A single washi-paper globe overhead can set the whole mood of a dining room — soft, diffused, quietly sculptural. Designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951, the round Akari pendant is the easiest way to bring that warm, hand-made glow over a table. Below are four wabi-sabi dining rooms built around it, each with a full design board — wall colour, flooring, table, sideboard, and seating — so you can recreate the look at home.
Look 1 · The Warm Minimalist (Akari 55A · Ø 60 cm)
Pared-back and serene: an oval table, woven cane, and a compact 60 cm globe that lights the table without overpowering a small room.
- Wall colour: warm white / soft greige (e.g. Benjamin Moore "Swiss Coffee" or "Pale Oak") so the paper glow reads soft, not stark.
- Flooring: pale matte oak, wide plank — low contrast with the walls.
- Table: an oval or boat-shaped table on a soft pedestal base, in matte off-white or light oak.
- Sideboard: a low, handle-less credenza in light oak keeps the wall calm.
- Chairs: woven Marcel Breuer Cesca cane chairs — the cane echoes the lantern's woven texture.
- The light: Akari Washi Paper Pendant, 55A, hung about 75–85 cm above the tabletop.
Look 2 · Japandi Round Table (Akari 75A · Ø 80 cm)
Warm minimalism meets Scandinavian calm: a round table centres the room, and the 80 cm globe sits in perfect proportion above it.
- Wall colour: oat / mushroom beige for a quiet Japandi envelope.
- Flooring: honey-toned oak; add a flat-weave jute rug to soften acoustics.
- Table: a round pedestal table (90–110 cm dia.) in pale oak or microcement.
- Sideboard: a slatted oak credenza or a white modular cabinet for storage that disappears.
- Chairs: bentwood-style or cane — pair with Cesca cane chairs or the warmer Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh cane chairs.
- The light: Akari Washi Paper Pendant, 75A.
Look 3 · Light-Oak Bistro (Akari 75A · Ø 80 cm)
A brighter, more relaxed take: herringbone oak, a rectangular table, and the same 75A globe for an everyday bistro feel.
- Wall colour: bright warm white; let the floor bring the warmth.
- Flooring: light-oak herringbone — the pattern adds quiet movement.
- Table: a rectangular light-oak table with slim legs or a panel base.
- Sideboard: an arched-door cabinet in cream or oak for a softer, collected look.
- Chairs: mix bentwood bistro chairs with Plia folding chairs for flexible extra seating.
- The light: Akari Washi Paper Pendant, 75A, centred over the table's length.
Look 4 · The Statement (Akari 100A · Ø 100 cm)
For a big table or an open-plan room: the metre-wide 100A becomes a soft moon over a round marble top — the room's clear focal point.
- Wall colour: crisp white with panelled or arched architecture for contrast.
- Flooring: herringbone or wide oak in a mid tone to ground the brightness.
- Table: a round white-marble or stone table on a sculptural base.
- Sideboard: a statement console — walnut or stone — to match the table's weight.
- Chairs: warm Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh walnut chairs or honest Børge Mogensen J39 chairs.
- The light: Akari Washi Paper Pendant, 100A.
Which size over which table?
- 55A (Ø 60 cm): small or round 2–4-seat tables, nooks, narrow rooms.
- 75A (Ø 80 cm): the everyday size for a standard 4–6-seat table.
- 100A (Ø 100 cm): large or round tables, open-plan and double-height rooms.
As a rule, hang the bottom of the globe roughly 75–90 cm (30–36 in) above the tabletop, and keep the globe a little narrower than the table.
Get the full design board (PDF)
Want all four boards in one printable file — with paint references, layout tips, and a shoppable buying list? Download the Wabi-Sabi Mid-Century Dining Room — Design Board & Buying Guide (PDF). It includes a 15% off code (AKARIDNRM15) for the entire Akari lamp collection — floor and pendant.
Shop the look
- Akari Washi Paper Pendant Lamp — 55A / 75A / 100A
- Marcel Breuer Cesca Cane Dining Chairs
- Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh Cane Dining Chairs
- Børge Mogensen J39 Chairs
- Giancarlo Piretti Plia Folding Chair
- Prefer a floor lamp? See the Akari 7A and Akari 10A floor lamps.
— BreuerHome Editorial. BreuerHome offers thoughtful reproductions inspired by classic mid-century designs; styling notes are general guidance you can adapt to your space.
