Home Styles: What is Wabi-Sabi Design?

If you have a penchant for Asian-inspired home design but also tend toward more minimalistic interiors, then wabi-sabi design might just be your ideal philosophy. Much like Japandi design, which merges Japanese and Scandinavian principles, wabi-sabi puts a minimalist spin on traditional Asian design elements to create spaces that are bright, warm, and inherently calming. And with a little bit of design know-how you can bring it to life in pretty much any type of home.

Here’s what to know about wabi-sabi design, including easy tips that you can start using today to incorporate more of this serene style into your space.

What is wabi-sabi design?

Wabi-sabi design is a Japanese interior design philosophy that embraces both minimalism and the unique beauty of imperfection. This notion is displayed right in the term itself, with wabi meaning a simplistic, spiritual solitude, and sabi referring to the lifecycle of all things and the ability to accept and celebrate impermanence and flaws.

It’s easy to scroll through sites like Instagram and Pinterest and deduce that aspirational interior design is all about curation and perfection. But wabi-sabi spins that idea on its head, telling us to not only welcome the flaws in our space but to honor them.

The natural world is filled with imperfections and yet we find beauty in it anyway. Wabi-sabi design promotes that we do the same in our homes, learning to accept that which we can’t fix (or simply don’t feel like fixing) in an effort to feel more at peace in our space.

Unlike traditional minimalism with its clean lines and expertly angled edges, wabi-sabi tells us to keep it simple without striving for perfection. And isn’t that something all of us could benefit from when it comes to how we conceive of and style our homes?

The history of wabi-sabi

The concept of wabi-sabi has its roots in Taoism, though it was later adapted into the principles of Zen Buddhism. And from its very onset it has been about rejecting the modern push toward perfectionism in favor of humbleness and acceptance.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Japanese tea masters exemplified this practice through wabi-cha, a style of tea ceremony where imperfect Japanese pottery was chosen over the more “perfect” Chinese imports of the day. While the latter offered exceptional details and ornate designs that were guaranteed to impress guests, the former spoke more to the true nature of the ceremony, particularly the goal of feeling oneness in the natural surroundings.

These ideals later made their way into more general design principles, and today, they form a philosophy that all of us can benefit from—even, and perhaps especially, in the Western world.

How to embrace wabi-sabi design in your home

At the heart of wabi-sabi design is your approach to styling, rather than the specific items you do or do not include. In fact, you can meld basic wabi-sabi principles with a whole host of other interior styles, including contemporary, modern, rustic, and Scandinavian.

True wabi-sabi interiors are inherently simple, and you’ll see a lot of overlap with other styles—particularly those inspired by Japan and other Asian cultures. If you’re intrigued, here are some tips for bringing wabi-sabi design into your home in all its imperfect glory.

Keep it fresh and clean

Finding peace in imperfections doesn’t mean letting your space get away from you. You still want to embrace minimalism, which means nixing any clutter and keeping it simple in terms of furniture, décor, and your color palette.

As is standard in Japanese design, try to ensure that every item in a room serves a distinct and notable purpose—even if it’s just to balance out the space. If it doesn’t need to be there, it will only serve to weigh the room down, which is the antithesis of what you’re trying to achieve with wabi-sabi.

Bring in natural elements

Another mainstay of both Japanese and minimalist interiors is an appreciation for natural textures, colors, and elements. This speaks to the wabi in wabi-sabi design, with nature serving an important role in the pursuit of solitude and serenity.

Maintain a neutral color palette—at least in the hues that make up the main focal points of your space—and work in other natural elements like wood, stone, plants, and water. For some additional guidance on how to work nature into your space, it might be helpful to check out the basics of Feng Shui, a Chinese practice that, among other things, heralds the use of natural elements in the home.

Incorporate artisanal and handmade items

Wabi-sabi design honors authenticity, and what’s more authentic than forgoing the big box stores in favor of artisanal and handmade items? If budget is a concern, you could stick to simple and affordable minimalist furniture from stores like IKEA and then enhance them with found items from antique stores and flea markets, as well as items that you make yourself.

Key here is to always strive for balance. Too much of anything can overwhelm your space, so focus on incorporating items that really speak to the spirit of the room and find another spot for everything else.

Be okay with imperfection

Lopsided plants, crumpled linens, and your toddler’s fingerprints on the wall are all right at home in a wabi-sabi interior. Feel free to fix broken furniture and make any other necessary repairs, but don’t let aesthetic imperfections weigh you down—celebrate them instead for how they add to your space and make it more completely yours.

The sabi philosophy tells us that wear, tear, and age are all things that we should honor instead of dismiss. In your life and in your home, try to put this principle to work and make note of how an imperfection is just another way of making something special. Not only is it a more forgiving approach to interior style, it’s also a pathway to increased peace and serenity in all that you do.

Don’t feel like you need to go all or nothing with wabi-sabi design. Start slow and small, gradually editing your space until it’s somewhere that you feel truly at peace—imperfections and all.