Tatami

Tatami

Tatami is a traditional Japanese flooring material consisting of woven rush straw mats. These mats are typically rectangular, measuring around 90 centimeters by 180 centimeters, and are about 5 centimeters thick. The core of a tatami mat is traditionally made from rice straw, which is then covered by a woven soft rush straw, known as igusa. The edges of the mat are often bound with brocade or plain cloth, known as heri. Tatami has been an integral part of Japanese architecture and interior design for centuries, dating back to the Heian period (794-1185). Initially used by the nobility and samurai class, tatami gradually became more widespread and is now a common feature in traditional Japanese rooms, such as washitsu. The mats are arranged in a grid pattern, with the size of a room often measured by the number of tatami mats it can accommodate. Tatami mats not only serve as a flooring material but also have a cultural and aesthetic significance in Japanese design. They create a sense of harmony, simplicity, and tranquility in a room, reflecting key principles of Japanese aesthetics. The mats also have a practical function, as they provide a comfortable surface for sitting, sleeping, and performing various activities. In modern times, tatami is still used in traditional Japanese-style rooms, tea ceremony rooms, and martial arts dojos, although many contemporary Japanese homes now feature a combination of tatami and Western-style flooring

Japanese flooring, traditional architecture, interior design, woven mats, igusa rush straw, washitsu, room measurement, aesthetic harmony

— John Armstrong

CITATION : "John Armstrong. 'Tatami.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/tatami?E=433699 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"