With the striking word that defines this style, I think we could easily confuse it with a sauce or a ball.
Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese decoration style that focuses on the beauty of imperfection. Well, more than a style, it is a philosophy of life that takes three basic ideas from nature: nothing is perfect, nothing is permanent, and nothing is complete.
It is also about seeing the world with different eyes… Valuing nature, appreciating the passage of time, and understanding the transience of beauty.
The Wabi-Sabi decoration is surprising because its result does not resemble what we are used to on this side of the world. Today I want to teach you a little more about her.
Let’s start!
What characterizes the Wabi-Sabi style?
Minimalism:
No sophistication, no banal objects. In the Wabi-Sabi, free space, silence and simplicity are highly appreciated. That is why it promotes keeping only the essentials to be happy in everyday life.
This is a style in which you live modestly, and although you have few things, the environment does not feel cold because the materials provide warmth. That’s what my next point is about.
Natural materials:
As I was telling you, this philosophy is inspired by nature. So he takes everything he can from it: wood, glass, stone, marble, ceramics, concrete, and vegetable fibers such as linen, cotton, or wicker.
For example, in a space with Wabi-Sabi, you can find a table decorated with nature in its pure state: leaves, stones, sea shells, or a ceramic vase full of logs and wild twigs.
Simple and authentic designs:
Would you accept if I told you that you had to use a piece with a slit in your decoration? And if I ask you to place it so that imperfection is visible, would you think that’s a good idea?
In Wabi-Sabi, the asymmetrical, the irregular, and the imperfect are valid. Any mark that the weather, use, or passage of time has left on a piece is worthy of being shown (and even celebrated) because it speaks of its history and vulnerability. That makes it unique.
If you want to recreate this style, opt for pieces with an antique, rustic, or natural look. It doesn’t matter if they are old, worn, or cracked; recover them and wear them with pride. And if we talk about chairs, simple models such as the Cherner or the Elbow can work.
Muted colors:
When I talk about dull colors, I mean those with no brightness or intensity; Wabi-Sabi takes these tones from nature and transfers them to spaces to provide comfort and serenity.
They are usually dark colors like browns, blacks, grays, and greens. But if your personality leans more towards light colors, you can use shades of sand, beige, snow white, or turquoise blue.
Intimate atmosphere:
The spaces decorated in this style usually have little light to give the feeling of intimacy. This decision also allows you to play with shadows so that they “decorate” spaces that seem insignificant.
Natural light must be the protagonist to provide warmth during the day. While at night, artificial light should highlight the top corners of the rooms.
To achieve this, you can use hanging lamps accompanied by spotlights. Lighting a painting, a vessel, or a plant as if it were a work of art is very Wabi-Sabi.
Order and harmony:
The fact that Wabi-Sabi does not praise perfection does not mean that it accepts disorder. One of its main premises is to achieve tranquility through order and simplicity.
As you can see, wabi-sabi is the opposite of the decoration concept imposed so much. Synthetic textiles, modular furniture, or technology do not stand out; Neither do the symmetrical and impeccable finishes.
Hence, some people believe that the Wabi-Sabi appearance looks poor. Still, the truth is that in this style of decoration, styleerything is very well thought out, and depending on the materials chosen, it can be pretty expensive.
For those who practice this philosophy, having a life of ten means enjoying a simple home that meets our needs. Do not strive to reach standards of perfection that end up being unattainable (and exhausting). Perhaps that is why it is so fascinating.
Tell me, what do you think of Wabi-Sabi? If you like it, I invite you to bring it to your home through decoration. And if you find it intexcitingt too essential, I’ll tell you that there are styles with similar characteristics, but more modern: one is kinfolk, and the other is Japan. I will leave you the information so you can also look at them.
