Cool, calm and connected

There is something incredibly soothing about Japanese design.

Serene and harmonious, its roots in simplicity and a connection to nature make it the perfect aesthetic to embrace outdoors. Colours like rich Resene Burgundy and Resene Bullwhip pair beautifully with the greenery of outdoor plants and soft browns of bamboo. Calm outdoor spaces are a testament to the Japanese philosophy of living in harmony with the environment. By embracing a restrained colour palette, incorporating plenty of natural materials and minimalistic furnishings, there’s no reason why your own deck at home can’t be a peaceful retreat.

The colour palette of Japanese outdoor spaces is often inspired by the natural world. Subdued, earthy tones like soft greys, warm browns and muted greens dominate – hues like Resene Bullwhip, Resene Half Concrete and Resene Seaweed. Keep in mind this doesn't mean Japanese-inspired spaces are devoid of colour. Strategic use of brighter tones, like our daring pop of Resene Burgundy on our stools, can add vibrancy and warmth without taking away from the overall tranquillity.

Furniture design in Japanese-inspired spaces is typically minimalist and functional, often crafted from natural materials like wood or stone. You don’t need to spend a huge amount to recreate a Japanese-inspired courtyard, simply stick to designs that are sleek and simple.

You’ll want tables, benches and chairs that encourage a close connection to the ground. Aim for clean lines and geometric shapes that contribute to your overall sense of order and calm. Designers are increasingly leaning into Japanese-inspired design as it offers a refreshing departure from unnecessary clutter and more time to appreciate nature. Japanese design strips away the unessential, focusing instead on creating spaces that feel purposeful.

The principles of Japanese design translate fantastically to outdoor areas like decks and courtyards. They’re naturally suited to the Japanese emphasis on blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living. We started by staining the timber wall in Resene Waterborne Woodsman Charred Black wood stain – it’s a rich, deep hue that offers a dramatic backdrop with depth. Despite the darkness of Resene Charred Black, the space still feels light and airy thanks to the way the wood grain subtly shows through.

For the decking, we chose Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain in Resene Tiri, a lighter tone that contrasts beautifully with our dark walls. The decking grounds the space without making it feel heavy. The lighter tone of Resene Tiri also reflects a little more light.

Our round table painted in Resene Cobblestone continues our theme of lightness and airiness. The soft grey tone of Resene Cobblestone is calming and neutral, providing a perfect backdrop for the boldest element of our design: stools painted in Resene Burgundy. This hot red hue is not only striking, but deeply rooted in Japanese design. Red is often incorporated as a colour of good fortune, joy and protection. Resene Burgundy is key here to add vital warmth to the deck – it could very easily look too subdued without this colour pop. To tie the look together, we added a tray on the table painted in the same bold hue for potted plants or drinks.

Red and grey pair well in this context because they offer a balanced contrast – fiery red introduces a sense of vibrancy and life, while serene grey grounds the space. This balance is crucial in Japanese design, where the interplay between opposites – like light and dark, vibrant and subdued – are vital.

We added a long planter box painted in Resene Dark Rum, a rich, earthy tone that complements the natural greens of the plants. The deep hue of the planter allows our greenery to stand out and adds some life and lushness. A potted tree in a Resene Bullwhip pot adds height, drawing the eye up and ensuring the space feels open. Plants work to soften the hard lines of the built environment, creating a more organic feel here.

We added a zen garden stained in Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene Bark to add another layer of interest to the deck. This warm tone complements the natural colours of the sand and stones, creating a meditative feature. Sand and rock gardens are a quintessential element of Japanese design. You don’t necessarily have to engage in the act of raking sand or arranging rocks, but even just having the feature there offers some calm.

To frame the courtyard and add more structure, we installed a trellis lightly stained in Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene Bark. The trellis not only provides privacy and defines the space, but, like our potted tree, introduces a vertical element that draws the eye upward, enhancing a feeling of intimacy. Japanese design is synonymous with a sense of calm, harmony and connectedness. Ideally, we should give as much love to our outdoor spaces to create havens of calm as we do to our interiors. Thankfully, the sense of tranquillity this aesthetic offers is very accessible – it can be channelled inexpensively with a few incorporations of colour and greenery.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Melle Van Sambeek. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2024