'Wabi Sabi’ Style and How to Get the Look
This mindset which focuses on embracing the less-than-perfect is good for the soul as well as the wallet
According to Victoria Redshaw from London trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus, one of the top interior design trends for 2018 is the concept of ‘wabi sabi’. It’s based on the Japanese traditional philosophy of ‘finding beauty in imperfection’.
From an interior design perspective, the wabi sabi concept means to enjoy the wear and tear that occurs on your favourite and most-used home objects. It’s all about using your grandmother’s old kopitiam table as your dining table, or using grandpa’s favourite chair as your reading chair.
Redshaw says that these items actually become more attractive and interesting as they become more and more pre-loved; where new layers of colour and texture are added. This makes wabi sabi an interior design choice for those of us who are not particularly tidy, and who love a bit of nostalgia in our lives.
From an interior design perspective, the wabi sabi concept means to enjoy the wear and tear that occurs on your favourite and most-used home objects. It’s all about using your grandmother’s old kopitiam table as your dining table, or using grandpa’s favourite chair as your reading chair.
Redshaw says that these items actually become more attractive and interesting as they become more and more pre-loved; where new layers of colour and texture are added. This makes wabi sabi an interior design choice for those of us who are not particularly tidy, and who love a bit of nostalgia in our lives.
How to get the look:
The wabi sabi look doesn’t mean you just leave a bunch of junk out randomly – that’s just untidy. You need to create personal collections of items that you use, that also have an overall ‘designed’ or ‘chosen’ feel.
The wabi sabi look doesn’t mean you just leave a bunch of junk out randomly – that’s just untidy. You need to create personal collections of items that you use, that also have an overall ‘designed’ or ‘chosen’ feel.
Choose an underlying theme
You can pick a time frame for your objects, for example a mid-century modern look with items from your parents’ childhood; or go for a more Victorian theme with pieces your great-grandparents may have owned.
You can pick a time frame for your objects, for example a mid-century modern look with items from your parents’ childhood; or go for a more Victorian theme with pieces your great-grandparents may have owned.
You don’t have to live in a showroom
Etsy’s in-house trend forecaster Dayna Isom Johnson also says that wabi sabi is a key interior design trend for 2018, particularly the idea of not having a home that is “showroom-ready”; i.e. not picture-perfect. Being authentic and real is better.
Etsy’s in-house trend forecaster Dayna Isom Johnson also says that wabi sabi is a key interior design trend for 2018, particularly the idea of not having a home that is “showroom-ready”; i.e. not picture-perfect. Being authentic and real is better.
Choose a colour scheme
Again, to make sure the wabi sabi style doesn’t look like a total mess, select a few colours that can tie all the various items together. It could be a series of primary brights, or more muted natural colours.
Again, to make sure the wabi sabi style doesn’t look like a total mess, select a few colours that can tie all the various items together. It could be a series of primary brights, or more muted natural colours.
It’s all about layering
One of the key things to remember when building your wabi sabi interior is that it should look like the natural accumulation of things by people who care about lovely things. You need solid furniture as the base to which you add the decorative touches like paintings, rugs, photographs etc.
One of the key things to remember when building your wabi sabi interior is that it should look like the natural accumulation of things by people who care about lovely things. You need solid furniture as the base to which you add the decorative touches like paintings, rugs, photographs etc.
Be patient in building your wabi sabi look
As Johnson says, you need to be ‘authentic’ in choosing the items in your wabi-sabi home. Take time to choose the right pieces that hold meaning for you as well as fit into your chosen aesthetic.
As Johnson says, you need to be ‘authentic’ in choosing the items in your wabi-sabi home. Take time to choose the right pieces that hold meaning for you as well as fit into your chosen aesthetic.
Wabi sabi comes from everywhere
The wabi sabi style is less about going to design stores, and more about getting your inspiration and ideas from everywhere.
You can head to antique stores like Just Anthony on Upper Paya Lebar Road, or The Past Perfect Collection in the Tan Boon Liat Building.
Don’t forget to trawl through your relatives’ homes too! You never know what treasures you might find.
How to integrate family heirlooms into your home
TELL US
What are your favourite or treasured objects in your home? Share a photo in the Comments.
The wabi sabi style is less about going to design stores, and more about getting your inspiration and ideas from everywhere.
You can head to antique stores like Just Anthony on Upper Paya Lebar Road, or The Past Perfect Collection in the Tan Boon Liat Building.
Don’t forget to trawl through your relatives’ homes too! You never know what treasures you might find.
How to integrate family heirlooms into your home
TELL US
What are your favourite or treasured objects in your home? Share a photo in the Comments.
Wabi sabi is about creating a ‘lived in’ feel in your home, and not being too precious about the objects you use. It’s less about the perfect minimalist display and more about the collection of items you use and treasure every day.