Wabi-Sabi

While Nordic design shows you how to embrace visual minimalism, Wabi-Sabi teaches you the way to minimalism of the spirit.

Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept calling for finding beauty in imperfections and impermanence. The idea is derived from Buddhist philosophy; notions such as modesty and austerity are there to infuse a sense of simplicity.

With a refined rustic and highly aesthetic sense., Wabi-Sabi is - in my view - a lighter take on moody, slow living trends. Despite its deep philosophical spirit, its look tends to be less grave and dark than slow living, though the two definitely have a lot in common. The raw simplicity is there in both, for instance.

As you may have guessed from my mood board, the Wabi-Sabi style makes use of natural materials, raw textures and an elegant rustic look. The colours are earthy, yet delicate. Blue hues are often used, especially in the Navy and Indigo shades, though I like to live it up with a bit of Lapis Lazuli blue. We are talking about colours that remind of Japanese folk traditions and crafts.

In my mood board, I added a good dose of earthy accents and raw vibes. These talk about nature’s impermanent beauty and hint at appreciation of traditions. These key components are accompanied by an underlying sense of melancholy, of time passing that cannot be grasped.

Personally, I think that Wabi-Sabi adds to the love for simplicity in life a search for a purely, aesthetic beauty. Also, there is a taste for asymmetrical shapes, an Ikebana look which favours an effortless unbalanced visual effect.

A word of caution though. To achieve a balanced and elegant Wabi-Sabi look, you need not over-due it.

Whichever your design field - graphics, art, home decor - keep your background decor neutral and choose few, matching Wabi-Sabi elements as accents. 

As a half Japanese designer, I cannot but spread my love for this look. Wabi-sabi is a beautiful style. I hope you will consider adding a bit of Wabi-Sabi feel into your life, too!