Wabi-sabi is the Japanese term that essentially means finding beauty in imperfection and accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. Wabi refers to living with humility and simplicity while being at one with nature, while Sabi is defined as the ability to accept the life cycle of anything as it is with all its flaws. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered. To incorporate the wabi-sabi way of life, one needs to first change their mindset. It is about wanting to simplify your life by eliminating the non-essential things and thoughts, focusing on what really matters. It’s about embracing things as they are and to not try to achieve perfection. It’s about being true to yourself and finding your inner happiness. With this mindset, you can start to see everything around you in a different way and appreciate things as they are no matter how imperfect they may seem to be. Here, in this journal, I plan to dive deeper into this philosophy by sharing Japan’s humble culture one journal entry at a time and hopefully inspire you in some way.

In the context of interior design and home decor, a wabi-sabi home is one that embraces authenticity, finds value in the weathered and lived-in, and promotes a sense of peace and tranquility with simplicity. Rather than always adding the latest trendy things or obsessing over making everything perfect, adopters of wabi-sabi interiors find harmony in authenticity and imperfection.

Here are 5 tips on how to incorporate the wabi-sabi style in your home.

EMBRACE AGING
Appreciate and enjoy the natural cycle of things as they age gracefully. It’s not that you need to keep everything even if they are broken and don’t serve a purpose in your home, but keep the ones that can be even more meaningful and beautiful because of its natural weathering. Don’t rush to replace them with the newest and greatest trends. You should not intentionally make something look worn or aged either. Let the aging come naturally over time.

2. NATURAL MATERIALS

Surround yourself with raw, honest, organic materials such as wood, natural stones, concrete, ceramic, woven, glass etc. From natural stone countertops, to jute rugs, to ceramic bowls and linen sheets, you can incorporate natural materials in every single part of your home.

3. CLUTTER-FREE

Go through all the spaces in your home and get rid of things that you don’t need, things that are broken, and those that don’t bring any joy to you. Think of what are the basic items you really need and eliminate the non-essentials. As Joshua Becker once said: “Minimalism isn’t about owning less than you need. It’s about owning exactly what you need.”

4. BRING NATURE IN

Organic materials and elements from nature are major components of a wabi-sabi home as they bring a sense of life and tranquility. Bring in nature like plants in pots, branches and flowers in vases, sticks and pinecones in a bowl, stones, driftwood, and even leaves to decorate your table. Bringing natural elements from outside is also a nice way to decorate your home according to the season outside without spending on seasonal decorative items. Don’t stress too much about how to style nature. They are simple and beautiful as they are and you should showcase nature with no fuss or perfection.

5. TELL YOUR STORY WITH YOUR TREASURES

Wabi-sabi is all about embracing and celebrating authenticity wherever it can be found, and there’s nothing more authentic than antiques, homemade crafts, and artisanal accents. That can be items that you have collected on your travels, an artwork you inherited from your grandmother, or some pottery you made yourself. These are all treasures that will enhance the warm, authentic feeling of your space, as well as tell your story in your homes.

There are more ways to incorporate the wabi-sabi style in your homes, but I think that these are the most important ways to get you started. By practicing these tips, you create the habit of noticing small and hidden wonders that you never noticed before. This will liberate yourself from the expectations of perfection.

wabi-sabi home

Binchotan charcoal