Do You Wear Shoes Inside? Cultural Habits That Influence Interior Design

I think this blog post will be a unique one and it’s a topic I’ve been reflecting on for a while. I’ve been curious about the cultural differences in home design and lifestyle between Japan and the U.S. (or more widely, North America).

I’d like to ask you, do you (or your family) keep your shoes on when you're inside the house? As for me, my answer is NO at my house. I always take them off.

One of my culture shocks after moving to the U.S. was seeing that many people don’t take off their shoes inside the house, even though I already knew this from watching American sitcoms. (One of my favorites is Modern Family!) I don’t think I’ve ever seen a scene in an American TV show where someone takes off their shoes at the door. It’s such a small detail, but it really highlights how different everyday habits can be between cultures.

Modern Family

This topic is really interesting from my perspective, having grown up in an Asian culture. My husband is American, so I once asked him why people in the U.S. often don’t take off their shoes inside the house. I also asked how he’d feel if he had to start wearing shoes indoors again, would he be comfortable with that? He doesn’t wear shoes inside anymore, but he told me that growing up, he never really thought about taking them off at the door. It wasn’t something people around him did. In the U.S., people usually take off their shoes only when they want to relax or know they won’t be going outside again. But after he moved to Japan and lived there for a while, his mindset changed. He realized how much more comfortable it feels to be barefoot or in slippers at home, and how it helps keep the floors clean. Now, he never wears shoes inside the house.

Where did the habit of taking off our shoes in Japan come from?

Recently, there is a trending and more familiar Zen style, Japandi style in interior design, that is a combination of Japanese and Scandinavian design, or Japanese minimalist styles. But I haven't seen people talking about keeping their shoes on or not. On the other hand, japanese people's life style is not so traditional anymore, it's a mixture of Japanese and Western styles. But no one wants to put shoes on inside their house. It's funny and interesting, don't you think?

Here are the things about why we take our shoes off in a Japanese house

-House structure inspired by climate-

Japan’s climate is generally hot and humid outside of the winter season. In many regions, humidity levels can exceed 75%, which makes wearing shoes indoors quite uncomfortable and your feet can get sweaty inside your socks, and it just doesn’t feel good. Another reason for removing your shoes is the structure of Japanese homes. Unlike many American houses, Japanese homes often have raised floors. This design helps control moisture and prevents mold from forming on materials like wood. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries, all the way to the Yayoi period (300 BCE to 300 CE), when elevated flooring was used to protect living spaces from damp conditions.

-Japanese home entry called "Genkan"-

In Japanese homes, there’s a dedicated space at the entry called the "Genkan". It’s where you take off or put on your shoes, and where they’re stored. The part of the floor where shoes actually touch is called the Genkan tataki. This area is usually finished with materials like tile, concrete, or stone. These materials are chosen for their durability and ease of cleaning. It’s designed to make it simple to sweep away dirt and dust with a brush or broom. After removing your shoes, you step up into the main hallway area. This elevated floor level is typically about 6 to 7.8 inches higher than the genkan tataki floor.

-Make a clear line between INSIDE and OUTSIDE the home, Keep it clean-

The genkan marks the transition from the outside world to the clean, comfortable interior of a Japanese home. It’s a subtle but meaningful boundary that reflects both practical concerns and deep cultural values around cleanliness and respect for the living space. Another reason Japanese people are especially careful about not bringing dirt indoors is because of how people interact with their homes. Furniture is often designed with a lower height, and even when there’s a couch, many people still sit directly on the floor. Sleeping habits also reflect that. Futon mattresses are still commonly used without bed frames, placed directly on the floor. Naturally, no one wants to lie or sit where outdoor dirt has been tracked in. Modern homes may use wood flooring or carpet, but many still include rooms with tatami mats. Tatami is traditionally made from a dense core of rice straw, covered with a woven layer of igusa (soft rush) straw. It’s delicate and easily damaged by shoes, and repairs require a skilled tatami craftsman master. That’s why stepping on tatami with shoes is strictly avoided. It’s not just about cleanliness, but also about preserving the materials and honoring the space.

Japanese “Genkan”

I’ve come to realize that this is a uniquely meaningful topic.

Having studied interior design in both Japanese and English, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the differences between these two cultural approaches. And after my studies, I realized that I was taught about interior design based on Western culture design and they never touched on Asian design style. If I hadn’t learned about different cultures and lifestyles, I probably wouldn’t have noticed these small details. But now I find them both fascinating and meaningful. It’s funny how something as simple as taking off your shoes can reflect so much about a culture’s values and way of life. So, I appreciate this opportunity to share my cultural design knowledge. It’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about how we live, how we care for our spaces, and how design can quietly support comfort, respect, and emotional well-being.