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This guide reveals the best online stores to find affordable Japandi furniture and some savvy buying tips to help you on your journey in creating your dream space.

Table of Contents

1. Core Design Elements of Japandi
2. 8 Online Stores for Affordable Japandi Furniture & Decor
3. Buying Tips

The Japandi home decor style has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Something about the blend of Japanese minimalist principles coupled with the Scandinavian design, just meshes really well together. But let’s be honest… even though it’s a minimalist style, it can still feel overwhelming to put together a space that captures these principles.

Japandi style is often associated with high-quality craftsmanship and natural materials (e.g. wood, bamboo, cotton, wool, stone). While this can sound expensive, it doesn’t have to be!

This guide will reveal the best online sources for affordable Japandi furniture and decor. That way you can start curating pieces for your Japandi-themed home with intention and without breaking the bank. I’ll also be diving into practical tips for shopping on a budget, while also keeping sustainability and wellness in mind.

Core Design Elements of Japandi

Before we look at online sources, let’s look at what makes the furniture fit the “Japandi” bill. How can we capture the essence of the style?

Minimalism & functionality

Japandi style values simplicity and functionality. Think “less is more,” but don’t sacrifice comfort. Look for pieces with a clear purpose and try avoiding purely decorative items unless they hold deep personal meaning.

Wabi sabi, a Japanese philosophy, embraces the beauty of imperfection. Imperfect but functional objects are favored over elaborate and ornate ones. This philosophy encourages a more mindful way of living and to appreciate the simple things in life.

Clean lines & simple forms

Look for furniture with straight lines, or gentle, organic curves. I’d avoid intricate carvings or overly complex designs. Clean lines and simple forms create less “visual noise” and help promote feelings of calm and order.

natural materials

Japandi style utilizes natural materials such as wood, bamboo, stone, and natural textiles. Furniture made from materials such as solid oak, solid walnut, and teak may not be the most affordable. Instead, look for budget-friendly options such as bamboo, rubberwood, or solid pine (one of the more affordable solid wood options).

Neutral & Earthy palette

The Japandi style color palette consists of colors in shades of white, beige, cream, taupe, grey, muted greens, and earthy browns. Black can be used sparingly as an accent. At the end of the day, it is your space, pick whatever colors feel comforting to you!

8 Online Stores for Affordable Japandi Furniture & Decor

1. IKEA

Why: IKEA is a Swedish company whose entire design philosophy is deeply rooted in Scandinavian design principles of simplicity and functionality. Japandi is essentially a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design. This makes IKEA a great budget-friendly choice for finding items that can fit under the Japandi theme.

Best For: Affordable foundational furniture (simple bed frames, minimalist shelving, light wood tables) with clean Scandinavian lines

Look For: Simple wood pieces (like the TARVA bed frame or IVAR storage or TONSTAD cabinet), bamboo items, minimalist shelving (like KALLAX), light wood tables (LISABO, LISTERBY), basic sofas/chairs in neutral fabrics (KIVIK sofa KYRRE SALNO/GRYTTOM KRYLBO chairs). Tip: You can click on the underlined text to get the direct link to the product.

Sustainability: IKEA has increasingly used sustainable materials like bamboo and recycled wood or plastic. Make sure to check the product descriptions to get more information. You can read more about IKEA’s sustainability strategy here.

2. TARGET

Why: Target is always partnering with popular designers and developing stylish in-house brands (like Threshold™ or the Casaluna line). Sure, you could probably also find affordable Japandi pieces at places like Walmart but Target’s collection feels more curated for specific styles.

Best For: Stylish and on-trend Japandi-inspired decor accents, textiles (pillows and throws), and smaller accent furniture. Target is very good at keeping up with what is trendy at budget-friendly price points.

Look For: Textured throw pillows, blankets, rugs (like this Threshold™ rug), simple ceramic vases and planters, minimalist floor and table lamps (like this ceramic Threshold™ table lamp), light wood or neutral accent tables, and woven storage baskets (like this stylish Brightroom basket).

Sustainability: Target is increasing its range of sustainably sourced or recycled material products; look for specific labels. You can read more about Target’s sustainability strategy here.

3. NATHAN JAMES

Why: Nathan James makes the list because they consistently focus on minimalist, modern, and Scandinavian-inspired designs while also being affordable. You’ll find a more curated collection with pieces that naturally embody the core principles of Japandi. Something cool to note: all of their products come with a lifetime warranty!

Best For: Stylish, modern, and budget-friendly pieces with clean lines and functional structure. Their most popular items consist of bookshelves, console tables, nightstands, simple desks, and accent pieces.

If easy-to-assemble furniture is important to you, this is a great option as that is one of their brand promises. Many of their pieces are designed with compact living in mind (great if you live in a small space!).

Look For: Minimalist bookshelves, console tables, nightstands, and simple seating options. Tip: Japandi can overlap with other design styles.

One example is Mid-Century Modern because Scandinavian design is a huge influence in both of these styles. Take a look at this Mid-Century wood-arched bookshelf or this Mid-Century wood-fluted storage cabinet

4. ETSY

Why: Etsy emphasizes selling handmade and vintage items. They’re a great source for vintage Scandinavian or Japanese pieces.

Best For: Finding those one-of-a-kind pieces. Wabi-Sabi (finding beauty in imperfection and simplicity) is a Japanese philosophy valued in the Japandi style. Etsy is great for adding personality and soul to your space.

Look For: Unique, handmade, or vintage Japandi decor accents, minimalist art prints (like this Wabi-Sabi wall art), and artisanal ceramics.

This elegant, textured artisan pitcher vase (pictured below on the right) was recycled and restored by Etsy shop The Salvaged Vessel. This shop specializes in handmade pieces with a natural and organic touch (Wabi-Sabi). No two pieces are exactly the same. These are the types of gems you can find on Etsy.

Sustainability: Etsy consists of individual sellers. Focus on sellers/shops that have an eco-conscious approach through things like packaging or restoring recycled items. Etsy’s impact statement can be found here.

5. WORLD MARKET

Why: They offer an eclectic mix, featuring furniture and decor pieces made from rattan, light woods, and other natural materials.

Like most of these shops, if you take the time to look through their selection, you’ll be able to find hidden gems at a good price. Also, be sure to check out their sale and clearance section.

Best For: Adding natural textures and globally-inspired unique pieces.

Look For: Affordable rattan accent furniture (like this wood and rattan barstool, woven baskets, distinctive wooden decor items (like this walnut brown wood bookshelf), and unique lighting options that bring an organic and eclectic feel.

Sustainability: Although World Market doesn’t necessarily have a sustainability mission on their website, their unique sourcing approach offers sustainable and ethical choices. Their social compliance statement can be found here.

6. Amazon

Why: While not a dedicated Japandi boutique, Amazon’s vast online marketplace is a goldmine for smart finds and hidden gems that capture the affordable Japandi furniture aesthetic.

With a bit of exploration, you’ll find key Japandi-inspired pieces made from materials like bamboo, rattan, and simple wood items at truly budget-friendly price points.

Look For: Pieces that may fit the Japandi aesthetic may not always be explicitly labeled as such. Here’s how to spot them: Focus on core characteristics like furniture with minimalist designs, clean lines, and simple, functional forms.

Pieces like this solid-wood TV stand or this light wood rattan storage cabinet, showcase natural materials often complemented by neutral tones. Using “Japandi furniture” in the search bar is a start and you’ll eventually be able to recognize these design details yourself. Explore Amazon’s explicit Japandi furniture section here.

Sustainability: Amazon’s sustainable products will be labeled with a leaf icon (refer to the image below). You can click the leaf icon to learn more about the sustainability features a specific product has.

7. Wayfair

Why: Wayfair has a massive selection but it can be overwhelming. That’s why their filtering system is key when it comes to narrowing down your search. They often offer sale events.

Tip: Wayfair has “open box” items that have either been returned by customers or have had their packaging opened. Some items might also have minor cosmetic imperfections. Wayfair inspects open box items to ensure that the item itself is still functional though. This can be a great way for you to get items for a steal! Check their open box deals and daily clearance sales here.

Best For: Their sales and when you have a very clear idea of the type of furniture or decor piece you are looking for. You’ll be sifting through their selection for a while if you are going there to just browse.

Look For: Proper filters. You can start filtering by style (Scandinavian, Modern, Minimalist), material (Light Wood, Rattan, Bamboo), and set your price range. Searching specific furniture types like (‘Japandi coffee table,’ or ‘minimalist platform bed’). Read my article on the best 8 affordable wood coffee tables for your small space — all under $150 here.

• Sustainability: Wayfair’s sustainability statement can be found here.

8. OVERSTOCK

Why: Overstock is known for specializing in “overstocked” furniture and home decor at a discounted price. Like Wayfair, Overstock also has a massive selection. Perfect if you want to have a lot of pieces to choose from. Fun fact, Overstock actually acquired Bed Bath & Beyond in June 2023.

Best For: Finding specific furniture pieces (like beds, sofas, rugs, dining sets). Like Wayfair, they have a huge inventory so take advantage of their extensive filtering systems. You can even filter for the color or finish of a product! Shop here when you know exactly what you are looking for.

Look For: Significant discounts, especially during sales events.

Sustainability: Overstock’s core business model contributed to reducing waste by acquiring liquidated or unsold goods from other retailers or manufacturers. This prevented unsold goods from potentially ending up in our landfills by giving them a second chance to be sold.

[BONUS] Online secondhand

Why: This is probably the most budget-friendly and eco-friendly way to furnish your home. You can find unique and high-quality pieces with some time and patience.

Where: Facebook Marketplace (great for local finds), OfferUp, AptDeco (buy and sell used furniture), and local classifieds like Craigslist. (Let me know if you’d like to see an article on the best second-hand marketplaces)

Buying Tips

• Read product descriptions very carefully to understand what you’re purchasing. Solid pine is different from pine finish. Understand what materials will last. If you’ll have to replace a $60 chair every few years, maybe you were better off buying a $200 chair that will last you a decade.

• Focus on forms. Simple shapes, simple designs, and lack of ornamentation are hallmarks.

• Check dimensions and measure your space accurately before ordering. Pay attention to height, width, and depth. Japandi style often uses low furniture. If you aren’t accurate with dimensions, that could be a real hefty return shipping fee you pay, which adds up.

• Take advantage of reviews and customer photos. Reviews can shed more light on the quality, assembly, and color accuracy. When online shopping, this information is invaluable. How does the piece look in real homes?

• Factor in shipping and assembly. An affordable piece with $100 in shipping becomes not so affordable. Time is money, make sure a product isn’t horrendously hard to assemble (check reviews!).

• Waiting for sales. Sometimes a big part of affordable pieces for your home just comes down to great sales. Great sales aren’t as easy to come by anymore but they still happen! Major holidays often come with nice discounts. Sign up for newsletters from stores you really like.

• Prioritize multi-functionality. A storage ottoman, a bench that doubles as a coffee table, nesting side tables – pieces that serve more than one purpose can help you save money and space, which fits the Japandi philosophy!

• Consider simple DIY. For example, buying a very basic and affordable piece like an unfinished wood IKEA item and elevating it with a non-toxic stain, different legs, or simple hardware.

You don’t need to break the bank when creating a home inspired by the calm, functional beauty of Japandi style. By shopping strategically at budget-friendly retailers, exploring unique marketplaces like Etsy, embracing secondhand finds, and focusing on the core principles of simplicity and natural materials, you can absolutely curate a beautiful and affordable space.

Remember, intentional living extends to how we consume. Choosing pieces thoughtfully, prioritizing value and sustainability where possible. Focus on creating a space that genuinely supports your well-being. That is the true essence of the Japandi home decor style.

What are your favorite online stores or hidden gems for finding affordable Japandi pieces? I’d love to hear your tips and discoveries – let’s help each other build beautiful, intentional homes! Send me a message.