As the design discipline becomes more diverse, it’s converging different perspectives hailing from all around the world. But when it comes to design, history bears witness that the west has always been enamored with perfection and symmetry. Meanwhile, in the east, Japan, to be specific, was forming a unique concept that beautified the prospect of imperfections.
Because of European influence on architecture and design, many schools of thought embraced ideal proportions. Wabi-Sabi, a form of Japanese aesthetic, is an idea that can’t be directly translated into a Western language. Wabi-Sabi talks about the allure of what’s rustic, imperfect, impermanent, and, most importantly, melancholic.
To designers, Wabi-Sabi has a distinct appeal as a philosophy, but implementation is difficult. Although it’s often compared to minimalism, Wabi-Sabi seeks grace in the imperfections. Hence, while minimalism calls clean lines, the pieces comprising this ancient Japanese aesthetic have a seemingly flawed appearance because of how they’ve aged. Besides being a style of design, the philosophy is a subtle euphemism for life itself.
The aesthetic is rooted in Zen Buddhism. While ‘Wabi’ refers to living in harmony with the environment, ‘Sabi’ implies accepting and appreciating how things grow, evolve, and eventually wither as time passes.
Despite being a different concept from minimalism, Wabi-Sabi is similar in the sense that it discourages cluttering because it hinders a sense of tranquility and peace. Nonetheless, it still remains distinct; it promotes mixing and matching different elements simply because the person loves their essence and meaning. This is regardless of how different items don’t match with the spatial ambiance.
To start with, you need to decorate the space with artisanal or handmade elements. This creates an air of authenticity that shows uniqueness and the personality of being one in a million. Supporting local artists and decorating your space with their crafts is a prime example of this. It eliminates the prospect of ‘sameness’ that comes with mass-produced items.
Similar to minimalism, Wabi-Sabi encourages that a person lives in an organized manner. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should restrict yourself to a few items. Rather than that, find new approaches to induce a seamless personality across the room. Do so by concealing wiring and technology behind walls and cabinets. The same should apply to laundry and garbage cans.
Since its inception, the perspective of Wabi-Sabi has emphasized on incorporating nature into a spatial expanse. By adding flowers and plants to the area, you bring the outside, inside. It promotes harmony and balance between the two dimensions because it allows a seamless transition from one medium to another.
Wooden furniture is holistic in many aspects, most importantly, for its sustainability. Of course, it also displays countless imperfections from the stain to the grain that moves in varying directions.
There’s a vast difference between things you want and the things that bring you tranquility and joy – it’s critical that you add more of the latter. Things that bring a sense of calm rather than restlessness, as well as serene designs, are encouraged.
From a Wabi-Sabi perspective, it’s important that we add décor and items that are added to space are made from natural materials. Reliance on natural materials indicates solidarity with nature.
To promote an aura that appreciates the journey of aging, a design aligning with Wabi-Sabi would feature earthy tones that simulate nature within a manmade space. Neutrals, along with gray tones, would work the best to radiate harmony and tranquility.
Natural light has the unique ability to boost mood and lift up emotions. Creating a space that features such a peaceful aesthetic would involve installing larger windows, so more light comes in.
Raw fabrics promote utility and practicality, as well as sustainability. So adding such fabrics allows the space to come together as a subtle and organized expanse.
Where most design ideologies call for intricate and delicate patterns printed to perfection, Wabi-Sabi doesn’t encourage it. Rather, it appreciates small-scale patterns like simplistic stripes.
Although these features do matter in creating such a design, designers need to understand themselves before they can fully live the experience.
Born in Puglia in Southern Italy, Interior Architect Marianna Piccolo’s sense of aesthetics was molded at an early age by the rural beauty, culture, folk music, art and architecture of her homeland.
