In its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and appreciating the depth of nature. It’s about a simple, slow and uncluttered lifestyle and it reveres authenticity above all else. Wabi-sabi decor is more apt to be found at a flea market rather than a warehouse store. It celebrates aged wood, cracks, patinas, and any marks that time, weather and loving use might leave behind. A wabi-sabi home is about a combination of weathered beauty and usefulness. It’s like decorating mindfully and with appreciation. Let’s look at some examples of concepts, objects and rooms that showcase wabi-sabi home decor:

  • In a wabi-sabi living room, nature takes center stage. Wabi-sabi focuses on both the beauty in nature, and its impermanence.
  • The counter tops in this wabi-sabi kitchen are cast concrete. Note the simplicity and lack of decor for the sake of decor. Everything displayed on the counter-tops is useful.
  • A wabi-sabi dining room showcasing a weathered concrete floor, exposed thinly painted brick wall and simple furnishings.
  • The foyer in this old farmhouse shows the wabi-sabi concept of imperfection in weathered wood floors, ceiling beams and exposed stone chimney. Decoration is kept to a minimum with warm wood furniture and spare accents.
  • The reclaimed wood wall and minimal furnishings in this bedroom reflect the wabi-sabi concept.
  • A simple wabi-sabi bathroom with a rustic stone wall and lots of weathered wood is calm, beautiful and imperfect.

You can go wabi-sabi all the way, or just incorporate touches of the concept through the use of weathered wood, natural objects and a sense of calm.