Japandi Minimalist Zen Matcha Stand

I love to make matcha tea and I think the craft of it is so beautiful and delicious. I recently got a new matcha making set and have been keeping it all in my drawers in my kitchen. I think the set is too aesthetically pleasing to keep stored away in a dark place. For my main project, I want to make my own little matcha stand/station. With this project, I will draw my inspiration from the Japandi and Minimalistic Zen aesthetics.

Japandi Minimalist Zen Aesthetic

Minimalist Zen and Japandi aesthetics both embrace simplicity, functionality, and a deep connection to nature, creating spaces that feel tranquil and effortlessly elegant. Minimalist Zen, inspired by Japanese design principles, focuses on balance, negative space, and an uncluttered environment that fosters a sense of calm. Japandi, a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian styles, adds warmth through natural materials like wood, linen, and stone, blending the sleek functionality of Nordic design with the timeless craftsmanship of Japan. Both aesthetics prioritize intentionality, every object has a purpose, whether it’s a handcrafted ceramic cup or a softly glowing paper lantern. The result is a harmonious space that feels both serene and inviting, where organic textures, neutral tones, and thoughtful design choices create an atmosphere of quiet sophistication.

Project Plans

I plan on getting my own wood and cutting it in the BTU Wood Shop. For my wood I will probably look for scraps in the BTU, and if I can’t find exactly what I am looking for or not enough, I may go to Home Depot or another store for the wood I want. I want to keep the wood texture, I might stain the wood if it is not as dark as I want it. I will then assemble it in a way I haven’t decided on yet but I have a few sketches.

I have these ideas that I got inspiration from other matcha stations I have seen other people have. I really want to incorporate different spacious levels on the sort of shelves I make. I made a lot of different ideas so I have a lot to choose from. That way everything is easy on the eye, I don’t have to look through clutter and can find everything easily. On this stand, I want to have my matcha making kit, my matchas to choose from, my favorite mugs, and even add a little purple succulent maybe to add some more color. The colors I am going for are browns, greens, beige and maybe some purple for more color variety.

On my stand, I only plan on adding my matcha set and maybe one of my mugs. I also think adding a plant would be super cute, a little baby orchid would be perfect for this vibe. I kind of showed this in my sketches above. If anyone knows where I could find one that would be great to know! If I don’t kind this I think I will settle for a purple succulent to bring some life and color.

Opposite Aesthetic

The opposite aesthetic from Japandi Minimalist Zen would be a kind of mix of Maximalism and Cyberpunk.

What I sketched above would be what this opposite aesthetic would look like to me. Lots of neon colors, patterns and things on each shelf. It would be a lot to look at and your eyes would not know where to put themselves. The colors would be neon so not super pleasing when thinking about making a drink there. Cyberpunk would mean it is high-tech so maybe it would even have some electronics in there somewhere or something.

Overall, I am super excited for this project! I haven’t ever worked on a project with wood by myself so I am happy I get to do that for this project.

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