Beauty lies in imperfections, and that’s what wabi-sabi means. The concept of wabi-sabi comes from old Japanese traditions. It embodies the true spirit of Japanese design, lifestyle, philosophy, culture, and personal feelings.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Japan, you will notice that the Japanese have a culture in which they try to appreciate the inner beauty of animate and inanimate objects—from broken crockery to moulding furniture, misty landscapes to distorted reflections of nature on the water.This is something that you will never notice in any other country. Making the best out of a broken item can only happen in Japan. Since the place gave birth to this idea, the country also introduced the concept of wabi-sabi for decorating homes. The idea of wabi-sabi involves the understanding that each thing on the planet, whether living or not, ages with grace and becomes more beautiful as it breaks, fades, or scars. The concept only states that old and worn-out things have their own elegant charm.

So, if you want to decorate your home according to the wabi-sabi concept, you must first understand where this term originated. And if you are thinking that you will have to Google this, we are happy to tell you that we are here to help. While you go through the further lines, you will come across various things that relate to wabi-sabi, and by the end of this blog, you will be aware of everything that relates to wabi-sabi.

Origin of wabi-sabi

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that comes from traditional Chinese Zen Buddhist culture. Some even trace its origins back to a 16th-century Japanese legend involving Sen no Rikyu, the monk who helped to theorise tea ceremonies.

According to the legend, the monk wanted to learn the ancestral art of tea ceremonies, in the process of which his teamster also asked that he look after the garden. Just before presenting his master with his work, Rikyu shook a cherry tree in the garden so that its sakura flowers fell to adorn the ground, and this imperfection of the fallen flowers brought so much beauty to its surroundings that it gave birth to the concept of wabi-sabi. The "enso" symbol is used to depict the concept, which comprises an unfinished circle created as part of an infinite stroke or motion, typically made using black ink.

Below are some tips that will help you incorporate the wabi-sabi concept in your homes.

1. Opt for painting your home in subtle and monochromatic hues

 

If you have decided to decorate your house the wabi-sabi way, you need to first decide the colours that you will paint your house. You need to pick colours like beige, cream, soft greens, gentle blues, pastel mint greens, taupe, and grey tones. These will make your home look more natural and fresh, as all these colours are quite calm and are often equated with sanity. Plus, the serene, delicate hues of pastels are a symbol of neutrality. You can even try decorating your walls with materials with natural elements, such as pendant lights that are made from bamboo and rattan, to complete the whole rustic vibe of wabi-sabi.

2. Adopt wooden cabinetry and open shelving

 

Another thing that you can do to decorate your home the wabi-sabi way is opt for open storage shelving and wood cabinetry. Open wooden shelves will nicely decorate your imperfectly arranged pottery in the open, emphasising genuine authenticity. Many of us strive for imperfection, but imperfection has its own beauty. Try opting for mismatched chairs at the dining table and letting a few rusty pants languish in your kitchen. This will definitely add charm and character to your home’s interior. You can even place them on the open shelves as décor items, and they will definitely give your home a unique, personalised experience and a feeling that is appealing and pleasant to your eyes.

3. Embrace natural materials

 

The actual essence of wabi-sabi lies in using organic materials because wabi-sabi is about creating a connection with nature. Asymmetry, simplicity, and basic design are some of the key elements of this concept. Opt for using wicker materials such as rattan, reed, bamboo, quilts covered in linen fabrics, clay pottery, and unevenly glazed pottery with imperfect shapes. The entire concept of wabi-sabi lies in finding beauty in everything that is around us, accepting imperfection, using natural and organic materials, and keeping it all very simple and minimalistic.

So, above are some simple tips that are going to help you design your home the wabi-sabi way. In case you have some doubts about the concept, get in touch with us and opt for our home renovation services.