Japanese Decor with Wabi Sabi

In these harsh and hectic times, take solace with a little wabi sabi. No, not the green paste that makes your nostrils flare on sushi night – that’s wasabi, smarty, which definitely should be taken in small portions. Indulge wholeheartedly in wabi sabi, a practice rooted in Shinto’s reverence for nature which provides most of what we admire about the Japanese aesthetic. “Wabi” is loosely translated as “fresh and simple things.” “Sabi” means “things with the beauty acquired with age.” If you’re intimidated by the power colors and mirror placement of feng shui, this offers a low-key path to harmonious living. Wabi sabi style incorporates the transcendental truths of Zen Buddhism: an appreciation for the organic, the innate essence of things. (Sounds deep, but pretty good, right?) Embrace the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. So what does this mean, exactly?

In design, as in life, things are usually best when left in their natural state.

Wabi Sabi
Fresh loose flowers
Antiques
Hand made goods
Recycled furniture
Hemp, linen, wool, cashmere
Earthy colors
Simplicity
Matte
Comfort
Irregular shapes
Materials found in nature

Not-So-Sabi
Arranged bouquets
Faux ‘tiques
Logos
Matching bedroom or sofa sets
Stainless steel, linoleum, plastics
Pop brights
Clutter
Shine
Styled
Symmetry
Ultra-modern design

When in doubt, leave walls and furniture unpainted and unvarnished. Natural hardwood floors, bare concrete, and exposed brick are all perfect in their simplicity. Not only is Wabi sabi frugal, it saves a lot of housework. Without decorative molding and dust-catching bric-a-brac, there’s less to clean. As far as the color palette goes, take inspiration from the outdoors. Choose terracotta reds, ash grey, any brown from creamy oak to chocolately maple, and any muted shade of green. Your living room, for example, could house plenty of soft seating for guests with cozy blankets, a coffee table from recycled glass and wood with a striking grain, a bevy of candles for ambient light, and a vase or two of unfettered flora. Place a sisal rug off-kilter on a bare floor and perhaps add a treasured painting. That’s it. What else do you really need but comfortable space for being alone that’s equally comfortable for having company? Keep a welcoming tea or coffee pot at the ready, too.

This style isn’t about settling nor complacency. It creates an intimate space. Instead of expressing yourself through home objects, make home a clean slate where you can just be. Okay, to be a little existential hereâÂ?¦ Instead of focusing on where to place a piece of furniture for the best energy flow, focus on how it’s made. Have you chosen an antique, something that brings it’s own history to your home? Is it made of recycled or sustainable materials? If you want to exercise the elegance of restraint, then each thing you own has amplified purpose. Why and how do you choose what you keep?

Purge items which don’t enhance your life, but don’t stress too much over details. A chipped plate, a coffee cup ring on the table, and well-worn upholstery just give your place a living history. It’s finally hip to be unpretentious.

On a rainy afternoon, try clearing absolutely everything out of one room. (Having clutter isn’t living with ease – it’s chaotic.) Reintroduce items one by one according to their purposefulness and beauty. When you have enough furnishings to tranquilly read a book and take a cup of tea, stop and do it.

The wonderful thing about unconventional beauty is that it is endlessly encompassing. Let rust, chipped paint, weathered wood, and imperfect handmade linens decorate without apology. Consider sea glass. In ethereal sage, amber, and blue, each has been hammered by waves for years to create irregular but smooth shards. It’s beauty is acquired with age, provided by nature. Sea glass needs nothing to improve itself. Found items are very wabi sabi. Life is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete, and there’s a simple beauty in letting your home reflect it.