1/17/2007

These are the Top 5 furnitures you will find in any japanese homes. Some of it may have found its way as part of design in other culture as well. But nevertheless, these beautiful furnitures are every bit Japanese in essense and in design.

Here are the Top 5’s now:

1. Tansu Chest – Traditional Japanese chest that houses many drawers for little everyday things. Usually comes in mahogany or black.

2. Shoji Screen – this is sort of like a divider that you can use to, say for example, separate the kitchen and the dining are if you have an open space concept in your house. Intricate designs are usually drawn on the screen ranging from flowers to birds.

3. Tatami Cushion – it is a staple in any Japanese household as this what you sit on when you’re at the dining table. Japanese sit on the floor and the dining table is relatively short in proportion to your height as you’re kneeling (for the ladies) or sitting with your legs crossed (boys). The cushion is like what a chair is in a western dining experience.

4. Noren – a split curtain hung at the door usually. It was initially used by restaurants to signal that they’re open for business. However, homes uses it too as to keep the sun and dusts out but now they’re mainly used as part of decoration. Noren are usually designed with flowers on them and such.

5. Japanese Paper Lanterns – Well, this one is a very popular as these lights are used everywhere in the world now as a living room lighting and bedroom. It sets a very romantic and rustic mood. IKEA all over the world is selling it anyway at a very affordable price.

Source: About.com