Wabi-sabi style in the interior

The field of design art is constantly evolving and changing. Today there are a large number of directions, among which it is quite difficult to choose only one. The Japanese wabi-sabi style deserves special attention. Today we will talk in more detail about the philosophy and aesthetics of this style, and also consider how you can apply wabi sabi in the process of decorating your own home.

First of all, it should be noted that Wabi-sabi is not only the Japanese aesthetics of interior design, but also a whole philosophy, a full-fledged art. This design and stylistic trend became popular in 2017. The Japanese emphasize that everyone should be able to appreciate the present moment in its naturalness, authenticity and imperfection.

Despite the fact that the birthplace of the stylistic direction of wabi-sabi is Japan, this philosophy has spread far beyond the borders of the country and is currently popular in Europe and the United States of America. Adherents of wabi-sabi are many world-class stars, for example, Jessica Alba, Robert de Niro.

It is to this phrase that all the principles of this style correspond. Interior design in this style should be approached like art, treat the decorating process as learning a new philosophy. Only in this way can you achieve the desired result.

Wabi-sabi-style interior decoration is not suitable for every person. It will be appropriate and relevant only for those who prefer minimalism and do not use a large number of unnecessary accessories. In addition, adherents of this direction prefer to use old imperfect things, rather than acquire new and flawless analogs.

Wabi-sabi-style room decoration will suit you if you are attracted by natural textures without processing (e.g. wood, rough stone, concrete, etc.). On the other hand, choosing this stylistic direction for the design of your house or apartment is contraindicated for perfectionists, since within the framework of decoration it is necessary to use a large number of imperfect objects (for example, products with roughness and scuffs, objects of irregular shape, etc.).

Despite the fact that the initial design and decoration of a room in this style may require material investments from you, in the process of using and maintaining rooms, you do not have to update the interior all the time, spend a lot of effort, time and money to care for it.

Unlike many other stylistic trends, wabi-sabi is suitable for almost any room: for a small kitchen, for a narrow corridor, and for any other room in your home.

In this regard, there are no clearly defined rules and principles that must be followed in the process of decorating a room. In doing so, several important ideas can be noted:

• the absence of any excesses (no matter what room you are decorating, you should not purchase an excessive amount of accessories that you will not use and which will perform an exclusively decorative role);
• simplicity above all else (all things used within the interior should be simple and understandable: this applies to both their appearance and functional purpose);
• if possible, it is recommended to use handmade items (for example, furniture or dishes);
• natural colors (it is not recommended to use too bright neon shades, all colors should be natural and such that you can find in wildlife);
• you should not fill all the available space with furniture or other objects (carpets, accessories, etc.), within the framework of wabi-sabi, you must accept empty space;
• textiles must be made from natural materials;
• lighting should be soft and diffused, it is not recommended to use neon lamps;
• storage spaces and systems should not be open, it is better to use shelves, cabinets and drawers with doors - thanks to this, the interior will look as neat and holistic as possible;
• preference should be given to quality over quantity (all interior items - from furniture to decor - should evoke warm feelings in you, please you), etc.

Thus, decorating a room in the wabi-sabi style, you should focus not only (and not so much) on external aesthetics, but on creating a unique feeling that is characteristic only of this stylistic direction and for no other.

Let's take a look at some beautiful and atmospheric examples of wabi sabi interiors.

• In this photo, the simplicity of wabi sabi is reflected in almost every element. The most striking in this regard is the finish, or rather, its complete absence. Untreated concrete surfaces create that very sense of functionality without being overly decorative.

• The room shown in this photo lacks unnecessary decorative elements. On the contrary, all items are characterized by exceptional functionality and fulfill an important practical role.

• These decorative elements are typical of wabi sabi designs. As we can see, only natural materials are used here: clay and wood. In addition, the color scheme is appropriate and natural.

• This asymmetry and disorganization is a reflection of all the processes that take place in real life. Such a finish will be relevant in almost any room. However, it is also aesthetically pleasing and functional.

• In this photo, we can see a successful combination of textures and colors that fully fit into the overall design and style of wabi sabi. Despite the fact that thanks to such combinations an unusual appearance is created, in fact, the interior serves an extremely practical and functional purpose.

• This room is also decorated in the wabi sabi style, but is more modernized. It is suitable for owners of spacious homes.

• Such dishes are typical for this stylistic trend. It has a large number of defects that affect only the appearance of objects, but do not affect their functional purpose.

The above photos can be an inspiration for you. You can design your own home by repeating these examples or guided by your own vision. In any case, it is always important to remember the original philosophy of wabi sabi.

See the video for the wabi-sabi style.