Looking for a simple, uncluttered bedroom style? Want to create a fresh, yet relaxing bedroom? We love classic Japanese minimalism – simple, geometric shapes and plain bedding can help you achieve the look. We also love our oriental look wooden beds and bedside tables which are perfect for this style. In this blog we take a look at our Japanese style beds, bedroom furniture and the bedding best suited to this timeless look.
The Kyoto is our original oriental look bed – a design classic – we have been making this wooden bed for decades and the style never dates. Over the years we’ve just subtly updated the design – we added the option to order it with a headboard panel and we’ve added a finishing panel to the foot end which gives a more refined look to the bed. The fundamentals have stayed the same though – the geometric simplicity and the beautiful, carefully thought through proportions.We’ve also added the Kyoto drawer table and Kyoto shelf tables to our range – these solid wood, bedside tables work brilliantly with the Kyoto and Kumo beds and are in keeping with the pared back style.
The Kyoto is available in a wide range of timbers including pine (stained, clear lacquered or sanded for your own treatment) and our hardwoods range: oak, walnut, ash, maple, cherry or beech. Our favourites for an oriental look include the wenge stained pine, solid oak and solid walnut versions.
The Kyoto is now also available as a day-bed – it comes complete with a futon mattress and optional head-rest cushion. It is shown above with a walnut base and a black futon – this combination is perfect for a sophisticated and luxurious oriental look.
The Kumo bed is a lower version of the Kyoto – the height to the top of the side rails is 21.5cm for the Kumo, while it is 26.5cm on the Kyoto. The Kumo is in all other ways identical to the Kyoto, but the lower height makes it a popular choice for attic bedrooms or where the bed is to sit under a window.
The Kumo is shown above in pine wood with the dark, espresso brown ‘wenge’ stain – this look suits a contemporary Japanese style. Fresh, neutral colours suit the scheme – a shot of aqua lifting the minimalist look. The tables featured are the Kyoto bedside drawer table and shelf table, again – as they are handmade at our Sheffield workshop they are available in any of our timbers.
The Kobe bed is the lowest bed in the range, short leg rails ensures the platform appears to hover just above the ground! The height to the top top of the side rails is just 14cm for the Kobe. We’ve chosen to dress the Kobe with very simple, neutral bedding. Take a look at the Melange Organic Cotton Bedding – this neutral bedding will suit any timber and work well with a simple Oriental look.
If you are looking for a table to suit the Kobe, the Kyoto drawer table will still work – even with this lower bed. However we would also suggest the Low Cube Table (handmade at our workshops in Sheffield) or the Cube Drawer Table and Cube Bench from the Black Lotus collection which are also great options.
The Kulu is a low platform bed with a wide headboard panel. The Kulu is available to order with or without small side ‘tables’ – solid timber platforms attached to the side rail and headboard, they are just big enough for holding a cup of tea and an alarm clock or book. The Kulu bed is available to order here in any of our hardwood timbers, however it can also be ordered in solid oak with a black finish. It’s possible to order various styles of this wooden bed – change the look by selecting which sections you want stained and those left in natural oak.You can see below the variety of looks that can be achieved using the Kulu bed.
The Kulu is a great choice for an oriental inspired scheme – the pared back, yet bold, geometry of the design is suited to a minimalist interior. We suggest simple bedding such as our white textured duvet sets or luxurious pure linen bedding, a simple waffle throw for texture and a couple of candles or lanterns to complete the look.
Like the Kulu but would prefer to add some colour? Then the Koo bed is for you. The solid wood frame (available online in oak or walnut, other timbers available on request) has a contrast lacquered headboard – available in any colour! If you want to match it to a Farrow & Ball or Little Green paint colour – just let us know the name and we can order the lacquer to match. If you want to give us a Pantone or RAL reference then we can match your headboard to your chosen colour.
For a simple Japanese style bed we would recommend keeping to neutrals (ivory, grey or taupe) or a bold black or brilliant white. Like the Kulu the Koo is available with the attached side tables, however if you prefer a separate bedside table – take a look at the Frame side table which can slot over the bed base.
If you want a really minimalist look and would prefer to do without the headboard entirely then take a look at the Ki bed (shown above) – it’ll be perfect for you. The Ki, like the Koo, was inspired by the Kulu, but it has wider side rails and no headboard creating a low, chunky looking bed base.
Along with our Oriental look beds and bedside tables, we have a wide range of wooden bedroom furniture available, from cupboards and chest of drawers to dressing tables and stools. The majority of the modern bedroom furniture we have available will suit a minimalist, oriental look as they have clean lines and a contemporary look. We particularly like the black oak Osso stool with the Blackbird Dressing Table – the black stained oak and elegant shapes are ideal for this style.
We have lots of bedding options to suit this style – from duvet sets and sheets, to bedspreads and throws. My current favourites included the Ikat stripe sets in ochre or silver grey, and the Watercolour Floral Print Duvet Set.
For more ideas take a look at our Pinterest board: Japanese Style Bedrooms.