The tea ceremony room is one of the most important areas in the Japanese home. It is a place for sharing, in silence, and contemplation. Typically, a tearoom has a pool surrounded by pebbles. I mention this because it signifies the importance of water, and its serenity, in eastern culture. A bit of this serenity can be achieved in our own homes through the use of rock garden and fountains.
Furnishings tend to be minimal and multi-functional.
For example a futon is used for sitting and sleeping, or serving trays double as place settings. To give ideas on how you might use Japanese furnishings or artifacts in your home, I would like to go onto the next topic, which is about antiques. Here are some classic oriental objects, and interesting applications, one might use to add eastern influences to the home. Please consult the second book I have listed below for more ideas. A hibachi, in the true sense, is not a small tabletop grill as the western world defines it.