact, most of these bathrooms do not host a standard toilet, but instead, utilize a bidet. These features are available in a variety of colors and sizes to fit bathrooms of all types.

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Delicate Details that Make a Difference

The beauty in a Japanese-style bathroom is found in the delicate details that are incorporated. Japan is an island and as a result, Japanese culture is saturated in dedications and references to the power of water. Many Japanese bathrooms incorporate water or waterfall effects in some form. For example, a small stone fountain on a bathroom countertop not only creates a pleasing and natural visual effect, but incorporates natural sound into your relaxing environment.Japanese aesthetics tend to also focus on stones. Whether arranged in a path or in pleasing designs, stones are a raw symbol of nature and can easily be incorporated into your Japanese-style bathroom. Stones make a stunning and natural backsplash for a bathroom countertop. They can also be added to sinks to minimize the effect of synthetic surfaces that may have been installed for budgeting purposes.Keeping your bathroom design streamlined makes all the difference in crafting an authentic Japanese  bathroom. Avoid flashy or colorful items such as bright hand towels or cartoonish toothbrush holders. Instead, opt for neutral tones and clean lines to maintain a feeling of serenity and calm.Additionally, feel free to incorporate culturally specific products. If you’re able to obtain Japanese hand soaps, this can only add to the authenticity of your creation.

When you have the opportunity to create a Japanese-style bathroom make sure you take full advantage. Bathrooms tend to be easily overlooked spaces in the house that in fact, have incredible design potential.When you allow yourself the ability to incorporate the benefits of cultural design into your home’s décor, you’ll find the final result is a stunning work of art in and of itself.Is your bathroom a Zen and tranquil space? If not, consider following this guide to achieve a Japanese-style bathroom.  It’s guaranteed to add aalm, relaxing element to your busy home.