A Guide To Wabi-Sabi Design
De-clutter and embrace tradition with this Japanese design philosophy that will turn your home into a calm oasis
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, pieces that own a past, exemplified by cracks and scratches, and untreated natural materials are just some of the indicators of a Wabi-Sabi design that we further explore as concepts.
Choosing handmade over mass-produced
This principle is fairly simple – choose pieces that celebrate the artistry of the handmade over the sameness of machine-made. 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 pieces that celebrate the artistry of the handmade over the sameness of machine-made. 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, widely available at stores like Elementto and Marshalls to add some beautiful texture to your room. Alternatively, you could layer jute and rattan mats on your floor.
An unstudied lived-in look is the way forward 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, hang 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 catalogue.
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, widely available at stores like Elementto and Marshalls to add some beautiful texture to your room. Alternatively, you could layer jute and rattan mats on your floor.
An unstudied lived-in look is the way forward 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, hang 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 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 re-imagine the piece or re-purpose it. Think about the impact unnecessary wastage has on our ecosystem. Take a trip to your local second-hand furniture market, such as Chor Bazaar in Mumbai, and look for pieces that can be salvaged.
Take a look at the bathroom pictured here, where the designers have used reclaimed wood as a clever accent wall. Beautiful old traditional doors can also be repurposed as headboards or a room divider in a given space.
Depending on the usage, don’t forget to wax your reclaimed wood for a close-to-natural look or coat them with a durable polyurethane, which shall form a protective barrier over the original surface, although adding some 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.
Respecting the natural world and its offerings is essential to Wabi-Sabi living. Before discarding anything, think twice and re-imagine the piece or re-purpose it. Think about the impact unnecessary wastage has on our ecosystem. Take a trip to your local second-hand furniture market, such as Chor Bazaar in Mumbai, and look for pieces that can be salvaged.
Take a look at the bathroom pictured here, where the designers have used reclaimed wood as a clever accent wall. Beautiful old traditional doors can also be repurposed as headboards or a room divider in a given space.
Depending on the usage, don’t forget to wax your reclaimed wood for a close-to-natural look or coat them with a durable polyurethane, which shall form a protective barrier over the original surface, although adding some 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.
Did you know? A Japanese practice that holds value in recycling and upcycling pieces that may have broken or chipped accidentally is the art of Kintsugi or golden joinery. 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.
Read more:
12 Elements That Define a Traditional Japanese Home
Zen Gardens for Urban Homes
Tell us:
What is it that calls out most to you about Wabi-Sabi? Share in Comments below.
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.
Did you know? A Japanese practice that holds value in recycling and upcycling pieces that may have broken or chipped accidentally is the art of Kintsugi or golden joinery. 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.
Read more:
12 Elements That Define a Traditional Japanese Home
Zen Gardens for Urban Homes
Tell us:
What is it that calls out most to you about Wabi-Sabi? Share in Comments below.
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 now or a lime-washed wall that has started to peel off … these elements are what give character to your space apart from telling their own stories.
Be it rustic, mid-century modern or classical, whatever the style you may gravitate towards, do not hesitate in investing 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 space. 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.