the Wabi Sabi style or appreciating the beauty of imperfection

Wabi Sabi is a current of thought, but also a rather minimalist decorative style, which owes its notoriety and its origins to the land of the rising sun. This concept leads consumers to look differently, to think about their consumption or to appreciate the imperfection of certain objects. What is it exactly and how to adopt it?

Wabi Sabi, what is it?

Wabi Sabi is not only a philosophy, an art of living, but also a style of decoration. You have to go back to the 15th century to know its origins. At that time, Japanese monks regularly celebrated the “tea ceremony”. They had the idea of ​​creating simple, basic, but effective objects themselves that they used for this very special moment.

The Wabi Sabi then began to arouse the enthusiasm of the inhabitants of Japan before arriving later in Europe. This concept evokes a philosophical notion and an art of living: “wabi” also means simplicity, silence or even nature. “Sabi” evokes, for its part, wear and tear or the imperfection caused by time.

In other words, the Wabi Sabi style is for people who know how to be satisfied with the simple things in life such as nature or even natural materials that give rest to the mind. They prefer to move away from extravagance to favor minimalism.

What are the principles of the Wabi Sabi style?

Appreciation of natural objects

The Wabi Sabi style teaches us to appreciate an object as it really is, especially flowers in the garden, a piece of furniture in its raw state or even a slightly damaged object. In other words, the innocuous everyday things become sublime when a person decides to look at them in a different way.

The concept is, in this perspective, to be satisfied with what you already have at home or even to invest in furniture considered too simple by others.

Acceptance of passing time

The inevitable passage of time naturally causes wear and tear on objects. Instead of throwing these away, the Wabi Sabi concept encourages continuing to use them. It even invites users to appreciate these marks of time.

We must then learn to detect the beauty in these old objects. However, it is still possible to repair them by trying to preserve their original appearance as much as possible. This is how it becomes easy to accept that time passes and changes occur. It is a natural order of things against which no one can do anything.

How to integrate the Wabi Sabi style into your home?

Prioritize raw materials

The use of raw furniture is one of the bases of the Wabi Sabi style, especially wood or stone. Opt for example for a coffee table in solid wood for your living room or a bed made with this same material for the bedroom. This material stands out for its pleasant feel.

Go for a stone basin for the bathroom or even ceramic cups for the kitchen. Do not hesitate to approach a second-hand dealer to find some. Let yourself be seduced by accessories displaying a few flaws if you like.

Invest in old furniture that is still functional

You will easily find it in flea markets. You have the choice between furniture with small functional or aesthetic defects, but which it is always possible to use. Either way, feel free to fix them if you can.

The principle of old furniture in the Wabi Sabi style is simple. They show their number of years of existence, in particular through damaged paintwork, slight cracks or even peeling varnish. Their appearance is slightly different from the original, but they are nonetheless full of charm.

Choose craft decorations

Japanese monks initiated this style by designing their own accessories. The decoration was therefore already artisanal. This is the reason why it is better to invest in handcrafted objects to fully respect the Wabi Sabi spirit. The pottery is then perfect. Use it for practical or aesthetic purposes, depending on your needs and desires.

Regularly visit the workshops or shops offering handmade masterpieces to find various models of original and handcrafted decorative accessories.

Adopt colors that respect the concept

The Wabi Sabi style suggests vegetable colors reminiscent of nature, while associating willingly with other tones. The final rendering just has to be in perfect harmony. Avoid contradictory shades for a well-balanced result. The main thing is that you feel calm, serenity and peace in your inner space.

A bedroom, for example, goes well with warm tones such as ocher, beige, or even mauve for a warm or friendly look. A living space, on the other hand, requires colors closer to nature, such as green or black. Note that shades that are too bright and a little aggressive such as red, purple or even orange should be left out.

Naturally weathered walls

The walls are one of the important elements of a Wabi Sabi decoration. Let them patina, even becoming faded to match worn-out furniture.

Be careful, it is not necessary to do anything to obtain this result, the most effective way to achieve such a rendering is to wait for time to take care of it itself.

Good habits to have

Dust the furniture regularly to ensure good hygiene and avoid making the room look grim. Embellish your furniture by arranging natural flowers in a vase, for a more convivial rendering even if the atmosphere invites calm and meditation.

Good ventilation and efficient entry of light will prevent the room from becoming gloomy. You must indeed create a pleasant place to live despite its great simplicity. Preferably, use only the furniture essential to your comfort. In other words, avoid clutter with a whole range of furniture to promote a Zen decor.