Decorating a Muji/Japanese-style living room on a budget: clean, soft and practical
The heart of a budget Muji-style living room
Decorating in Muji style, or Japanese minimalism, doesn't always mean spending a lot. The heart of it isn't the price of the furniture but simplicity, visual calm and bringing in the warmth of nature . Once you understand how to control the colour palette and organise your things, you can turn an ordinary living room into a relaxing haven on a comfortable budget.
4 techniques to give your living room a Japanese feel without redoing everything
Start transforming your existing room into a Japanese-style living room easily with these practical steps:
- Control the colours and lighting: paint the walls white, cream or beige so the room looks bright and spacious, then switch to warm-white bulbs for a relaxing atmosphere at night
- Choose low furniture: Japanese culture favours a low visual weight; a low sofa bed, a Japanese low table or floor cushions instantly make the ceiling look higher and the room airier
- Cut the clutter with storage: get rid of things you don't need, and keep what you use in cabinets, plain white plastic boxes or woven baskets to hide visual clutter
- Add natural touches: use a woven coir rug or light cotton curtains, with a few small potted plants, to add freshness and depth to the room
Checklist of budget décor for a perfect Muji look
- Washable interior paint in cream white or beige
- Floor cushions and earth-tone throw pillows
- Small wooden coffee table or natural wood-look folding table
- Opaque white plastic storage boxes or woven rattan baskets
- Easy-care air-purifying plants such as a ZZ plant or rubber plant
Electrical and safety precautions
Most Muji-style decorating is free-standing work you can do yourself, but if your plan involves running new wiring to hide cables in channels, installing ceiling lights, or fixing heavy shelves to lightweight walls, consult and hire electrical and structural specialists for safety from current leakage and long-term strength and durability.