A Guide to the Japanese Philosophy of Wabi-Sabi Design
De-clutter and embrace the beauty in imperfections with this philosophy that will transform your home into a calm oasis
Sonali Thakur
16 September 2018
A Mumbai-based Interior Stylist & a design polygamist at heart, I thrive on experimenting with different styles and trends. To see more of my work, visit: https://www.behance.net/sonalithak44b9
A Mumbai-based Interior Stylist & a design polygamist at heart, I thrive on experimenting... More
Wabi-sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy that focuses on accepting the imperfect and transient nature of life. Wabi refers to the simplicity of natural life while sabi points to the beauty and wisdom found in the passage of time. The notion that nothing is ever really complete, perfect or permanent comes together as the founding principle of this Japanese tradition. Asymmetry, rawness, tranquility and simplicity are all celebrated as elements of nature that we must invite into our lives in order to achieve peace and profound wisdom. Irregular shapes, untreated natural materials, and pieces that own a past, exemplified by cracks and scratches, are just some of the indicators of a wabi-sabi design that we further explore as concepts.
Originality over superficiality
No fussy cookie-cutter design here, wabi-sabi is all about respecting traditions alongside finding your own unique design sensibility. At its core, the concept is focused on tranquil design infused with nature and understated period elegance. Think period furniture that has aged to bear a beautiful patina or a lime-washed wall that has started to peel off. These elements are what give your space character and tell their own stories.
Be it rustic, mid-century modern or classic, whatever the style you may gravitate towards, do not hesitate to invest in pieces that celebrate and show off the test of time they have withstood.
Tip: Shiny, super-smooth or highly polished finishes or textures are a big no-no in this philosophy. Leading examples of beautiful and serene spaces that exude a wabi-sabi vibe would be the ones designed by the legendary Sri Lankan architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, or Belgian interior designer, Axel Vervoordt.
No fussy cookie-cutter design here, wabi-sabi is all about respecting traditions alongside finding your own unique design sensibility. At its core, the concept is focused on tranquil design infused with nature and understated period elegance. Think period furniture that has aged to bear a beautiful patina or a lime-washed wall that has started to peel off. These elements are what give your space character and tell their own stories.
Be it rustic, mid-century modern or classic, whatever the style you may gravitate towards, do not hesitate to invest in pieces that celebrate and show off the test of time they have withstood.
Tip: Shiny, super-smooth or highly polished finishes or textures are a big no-no in this philosophy. Leading examples of beautiful and serene spaces that exude a wabi-sabi vibe would be the ones designed by the legendary Sri Lankan architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, or Belgian interior designer, Axel Vervoordt.
Choosing handmade over mass-produced
This principle is fairly simple – choose items that celebrate the artistry of handmade pieces over the sameness of machine-made products. Natural materials like stone, clay, cane, bamboo and so on that eventually find their way into our home through, for example, terrazzo or hand-painted tiles, earthen pottery, handwoven or hand-carved furniture and accessories are ideal.
What all of these pieces have in common are the rawness, fragility and asymmetry of nature that nurture the idea so vital to the wabi-sabi ideology – that nothing is permanent, finished or forever. Say goodbye to mass-produced; instead, welcome a bespoke hand-knotted rug or hand-beaten brass tableware. Avoid anything that is too perfect or finished.
This principle is fairly simple – choose items that celebrate the artistry of handmade pieces over the sameness of machine-made products. Natural materials like stone, clay, cane, bamboo and so on that eventually find their way into our home through, for example, terrazzo or hand-painted tiles, earthen pottery, handwoven or hand-carved furniture and accessories are ideal.
What all of these pieces have in common are the rawness, fragility and asymmetry of nature that nurture the idea so vital to the wabi-sabi ideology – that nothing is permanent, finished or forever. Say goodbye to mass-produced; instead, welcome a bespoke hand-knotted rug or hand-beaten brass tableware. Avoid anything that is too perfect or finished.
Perfection in imperfections
An important aspect of wabi-sabi is finding joy in the simplicity of nature and its imperfections. So, layer up those flax-linen sheets or curtains that look best in their natural unpressed and wrinkled state. As a step forward, you could also decorate your walls with linen or grasscloth wallpaper to add some beautiful texture to your room. Alternatively, you could layer jute and rattan mats on your floor.
Mindful at Home: How To Make Housework Your Meditation
An important aspect of wabi-sabi is finding joy in the simplicity of nature and its imperfections. So, layer up those flax-linen sheets or curtains that look best in their natural unpressed and wrinkled state. As a step forward, you could also decorate your walls with linen or grasscloth wallpaper to add some beautiful texture to your room. Alternatively, you could layer jute and rattan mats on your floor.
Mindful at Home: How To Make Housework Your Meditation
An unstudied, lived-in look is in order to adopt this style, so don’t change or replace your old distressed leather armchairs; hold on to them, instead. If you have an old tapestry, such as an antique kilim rug, consider hanging it on your wall.
Tip: Mix or group accessories in odd numbers and avoid symmetry; embrace styling that enhances your space, instead of trying to look like something out of a showroom or catalogue.
Tip: Mix or group accessories in odd numbers and avoid symmetry; embrace styling that enhances your space, instead of trying to look like something out of a showroom or catalogue.
An ode to nature and sustainability
Respecting the natural world and its offerings is essential to wabi-sabi living. Before discarding anything, think twice and reimagine the piece or repurpose it. Think about the impact unnecessary wastage has on our ecosystem. Take a trip to your local second-hand furniture market and look for pieces that can be salvaged.
Take a look at the bathroom pictured here, where the designers have used reclaimed timber as a clever accent wall.
Respecting the natural world and its offerings is essential to wabi-sabi living. Before discarding anything, think twice and reimagine the piece or repurpose it. Think about the impact unnecessary wastage has on our ecosystem. Take a trip to your local second-hand furniture market and look for pieces that can be salvaged.
Take a look at the bathroom pictured here, where the designers have used reclaimed timber as a clever accent wall.
![Mediterranean Bedroom by P [Four]](https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/f8517d000b042ce0_8693-w618-h413-b0-p0--mediterranean-bedroom.jpg)
Beautiful old traditional doors can also be repurposed as headboards or a room divider. Depending on the usage, don’t forget to wax your reclaimed timber for a close-to-natural look or coat it with a durable polyurethane, which forms a protective barrier over the original surface, although this adds a little shine, as well. While neutral shades like browns, beiges, whites and greys form the backbone of this look, one can also draw inspiration from nature for its varying degrees of colour.
Acknowledging age and embracing it
Wabi-sabi is all about recognising that beauty only betters with age and the subsequent wear and tear of objects. Whether you buy a brass lamp or invest in a set of copper vessels, such pieces have the quality of ageing gracefully over time, oxidising and changing colour to show off a different patina.
Embracing the Humble and Handmade at Home
Wabi-sabi is all about recognising that beauty only betters with age and the subsequent wear and tear of objects. Whether you buy a brass lamp or invest in a set of copper vessels, such pieces have the quality of ageing gracefully over time, oxidising and changing colour to show off a different patina.
Embracing the Humble and Handmade at Home
The art of Kintsugi
Kintsugi, or golden joinery, is a Japanese practice that holds value in recycling and upcycling pieces that may have broken or chipped. Broken pottery is pieced back together using lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. Kintsugi as an art form acknowledges repair and breakage as a part of the history of an object, rather than disguising it. Pictured here is a porcelain tray from the Kintsugi collection by Seletti.
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Kintsugi, or golden joinery, is a Japanese practice that holds value in recycling and upcycling pieces that may have broken or chipped. Broken pottery is pieced back together using lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. Kintsugi as an art form acknowledges repair and breakage as a part of the history of an object, rather than disguising it. Pictured here is a porcelain tray from the Kintsugi collection by Seletti.
Tell us
Have you worked the philosophies of wabi-sabi into your home? Tell us how in the Comments, share and like this story and save your favourite images.
More
Browse artists and artisans near you
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Love the feel of pieces with a story. Almost everything in our home is past loved and re-purposed, with Kintsugi-like repairs visible on some. Haven't quite been able to do the crumpled sheets yet.
Love this article. Wabi-Sabi highlights many features of our own design philosophy - celebrating what has come before and respecting it. And we always specify matt or satin surfaces and textures - it’s reassuring that they are available on the market again.