Inside The World's First MUJI Hotel

Ever loved Muji's minimalist homeware products so much you wished you could just move in? Now is your chance. Well, sort of. TheJapanese lifestyle brand has opened the first Muji hotel, inShenzhen,south China's tech hub.

It marks the first of three Muji hotels, the secondMuji location in Beijing is due to open this year, followed by a third outpost in Tokyo in spring 2019.

The Muji brand already sells everything from beds and night lights to toothbrushes and pyjamas, so we reckon it was only a matter of time before it would open a hotel.By inviting guests to spend the night with its products, the brand is rather cleverly taking the "try before you buy" philosophy to an entirely new level, as the hotel is also home to a two-storey shop.

Spread over1,726 square meters, the hotel is made up of79 guestrooms, a gym, a diner, three meeting rooms, a library and a shop, and the interiors of each space carry Muji's signaturesimple aesthetic, which has become synonymous with contemporary Japanese design.

Kitted-out with its own furnishings, the hotel is intended to reflect Muji's simple, straightforward, and high-quality aesthetic – described by the brand as an "anti-gorgeous, anti-cheap concept".

With its core principles in mind (think simplicity, function, minimal-to-no branding), the design team used recycled wood flooring and extracted pillars and walls from traditional Chinese homes in the interiors and courtyards, coupled with hidden lighting and firm mattresses. The space is serene and simple, perfectly echoing the brand itself.

Natural materials like wood and stone, earthy tones and textures alongside with a succinct atmosphere align with Muji’s design philosophy for a “pleasant, mindful life” and infuse a sense of calm and lightness.

And, instead of bold ornamentation and unnecessary items, the brand honed in on subtle, carefully curated details, conveying the ‘Muji philosophy’ through the ‘texture of the towels, the placement of outlets and light switches, menu and venue of the restaurant, and more’.

The minimalist vibe is particularly clear in the wood-lined bedrooms, devoid of ornamental paintings, fancy lamp shades, or unnecessary furniture, putting focus on high-quality essentials.

Muji products, ranging from toothbrushes to electric kettles and wall-mounted CD players designed by Naoto Fukasawa are also included for guests to use, plus a snazzy pair of super soft, thick slippers which guests can smuggle back in their luggage.

There's also a Muji diner thatserves local food served on Muji dinnerware, while the free library (open 24 hours a day) offersa selection of over 650 books.

And finally, you can shop any of the furniture and homeware in their on-site shop thatoccupies the first and second floors.

Doubles in the hotels will start at £108 a night B&B.