Custom Tatami Mats in Arizona: A Perfect Fit Under a 1-Inch Door

A customer in Arizona, USA, wanted to transform a wood-floor room into a calm Japanese-style space. He was especially drawn to the soft tone of Tokyo Natural from the TOKYO SERIES and hoped to cover the entire floor with tatami made in Japan. TOKYO TATAMI MAKER accepts room dimensions and produces custom-size tatami in Japan for different spaces and layouts.

However, the room had an irregular shape around the doorway, and the clearance beneath the door was only 1 inch, or about 25.4 mm. Therefore, standard-thickness tatami could have blocked the door. The customer needed a customized layout and mats thinner than 1 inch.

Arizona room with dark wood flooring before tatami installation

A Thoughtful Inquiry from the United States

The customer kindly contacted TOKYO TATAMI MAKER in both English and Japanese, using translation software for the Japanese text. We sincerely appreciated this thoughtful gesture.

However, overseas customers do not need to translate their messages into Japanese. English inquiries are always welcome, and simple wording is perfectly fine. A room sketch, measurements, photos, and any concerns about doors or furniture are enough to begin discussing a custom plan.

Revised room measurements for custom tatami mats in Arizona

Rather than ordering immediately, the customer first sent a hand-drawn floor plan and asked for advice and a quotation. In particular, he wanted to confirm whether the whole room could be covered while keeping the door usable. This careful first step helped us understand both his design goal and the practical limitation.

Creating a Custom Layout for the Whole Room

The initial measurements were approximately 182 × 166 inches. After the dimensions were checked again, the final production drawing was refined to match the room’s actual shape, including the recessed area beside the door.

Layout plan for 25 custom Tokyo Natural tatami mats

Order Details

Item	Details
Country	Arizona, USA
Tatami type	TOKYO SERIES – Tokyo Natural
Quantity	25 mats
Final mat size	36.55 × 33.47 × 0.6 inches
Final room layout	182.75 × 167.375 inches
Special requirement	Thickness under 1 inch

The final plan used 25 mats arranged in alternating directions. Although all were the same Tokyo Natural color, changing the surface direction created a subtle checkerboard effect as light reflected across the room.

Custom Tokyo Natural tatami room completed in Arizona

Most importantly, the mats were made 0.6 inches thick, leaving enough clearance for the door. The ability to adjust the size, thickness, and layout made this full-room installation possible.

Measurement and Installation Tips

Should Tatami Be Made Slightly Smaller?

Tatami has a small amount of flexibility. Therefore, even when a mat is about 1–2 mm larger, it can often be pressed gently into position. In general, it is better to provide the exact room measurements rather than intentionally leaving a large gap.

At the same time, walls are not always perfectly straight. For this reason, measuring several points and marking doorways, columns, vents, or other obstacles is helpful. TOKYO TATAMI MAKER can then review the layout before production.

A Simple Way to Lay the Mats

Installation becomes easier when the mats are placed in the correct order and angle. First, position the mats away from the doorway. Then, fit the final pieces by lowering them diagonally and pressing them gently into place.

For a visual demonstration, please watch our tatami installation tips video.

From Dark Wood Flooring to a Bright Tatami Room

Before installation, the room had dark wood-look flooring and a simple modern interior. Afterward, the 25 Tokyo Natural mats changed the atmosphere completely. The warm beige surface brightened the room, while the alternating layout added quiet visual depth.

As a result, the customer created a Japanese-inspired room that feels clean, peaceful, and carefully finished. The custom-cut mats also fitted neatly around the doorway, showing that tatami can work beautifully in a Western room with a non-standard shape.

Full-room installation of 25 Japanese tatami mats in Arizona

The Customer’s Feedback

After receiving and installing the mats, the customer sent us this message:

“We received the tatami a few days ago and were able to set it up smoothly. It fits our room perfectly, and the result is truly beautiful. We really love it!”

This feedback was especially meaningful because the main concerns had been the fit, door clearance, and overseas ordering process. In the end, the mats installed smoothly and delivered the full-room look he had imagined.

Custom Japanese Tatami for Homes Worldwide

Every room is different. However, you do not need to live in Japan or have a traditional Japanese room to enjoy Japanese-made tatami. If you share your room dimensions, TOKYO TATAMI MAKER can help consider the mat size, number, thickness, and layout.

Finally, please feel free to contact us in English. Japanese translation is not required. Whether your room is rectangular or more complicated, we will be happy to discuss a custom tatami solution and help you order Japanese tatami from overseas.