I lived and worked in Japan for several years right after I graduated from school. I wanted to do a bit of traveling, experience a different culture, and pay off my student loans before settling into a more permanent career. While I was over there, I fell in love with the Japanese style of interior design. I liked how simple and functional everything was, and I especially liked the tatami mats that were used on the floors in some rooms of the home.

Tatami mats are made of woven straw, and each one is approximately six feet long by three feet wide. They are remarkably durable and versatile, which is why they are still so widely used today. Since they are very sturdy yet extremely comfortable, many people choose to set their futon mattresses on this type of surface rather than on wooden floors or even carpeted areas.

When I moved back to the United States, I decided to decorate my home in full Japanese style. I went all out by purchasing shoji screens, low furniture, and special cushions for sitting on the floor. Despite all of these accessories, my home didn't quite have the authentic feel that I was going for. Something was missing, and I soon knew what it was. I needed to put tatami mats in a couple of my rooms.

The stores that I bought my furniture from didn't carry tatami mats, so I was worried that I might have to order them directly from Japan. I'm sure that would have been extremely costly due to the high shipping charges that I would get stuck with. I only wanted to consider that option as a last resort, so before getting on the phone to Japan I decided to shop online.

To my relief, I was able to find many websites specializing in Japanese decor. A good number of these had authentic tatami mats for sale at very reasonable prices. I had a couple of installation and maintenance questions that I wanted answered before actually placing my order, so I emailed one of the stores in the hopes of getting some answers. I received a very informative and favorable reply in just a few hours, so I placed my order shortly thereafter.

I've had beautiful these mats in my house for several months now, and I absolutely love them! I always get a lot compliments from my guests about the distinctive style and look of my home, and I just know it's because of them. In fact, I'm so happy with the way things turned out that I'm planning on changing the flooring in a couple more rooms in the near future. Who knows, maybe I'll end up having tatami mats throughout my entire home someday.

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