The full specification table
The table below is the guide as printed — element, what Japandi requires, the specification and the 2026 cost band.
| Element | What the style requires | Specification | 2026 cost band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palette | Warm off-whites, oatmeal, one deep charcoal anchor | #EDE7DC base, #C8BFB0 secondary, #3E3A34 accent | Rs 38–55 / sq ft painting |
| Primary wood | Pale, straight-grained, visible | White oak or ash veneer, hardwax oil finish | Rs 180–290 / sq ft veneer |
| Secondary material | Cane, rattan or slatted timber, used as a screen | Natural cane webbing or 20 mm timber slats | Rs 450–1,200 / sq ft |
| Joinery form | Low, horizontal, with legs so the floor runs under | Wall-hung or leg-mounted, 4 in ground clearance | Rs 1,750–2,500 / sq ft |
| Joinery finish | Matt, natural, with the grain visible | Hardwax oil on veneer, or suede-matt laminate | Rs 1,400–2,200 / sq ft |
| Flooring | Warm timber tone, wide plank, matt | SPC or engineered oak, 190 mm plank | Rs 210–520 / sq ft |
| Ceiling | Flat and simple; a timber batten feature at most | Gypsum flat plus 40 x 20 mm timber battens | Rs 140–260 / sq ft |
| Lighting | Warm 2700K, paper or fabric shades, low and pooled | Pendant at 30 in over the table; no ceiling grid | Rs 3,500–28,000 per fitting |
| Metal | Blackened steel or aged brass, small in quantity | Matt black handles, 12 mm diameter maximum | Rs 320–1,200 per piece |
| Textiles | Undyed linen, wool, cotton; visible weave | Linen drapes, wool rug, no synthetics | Rs 800–3,500 / metre |
| Plants | Few, sculptural, in unglazed ceramic | Two to three per room, maximum | Rs 1,500–12,000 each |
| What to avoid | Grey, gloss, chrome, pattern, and clutter framed as 'wabi-sabi' | — | — |
How to use the guide
- Fix the lighting temperature first. 2700K throughout. This single decision determines whether the palette reads as warm and calm or as cold and grey, and no material choice can compensate for getting it wrong.
- Budget the cane and slats as a line item. They are the elements that carry the style and they are usually added late, when the budget has gone.
- Raise the joinery off the floor. Four inches of clearance, wall-hung or on legs, so the flooring runs underneath. It is what makes the low horizontal proportion work.
- Keep the plants few and sculptural. Two or three per room in unglazed ceramic. A room full of plants is a different style entirely.
Three mistakes this prevents
- Cool white light. It is the single most common Japandi failure in Mumbai flats and it turns the entire oatmeal palette to concrete.
- Grey instead of warm neutral. Japandi is warm; the Scandinavian half of it is not the grey minimalism that was fashionable a decade ago.
- Cane added as a decorative panel. It works as a screen or a shutter insert where it does something; applied to a flat door it is a sticker.
Download the style guide (PDF) →
See residential interior design and the colour palette book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Japandi and minimalist?+
Warmth and material. Minimalism conceals everything and tends to a cool, hard palette; Japandi leaves wood, cane and weave visible and is deliberately warm. Japandi also tolerates a small number of carefully chosen objects, where minimalism would remove them.
What wood should Japandi use?+
Pale and straight-grained: white oak or ash, finished in hardwax oil rather than PU so the grain stays open and matt. Teak is too warm and too figured, walnut is too dark, and anything with a high-gloss finish contradicts the style at the first reflection.
Does Japandi work in Mumbai humidity?+
Mostly. Oak and ash veneer on a properly sealed substrate are fine. Natural cane webbing is the vulnerable element — it slackens in high humidity and can go brittle in air-conditioning. Rattan-print laminate is the durable substitute where a cane panel sits in a difficult location.
What does a Japandi interior cost?+
₹1,800 to ₹2,900 per sq ft of carpet, ex-GST. It sits above plain modern because of the veneer, the hardwax oil finish and the cane or slat work, all of which are craft items rather than sheet materials, and none of which are quick on site.
Can I do Japandi with existing furniture?+
Partially. Low, legged furniture in pale wood or neutral fabric will integrate; anything dark, glossy or heavily upholstered will fight it. The lighting and the palette do most of the work, so changing those two first will tell you honestly which existing pieces can stay.