The bathroom should be a place of calm and quiet, a personal area where you can relax in peace and contemplation and refresh both mind and body.
For centuries, the Japanese have stressed the therapeutic properties of water as an aid to harmonise the spirit and restore balance to the most troubled soul.
Even if you live in a busy city, creating a Japanese bathroom is easy. Whether you have a small or large bathroom, following a few simple steps will allow you to create a small oasis of calm in the midst of the frenetic whirl of modern life.
Japanese design is based on simplicity and nature is a constant source of inspiration. Bathrooms, therefore, should be uncluttered and minimalist. Clean, sharp lines are the order of the day and decoration is kept to a strict minimum. This makes it an ideal style for small bathrooms, where space is at a premium.
So, keep it simple. What you save on the décor, spend on good quality fixtures. Invest in a small soaking bath made of wood or grey ceramic. Similarly, the sink should be of the utmost simplicity. A small, square stone basin is perfect, set in a vanity unit or cabinet of wood, preferably teak. Again, the taps should be as plain as possible, solid, chunky and finished in chrome. A square mirror placed over the sink is all that is really necessary.
Shelves should either be fitted inside the cabinet or run along the wall next to the sink. Again they should be simple and well ordered. Store only things that are really necessary, just towels and a bathrobe.
A plant is all the decoration you need. Try placing it in a small glass enclosure surrounded by small stones or pebbles.