If you’re still looking for a new year’s resolution or want a healthier and more relaxed home and lifestyle, Wabi-Sabi might be the answer.
Wabi-Sabi is based on the philosophy of finding happiness by accepting imperfection. So, shed all of your ideas that beauty can only be found in perfection. The healthier and more practical way to find contentment in daily life is simply to accept the fact that there’s always going to be a little mess somewhere and that it’s okay when things aren’t perfect. In fact, it might just be better when things aren’t perfect.
Don’t confuse Wabi-Sabi with Rustic Farmhouse or French Country or even Industrial Chic. Wabi-Sabi is a new lifestyle trend that translated into home decor trends. It has already started in Europe and is gaining momentum in America. Here are some ways to incorporate Wabi-Sabi into your lifestyle and home.
via wabisabi-style.blogspot.com and sukhamukhayoga.com
1 | Organic Material
A Wabi-Sabi lifestyle means accepting the nature of materials as they are and being conscientious of their longevity. We can be selective about the materials and items we consume. Items that reduce waste and also last longer and are made with high-quality materials and methods. A few examples of such products include high-quality Turkish towels, organic cotton clothing and bedding, and natural stone tiles. (Turkish towels actually become softer the more you wash them.) Wood, leather, clay, linen, and wool are beautiful raw materials that require minimal processing. They are resilient and can be expected to age well. Any blemish resulting from normal wear and tear would only add character to a perfectly aging but very well maintained piece.
via comfort-works.com and sfgirlbybay.com
2 | Handmade Pottery
The use of authentic handmade pottery is a beautiful way of embracing Wabi-Sabi and introducing it into your home as well as on the dinner table. Handmade items are ‘imperfect’ by nature. Wabi-Sabi first emerged during the 15th century in response to highly decorative and ornamental items which can become obsessively unhealthy. Therefore the idea of perfection is not celebrated, and the beauty of imperfectly made goods become much more appealing.
via blog.elle.fr and guiaparadecorar.com
3 | Minimalism
While minimalism has its own aesthetics, it doesn’t always equate to humility and true appreciation in a materialistic world. Incorporating Wabi-Sabi into your lifestyle requires taking a moment to pause and appreciate quiet and subtle beauty and finding comfort with less decoration and with imperfection. Part of the process of living a minimal lifestyle and achieving clarity requires becoming unattached to the material world. If an item doesn’t serve a purpose or function, you can repurpose it, give it away, or toss it out. You’ll find that your physical and mental spaces will be a lot lighter and happier.
4 | Earthy Colors
It doesn’t get more humble than earth tone colors. If you want a neutral but warm, earthy home decor, consider golden greys or warm browns rather than cool greys and black. For a soft and tranquil color palette for your home decor, stick with beige (or greige) in combination with other neutrals. If you want a hint of color, incorporate green plants or a grey-blue into your decor. To add interest in a neutral or earth tone decor, play with textures. Different fabrics or textiles and raw materials will add interesting variations of neutrals and earth tones to a cozy home.
via redhousewest.com and turbulences-deco.fr
5 | Worn Walls
If you really want a signature Wabi-Sabi look for your home decor, consider the out-of-this-world aesthetics of a truly worn wall. An unfinished and even unmaintained wall can become a unique and beautiful element of your home. Ragged and rustic, an unpretentious wall makes a great backdrop for a humble home. If you want to soften the interior decor, place flowers in a vase but don’t arrange the flowers. Just let them be as they would be in nature, untouched and unarranged. Alternatively, place branches into a vase with one or no flowers to express true humility.
via architecturelab.net and plataformaarquitectura.cl
6 | Asymmetry
If beauty is found in imperfection, then odd numbers and asymmetry are perfectly fine. Aim for simplicity and humility to bring harmony and an otherworldly sense of ‘balance’ into your space. Don’t stress about things not lining up perfectly or fitting into a space perfectly. As long as the item serves a purpose or has a function, it is perfectly fine in its own space wherever that may be. Asymmetry offers a surprisingly refreshing escape from the expected.
via decorapartment.com and
7 | Layered Linen
When it comes to linen, it is all about comfort. So, don’t worry about making the bed every morning. In fact, you’ll probably feel better skipping making the bed entirely on some days! Wrinkled sheets? Not a problem. At the end of the day or whenever you need it, you should always be able to hop into your bed and feel content, even if the sheets are a little wrinkled and the bed is slightly messy.
