Trending on Remodelista: 5 Interior Design Ideas to Steal from Japan

This week the Remodelista editors looked east to Japan for interior design inspiration. Here are five of their favorite ideas to steal:

Floral Tablecloths

Above: A fringed Makoto Kagoshima Tablecloth is $255 from March.

See more festive florals in Flower, Stem, Leaf: Whimsical Tablecloths by a Japanese Artist.

Tall Toasters

Above: Designed by Naoto Fukasawa for Muji, the MoMA Muji Vertical Toaster Oven can be found on Amazon for $149 for US use. The toaster measures 9 inches wide and 12.5 inches high. Read more about Fukasawa’s Muji designs in our post Appliances for Minimalists: The Muji Toaster Oven and More.

“I’ve never liked the look of a typical toaster oven, and like the microwave, their size and function (with an opening door) means they’re difficult to hide,” writes Alexa. “Japanese design solves this problem (of course!) with compact, simple-looking toaster oven boxes.” See more in this week’s 10 Easy Pieces post.

Last-a-Lifetime Trash Cans

Above: The enameled steel Small Bunbuko Waste Basket in white is $34 from Brooklyn-based Salter House.

“Designed in 1960, the enameled steel Bunbuko Waste Basket received Japan’s Good Design Long Life Award in the household goods and daily necessities category in 2015,” writes Julie. See more at Object of Desire: An Award-Winning Trash Can from Japan.

Hinoki Cypress Sofas

Above: A sofa frame references both traditional Japanese architecture and mid-century Danish furniture.

“Spotted (and admired): a small collection of furniture from Japan-based architecture firm Karimoku in collaboration with Copenhagen-based Norm Architects. The four pieces are made of  hinoki cypress, and are inspired by traditional Japanese and Scandinavian tradition,” notes Julie. See more at Object of Desire: Furniture by ‘Architect Meets Karimoku,’ a Collaboration with Norm Architects.

High-Tech Toilets

Above: Julie admires the high-tech toilets at Hotel Hakuba: A Japanese Ski Lodge for Scandi Design Fanatics.

See more models in Trend Alert: 8 Techno Toilets.

Wooden Plant Pedestals

Above: A Wooden Stand from Foraged Home is handmade in Indonesia in three sizes: small (2.75 inches high), medium (2.75 inches high but wider than the small), and large (3.75 inches high); $10 to $25 each at Foraged Home.

“If you’ve reached the point of your houseplant collection where pots just sort of mush together in an expanding blob on the floor, might we suggest introducing levels?” asks Alexa. See more in 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Plant Pedestals.