What Is Wabi Sabi Interior Design? How to Use It at Home

Be Intentional

“Wabi-sabi is grounded by a deep reverence for nature and its uncomplicated beauty,” Marie Kondo, tidying expert and founder of KonMari Media, Inc. tells The Spruce. “This should readily translate when embracing the philosophy in your home’s design."

Be very mindful and introspective when selecting items for your home, because what you choose defines how you want to live your life, according to Kondo.

Weave In Personal Touches

It might be tempting to pick up glossy new home items when overhauling your space—but it might not make the most sense if you’re going for a wabi-sabi approach.

“Whether a striking art piece or a vase hand-spun by your child, intentionally living among mindfully selected treasures that spark joy for you will inspire you to celebrate authenticity and find beauty in simplicity—both of which are key in wabi-sabi design,” Kondo says.

Add Natural Elements

“The wabi-sabi philosophy centers around asymmetry, simplicity, and intimacy,” Karin Sun, founder of Crane & Canopy, says. “In other words, wabi-sabi rejects the idea of perfection, and instead, focuses on what’s natural and real.”

You can emulate this idea by opting for natural touches such as plants.

Make Your Bed

The wabi-sabi Japanese lifestyle philosophy can be incorporated into our lives very easily, especially in our bedrooms and on our beds, according to Sun. Making the bed is an important daily task, and it’s in style to embrace imperfections while doing this task rather than building a tidy, spotless bed.

Add Cozy Throw Pillows

Your home should also be a place you actually want to curl up in and get cozy without feeling like you’re messing up your space.

“Throw pillows and blankets add to the lived-in look,” Sun says. “This is the perfect addition to show a space where you can settle in and get cozy, which wabi-sabi is all about.”

Consider Washed Linen

The best part of embracing wabi-sabi design is finding comfort in the little things without worrying about everything being exactly perfect.

“Washed linen is a great addition to the home—whether as bedding or for kitchenware, as linen creates a soft, lived-in style that falls in line with wabi-sabi,” Sun says. “Its relaxed and naturally wrinkled look proves that beauty lies in imperfections.”

Let Items Age Gracefully

Wabi-sabi is about welcoming changes—like scratches on floors or a patina on leather and linens—and being thankful for their beauty.

“Choose quality pieces that withstand time and add depth and personality to your space the longer you have them,” Rowena Lei, founder of August Sage, says.

This includes elements that naturally age and patina, like a beautifully hand-carved piece of solid wood for your cutting board or serving bowl.

Appreciate Imperfections

Don’t worry about rushing out to pick up the latest trends in homeware—instead, try to appreciate the imperfections that exist in your home.

“There is no need to strive for perfection constantly; embrace the wrinkle in your linen sheets or a causal stack of slightly leaning books,” Lei says.

Romanticize Everyday Items

Wabi-sabi embraces slowing down to appreciate the small moments in life. Lei suggests taking the wabi-sabi philosophy one step further by finding beauty in everyday objects and routines.

“You can start simply with morning coffee/tea and make it a ritual, for example, grind beans or create a unique tea blend,” she says.

Stimulate Your Senses

The home is the best place to engage and stimulate your senses. Lei suggests incorporating burning incense, water features or sounds, and textural textiles such as wool and sheepskin. She also suggests leaning into more creative at-home activities, like creating art and reading vintage poetry books.

Choose Imperfect Items

Wabi-sabi embraces things that have meaning over perfect things, like an unmade bed or a cracked ceramic pot. Don’t worry about chips, breaks, or stains—according to Lei, these small imperfections breed a sense of calm and appreciation for life.

“Some of my favorite pieces include unglazed raw pottery, stone bowls and planters, olive jars with broken handles, polished brass or copper pieces that will acquire a patina over time, and large branches foraged from anywhere outside,” Lei says.

Neutral, inviting colors

Using neutral, inviting colors in your home is a core component of wab-sabi. This includes beiges, whites, browns, blacks, oranges, etc. The idea is to welcome serenity and belonging into the space.