Japandi and Scandinavian lighting look alike at first glance: both are simple, calm and warm. The link is direct, because Japandi is itself a blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design. Scandinavian (or Nordic) design is light, practical and friendly: white and pale surfaces, simple rounded shapes, glass, and often a cheerful touch of colour, made to bring warmth to long, dark winters. Japandi keeps that simplicity but adds Japanese restraint: fewer objects, natural textures such as silk, paper, cane and stone, earthy neutrals and fine dark lines. This guide explains how to tell the two apart in a lamp, with the real sizes of the lamps in our Scandinavian lighting and Japandi and wabi-sabi lighting collections.
The short answer
A Scandinavian lamp tends to be bright, clean and slightly playful: white or milky glass, polished metal, a rounded or fluted shape, sometimes a strong colour. A Japandi lamp tends to be quieter and more tactile: a silk or paper shade with thin black ribs, a slatted or woven shade, travertine or dark wood, colours kept to cream, beige and black. Both give soft, warm light, which is why they mix so easily.
Japandi vs Scandinavian lighting at a glance
| Scandinavian lighting | Japandi lighting | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Nordic design: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland | Japanese and Scandinavian design combined |
| Shapes | Rounded, fluted, domes, globes, pebbles | Saucers, ovals, cubes, slats, low drums |
| Materials | Glass, white or polished metal, light wood, smooth plastics | Silk, paper, cane, travertine, dark wood |
| Colours | White, milky glass, pale wood, accents of colour | Cream, beige, natural stone, black accents |
| Light | Bright and cosy, light spread around the room | Soft and diffused, the shade glows |
| Feel | Airy, friendly, practical | Calm, minimal, crafted |
Real sizes: which of our lamps lean Scandinavian, which lean Japandi
The table sorts lamps by the style they lean towards, based on our product tags and on the style named on each product page. All sizes and room sizes come from our product pages.
| Lamp | Leans | Material | Size | Room size stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Colourful Glass Drum Pendant | Scandinavian | Coloured glass, painted iron cap | Ø 15 × H 10 cm, cord 190 cm | Not stated |
| Fluted Glass Sunburst Wall Sconce | Scandinavian | Fluted glass (amber, smoke grey, milky white) | Ø 24 × H 24 cm | 5–10 m² |
| Glowing Pebble Table Lamp | Scandinavian | White rotomoulded plastic | 22 × 16 × 16 cm to 40 × 32 × 30 cm | Not stated |
| Ribbed Tulip Glass Wall Sconce | Scandinavian (milky white or clear) | Ribbed glass, brass-finish arm | Shade 12 cm wide, H 42 cm | Not stated |
| Cream Scalloped Fabric Pendant | Both | Cream fabric, black rod | Ø 40, 50 or 60 cm | 3–5 m² |
| Cordless Marble Table Lamp | Both | Marble base, opal glass shade | H 23 cm, shade Ø 17 cm | Not stated |
| Aluminium Cone Wall Sconce | Both | Brushed aluminium | H 13 × W 10 cm, 18 cm from the wall | Not stated |
| Japanese Silk Oval Pendant Light | Japandi | Silk, black or white ribs | Ø 40 × H 22 or Ø 50 × H 28 cm | 5–10 m² |
| White Silk Saucer Pendant | Japandi | White silk | Ø 40 × H 16 to Ø 60 × H 25 cm | 5–10 m² |
| Round Silk Globe Pendant | Japandi | Beige silk, black ribs | Ø 25 × H 26 cm | 5–10 m² |
| Japanese Louvered Slat Wall Lamp | Japandi | White slats (PLA plastic), iron | W 18.5 × H 17 or W 20 × H 24 cm, 12.5 cm deep | 3–5 m² |
| Travertine Walnut Pendant Light | Japandi | Travertine, walnut ring | Ø 17 cm, cord 170 cm | 3–5 m² |
How to light a room in each style
A Scandinavian room
Think light and cosy. Glass shades in milky white or soft colours, a fluted sconce that throws rays across the wall, and a glowing pebble on the floor or a sideboard give the bright, welcoming feel of a Nordic home. A row of small coloured glass drums over a kitchen counter adds the touch of colour Scandinavian rooms often have. Our glass pendant lights guide compares globe, ribbed and fluted glass.
A Japandi room
Think fewer, calmer pieces. One silk saucer or oval pendant as the main light, slatted wall lamps in the hallway or by the bed, and a stone pendant as an accent. Repeat the same shapes and keep colours to cream, beige and black. Room-by-room ideas are in Japandi lighting for the bedroom and living room.
Mixing the two
Because Japandi already borrows from Scandinavian design, the two mix naturally. A simple rule: keep the materials natural and the colours soft, and let one style lead. Lamps tagged for both, such as the Cream Scalloped Fabric Pendant or the Cordless Marble Table Lamp, are the easiest bridge.
Worked example: lighting a 12 m² bedroom
Add up the room sizes stated on the product pages. Scandinavian version: two Fluted Glass Sunburst Wall Sconces in milky white (5–10 m² each) cover about 10–20 m², with the smallest Glowing Pebble (22 cm) as a night light. Japandi version: a Japanese Silk Oval Pendant Light (5–10 m²) plus two Japanese Louvered Slat Wall Lamps beside the bed (3–5 m² each) cover about 11–20 m². Both are enough for 12 m². For lamp heights by the bed, see bedside lamp height and reading lights.
Both styles share a love of reduction: the aluminium cone, the silk saucer and the slatted wall lamp also appear in our guide to minimalist lighting, and the Round Silk Globe is compared with our glass globes in globe lamps and globe pendants.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Japandi and Scandinavian lighting?
Scandinavian lighting is bright, airy and practical, with white and glass shades and sometimes a pop of colour. Japandi lighting is calmer and more crafted, with silk, paper, cane or stone shades in neutral colours and thin black details.
Is Japandi just Scandinavian with Japanese touches?
In part. Japandi combines the two traditions, so it shares Scandinavian simplicity and function but adds Japanese restraint and natural textures. For the difference with another Japanese style, read Japandi vs wabi-sabi lighting.
What light colour suits each style?
Warm white suits both, especially in bedrooms and living rooms. Several of our lamps let you choose the light colour on the product page; see warm white vs cool white for how to choose.
Browse our Scandinavian lighting, Japandi and wabi-sabi lighting and modern and minimalist lighting, or read Japanese lamps and pendant lights.
