Journal
Trend Alert: 4 Ways to Wabi-Sabi Your High-Rise Home
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese term for being perfectly imperfect, or finding beauty in the impermanent or incomplete. While the concept can be applied to many aspects of life, it’s often used in relation to interior design and home decor. Here are some easy ways to incorporate a bit of intentional imperfection into your home.
1. Stick with a neutral, natural color palette.
Wabi-sabi comes from appreciating the imperfections found in nature, so it should come as no surprise that it draws color inspiration from nature as well. Even though nature is filled with all kinds of colors, think earthy: browns, creams, grays, greens.
2. Experiment with mismatched furniture.
This one can be a little tricky to pull off, but the key is to create a cohesive yet bohemian feel. Stick with solid colors (neutral tones, ideally), and use patterns sparingly. Try framing your kitchen table with chairs made from various materials, featuring different finishes or upholstered with varying fabrics. Or, try this in the living room with a mid-century modern sofa paired with a wicker loveseat.
3. Pick up some handmade kitchenware.
Instead of perfectly rounded edges, smooth surfaces and uniformity, opt for one-of-a-kind pieces instead. You could think small-scale and drink your coffee out of an unglazed clay mug or replace your entire dining set with pieces slightly less uniform.
4. Incorporate nature in unique ways.
Instead of the typical potted plant or vase of flowers, consider opting for something a little less traditionally pretty. Look for beauty in the parts of nature that are often overlooked for the more colorful or lively. A light fixture made from a tree branch or a bowl filled with unpolished stones as a centerpiece would accomplish this technique well.