{"id":324655,"date":"2019-02-07T11:09:47","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T16:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=324655"},"modified":"2025-05-07T13:39:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:39:20","slug":"japanese-ikigai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/japanese-ikigai\/","title":{"rendered":"How Interior Designers Can Embrace the Japanese Concept of Ikigai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In our hyperconnected world, trends are circling the globe faster than ever. Over the past few years, we\u2019ve cozied up to Danish <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/hygge\/\">hygge<\/a><\/em> as a means of creating sacred spaces within our homes and adopted Swedish <em>lagom<\/em>, or being happy with what we have, as a more mindful approach to interiors. The latest lifestyle concept to permeate the design realm is the Japanese <em>ikigai <\/em>(ee-key-guy). Combining the Japanese words <em>iki,<\/em> meaning \u201clife,\u201d and <em>gai<\/em> meaning \u201cvalue,\u201d <em>ikigai,<\/em> like <em>hygge<\/em> and <em>lagom<\/em>,<em> <\/em>has no direct equivalent in English but can be translated as \u201creason for being.\u201d Our <em>ikigai <\/em>is what fulfills us, what gives us purpose, the reason we wake up in the morning. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"633\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8-950x633.jpg\" alt=\"Los Angeles home office by Nickey Kehoe Design\" class=\"wp-image-329518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8-950x633.jpg 950w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/NK-8.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/cottage-office-and-study\/2996433\/\">Los Angeles home office by Nickey Kehoe Design<\/a>. Photo by Roger Davies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tim Tamashiro, author of the new guide <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Ikigai-Lessons-Finding-Happiness\/dp\/1633539008\">How to Ikigai: Lessons for Finding Happiness and Living Your Life&#8217;s Purpose<\/a>, <\/em>explains the concept as \u201ca map that can help lead you to a more meaningful life\u201d and gives these directions to finding your <em>ikigai:<\/em><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Do what you love.<\/li><li>Do what you&#8217;re good at.<\/li><li>Do what the world needs.<\/li><li>Do what you can be rewarded for.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Think in terms of a Venn diagram. Whatever endeavor, idea, project, place or purpose ends up at the center becomes your <em>ikigai<\/em>. \u201c<em>Ikigai<\/em> leads you to more you and is something you rejoice in,\u201d Tamashiro says. It\u2019s following your bliss, but in a way that yields actionable results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how does this soul-searching relate to interior design? Tamashiro explains it like this: \u201cYou can design a wardrobe, design the elements of a garden, the centerpiece of a dinner table or the way your boots are stored at the front door. To design is to plan, imagine, implement or create. It relates to thoughtful care and attention for beauty and functionality.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many interior designers, the role of <em>ikigai <\/em>is two-fold. Not only are they promoting their clients\u2019 happiness by creating spaces they\u2019ll love, but they\u2019re also following their own<em> ikigai<\/em> by engaging their passions and pursuing design as a professional calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"713\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038-713x950.jpeg\" alt=\"Office by JDK Interiors\" class=\"wp-image-329492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038-713x950.jpeg 713w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038-263x350.jpeg 263w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038-90x120.jpeg 90w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038-700x933.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/OFFICE_038.jpeg 1125w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/contemporary-office-and-study\/2567423\/\">Brooklyn home office by JDK Interiors<\/a>. Photo by Ryan Dausch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of Jenny Dina Kirschner, founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/design-firms\/jdk-interiors\/\">JDK Interiors<\/a>, in New York, <em>ikigai<\/em> imbues both her process and its results. \u201cMy design process starts with thinking about and developing the mood and experience I\u2019d like a space to evoke,\u201d she says. \u201cFor me, that translates into having a workspace that is not cluttered but that still has the warmth and personal touches that are present in all of my designs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kirschner is a major proponent of natural light. Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/contemporary-office-and-study\/2567423\/\">her personal office<\/a> doesn\u2019t have windows, she found her <em>ikigai <\/em>by using glass walls and sliding glass doors that meet at the corner. This created the flexibility she needed \u201cwhile still allowing the room to be flooded with light.\u201d Another way she infused the space with <em>ikigai <\/em>was by incorporating the \u201cart and nostalgia I\u2019ve collected over the years,\u201d she says, \u201cconnecting me both conceptually and aesthetically with my love and passion for art and design.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"841\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM-841x950.jpg\" alt=\"Southampton bedroom by David Scott\" class=\"wp-image-329494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM-841x950.jpg 841w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM-310x350.jpg 310w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM-106x120.jpg 106w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM-768x868.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM-826x933.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/ScreenShot2018-06-06at11.16.12AM.jpg 885w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/contemporary-bedroom-new-york-ny\/2770841\/\">Southampton bedroom by David Scott<\/a>. Photo by Antoine Bootz &amp; Michael Moran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI often use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/furniture\/color\/orange\/\">orange<\/a>, as it\u2019s a warm, strong, stimulating, happy color,\u201d says New York designer David Scott, referring to this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/project\/southampton-oceanfront-new-york-ny\/82031\/\">Southampton bedroom<\/a>. \u201cWhen balanced by enough neutrals, orange creates harmony. That\u2019s what I look to do \u2014 create a stimulating harmony in rooms, a place where you are both nurtured and awakened, a place where you can relax and be creative.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii-950x614.jpg\" alt=\"living room by Melanie Zink\" class=\"wp-image-329495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii-950x614.jpg 950w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii-541x350.jpg 541w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii-120x78.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii-1443x933.jpg 1443w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/portfolioimageiii.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/the-cottage-cottage-living-room-charlottesville-va\/2743111\/\">Charlottesville living room by Melanie Zink<\/a>. Photo courtesy of Melanie Elston Interiors<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I\u2019m designing a space, I feel it\u2019s important to consider two things: natural sunlight and how the people living in the space intend to use it,\u201d says Charlottesville, Virginia\u2013based designer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/design-firms\/melanieelstoninteriors\/\">Melanie Zink<\/a>. She believes it\u2019s her job to \u201cmake the space sing while also making the hearts of its inhabitants feel happy while using it.\u201d Zink enhances her clients\u2019<em> ikigai<\/em> by giving them a serene, bright space in which to flourish. The sitting area of this Charlottesville cottage \u201chas incredible sunlight with beautiful rolling hills as its vista,\u201d says Zink. \u201cThe furniture is just icing on the top.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"712\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki-712x950.jpg\" alt=\"Seattle kitchen by Kylee Shintaffer\" class=\"wp-image-329496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki-712x950.jpg 712w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki-262x350.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki-90x120.jpg 90w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki-768x1025.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki-699x933.jpg 699w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Eric-Piasecki.jpg 1124w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-seattle-wa\/2538933\/\">Seattle kitchen by Kylee Shintaffer<\/a>. Photo by Eric Piasecki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe goal here was to create an interior that was serene but warm, taking cues from the landscape to visually integrate the indoors with the outdoors,\u201d Kylee Shintaffer says of this nature-inspired, streamlined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/project\/lakehouse-seattle-wa\/67751\/\">Seattle kitchen<\/a>. \u201cThe minimalistic design required a precise curation of materials, furniture and decor. Every element plays a specific role, but each must ultimately contribute to the sense of balance and peace that the homeowners desired.\u201d This sense of balance \u2014 prioritizing happiness while still being productive \u2014 is at the heart of the <em>ikigai<\/em> philosophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"634\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9-950x634.jpg\" alt=\"Kitchen by Cortney Bishop\" class=\"wp-image-329521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9-950x634.jpg 950w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9-524x350.jpg 524w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9-1398x933.jpg 1398w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/6-9.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/industrial-farmhouse-kitchen-round-hill-va\/3129703\/\">Virginia kitchen by Cortney Bishop<\/a>. Photo by Katie Charlotte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, a kitchen can be the perfect example of how to incorporate <em>ikigai<\/em> into an environment. \u201cOur client is a true entertainer, and it wouldn&#8217;t surprise us if she welcomed strangers off the street into her home!\u201d says South Carolina\u2013based designer Cortney Bishop, referring to this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/photo\/industrial-farmhouse-kitchen-round-hill-va\/3129703\/\">Round Hill, Virginia, house<\/a>. \u201cIt was crucial for the space to feel inviting and cozy, with enough room for dining. The kitchen island base was our client&#8217;s idea \u2014 a piece that could roll away from the wall and serve as a dining table if needed. The chalkboard-painted walls added a touch of playfulness. The goal was to build comfort, foster hospitality and create a familial vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you start thinking in terms of <em>ikigai<\/em>, it can be hard to imagine your life, or your home, without it. \u201cMake <em>ikigai<\/em> a priority every day,\u201d Tamashiro says, with this caveat: \u201cTo find it, you can&#8217;t hope for success. Hope for wonder instead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"interstitial-banner interstitial-banner-related interstitial-container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"interstitial-title\">Related Items<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"interstitial-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"interstitial-text item-list item-list--products\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/furniture\/seating\/lounge-chairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"item-list__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item-list__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/13155801_master.jpg\" class=\"attachment-small size-small\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/13155801_master.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/wp-content\/uploads\/13155801_master-350x350.jpg 350w, 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class=\"item-list__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item-list__item-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/a.1stdibscdn.com\/kilim-tapestry-or-rug-handmade-brooklyn-ny-usa-for-sale\/1121189\/f_131446611546048554078\/13144661_master.jpg?width=180&auto=webp\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item-list__item-title\">Refined Rugs <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our hyperconnected world, trends are circling the globe faster than ever. Over the past few years, we\u2019ve cozied up to Danish hygge as a means of creating sacred spaces within our homes and adopted Swedish lagom, or being happy with what we have, as a more mindful approach to interiors. The latest lifestyle concept 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