Japanese home design is well known for the calmness and serenity it breathes into the residents.
Japanese bath design blends the perfectionism of traditional Japanese culture with simplicity and minimalism, creating natural elements that give out a contemporary and clean look and feel.
By following some key principles, you can turn your bathroom into a spa and set the mood for relaxation and tranquility.
If you’d like to incorporate a clean and peaceful design into your own bathroom, take a look at the most popular Japanese-style bathroom ideas recommended by our interior experts.
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6 Japanese-Style Bathroom Ideas Everyone Will Love
If you’re familiar with Japanese design, you’ve probably noticed the big cultural differences between Japan, Europe, and America.
Japanese bathrooms are distinguished by a large, deep bathtub, a separate washing area, and a private changing area, while the toilet is typically located in an entirely different room.
For Japanese people, having a bath in the room you use as a toilet would be a silly thing to do.
To enjoy the zen of a Japanese-styled bathroom, take a look at our bathroom ideas, and visit JustBidet‘s website for some extra bathroom design tips.
1. A Wooden Soaking Tub
A deep soaking tub, or ofuro, is an inevitable part of a Japanese-themed bathroom.
Japanese interior designers use various materials as the bathroom’s centerpiece, and there’s nothing unusual in making a wooden tub the center of attention in a Japanese-styled bathroom.
The wood used in Japanese soaking tubs is called hinoki. It features natural antibacterial properties, making it an excellent choice for a tub.
The material is also resistant to mold and insects, so you don’t have to worry about molding or rotting.
Cedar is another common option, as it has similar characteristics and an appealing aroma.
2. Convenient Water Heating System
A Japanese-styled bathroom is all about convenience. Therefore, if you’ve embraced the idea of a deep soaking tub, you’re going to need a proper water heating system.
Japanese bathrooms often use a point-of-use water heater. They’re great for filling up deeper bathtubs as they can provide you with a perfect hot temperature for the soaking tub.
A point-of-use water heater delivers hot water without the need for gas plumbing, making it the most convenient option for simple installation.
Even if you need to hide the water heater out of sight, these systems are convenient for installation in locations that are difficult to work in.
With a point-of-use water heater, you won’t need a hot water cylinder.
Various Lighting Fixtures
Lightning can greatly impact the ambient in the bathroom.
Therefore, if you want to stay consistent with the minimalist design of Japanese decor, you’ll need to go with simple yet suitable lighting.
Many Japanese designers use subtle skylights overlooking the soaking tub as a great alternative for day use.
To make things more convenient, a Japanese-styled bathroom should have various lighting options around different parts of the room.
Adding task lighting around the vanity mirror can be very suitable for applying makeup or shaving.
For the general lighting theme, recessed lighting is also a great option.
Neutral Colors and Soft Earth Tones
When designing the perfect bathroom, the paint can help you make a big difference.
Simplicity is the key to a Japanese-styled bathroom, so try to hold back from using anything too shiny.
Pastel colors are your friend, so don’t be afraid to use subtle green or blue notes to create a serene, relaxing atmosphere.
If you want to lower the brightness, we suggest you use gentle earth tones. Use something darker, but make sure it doesn’t attract too much attention.
Subtle Accents
If you’re going for the minimalist Japanese look, less is always more.
You won’t have much room to play around with accent pieces, so make sure you pick out the few you’re going to use wisely.
Adding one to two small bamboo plants is a great way to level up the look and feel of the entire room.
Some neatly polished river rocks can also look really nice.
To incorporate the accent pieces with the wooden tub, you can add some minimalist wood shelves that’ll provide you with more storage in the bathroom.
Scented pillar candles will also look great and enhance your enjoyment while soaking.
Anything can be used as an accent piece. Carefully pick out your towels, as they’ll be visible from the minimalist wooden shelves and can significantly affect the entire look of the bathroom.
Look for natural earth tones, and if you want to spice things up, you can use the towels to add some contrast to the room.
Separate Toilet
To stay true to Japanese design, you’re going to need to transfer the toilet into a separate room, as in Japanese culture, it is very unusual to use the same room as a toilet and a bathroom.
If you don’t have much room to spare, you can build a smaller room on one side of the bathroom.
If you have another bathroom with a toilet in the house, you can save yourself the trouble of building another one.
Other Things to Consider
If your current bathroom style is American, switching to a Japanese-styled bathroom can be a considerable financial investment.
Japanese bathrooms are often very spacious, with separate bathing areas and toilets.
However, if you don’t have enough room, you can always pass on some of the Japanese-style bathroom ideas and incorporate the ones you can work with.
Another thing to consider before you start remodeling the bathroom is whether it will fit the rest of the home.
A Japanese-style bathroom would make a perfect fit in a modern, contemporary home, but if your house is designed in a more traditional or rustic manner, a Japanese-themed bathroom might seem out of place.
You’ll also need to consider how much time you spend in the bathroom. If you’re more of a shower person, installing a deep wooden soaking tub might be a little over the top.
But if you enjoy a quality bathroom relaxation and zen, a Japanese bathroom would be an excellent home improvement idea.
