3 Tips For A Traditional Japanese-Style Home
Your home is your haven, so you want it to suit your style and preferences. Interestingly, more and more people are drawn to the beautiful style of traditional Japanese-style homes. If you think you want a Japanese-styled home, check out these three tips that can help.
1. Don't Disrespect Your Floors
The outside world is filthy, and shoes protect your feet from germs, bacteria, and injury. However, as a result, your shoes become just as filthy. If you want to live like a traditional Japanese person, you must always remove your street shoes before entering the home.
Naturally, nothing is stopping you from having an indoor pair of shoes or slippers, but they should only be worn inside the house. In addition, you don't want to wear your normal slippers inside the bathroom. The bathroom can also harbor germs and bacteria, so many Japanese-style homes also have special bathroom shoes.
Ideally, you'll have an entryway at the front door where people can remove their shoes. Some people may just store their shoes on the floor, but others install shelves or use a basket to better organize the shoes. It is also polite to have guest slippers. Plus, it may be easier to convince guests to remove shoes if you provide an indoor pair of slippers for them, so they don't have to walk around in their socks.
2. Bring Nature Indoors
While you don't want outside filth inside your home, you do want to bring nature inside. Japanese-style homes are notorious for having a lot of nature themes. You can do this in many ways, but the easiest is to get indoor plants, especially those associated with Japan like bonsai, bamboo, lotus, etc.
Depending on your budget, you may want to install big windows or big doors that open to the outside. This helps create the illusion that that outside is part of your home too. Plus, it can make the house look bigger. You may also want to install water features like koi ponds or deer scarer.
You should consider nature in every aspect of your home. For example, if you need new floors, it's best to steer away from laminate flooring for a Japanese-style home. Instead, choose wood and bamboo. In fact, try to use wood and bamboo wherever you can to help capture that natural look.
3. Overhaul Your Bathroom
If you want a Japanese-style home, it may be time to overhaul your bathroom. Many American homes only have showers or have shower/tub combos. This is not the norm in a Japanese-style home. Instead, you want to install a separate shower area and soaking tub. Typically, you'll clean yourself in the shower before getting in the tub.
Once clean, you can get into the soaking tub, which usually has a bench. Some advanced models may even have spa-like features. If you really want to live like a traditional Japanese person, however, you should never soak in the tub before washing yourself in the shower.
Keep in mind that you'll need a special area for storing the bathroom shoes. Ensure they are not exposed to moisture, especially if they contain fabric. The fabric can absorb the moisture, leading to mold growth, bacteria, and unpleasant odors.
The first step in turning your home into a traditional Japanese-style home is to remove your shoes and get Japanese room shoes for inside. Japanese houses have a lot of natural themes, but one no one wants is grime and filth from dirty shoes. If you would like to know more, or if you're ready to start your home's transformation, start shopping for Japanese home shoes today.