Wabi-sabi is everything that today’s sleek, mass-produced, technology-saturated culture isn’t.
What is wabi-sabi?
Wabi-sabi in the home
negative space. Each piece should be allowed to breathe.
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that has been around since the 15th century. It came about as a reaction to the prevailing trend at the time which relied on over-ornamentation, lavishness, and the use of rich and rare materials. It was a deliberate return to basics. “Wabi” refers to rustic simplicity, natural elements, and a less- is-more mentality. “Sabi” celebrates the beauty that comes with age. Wabi-sabi is everything that today’s sleek, mass-produced, technology- saturated culture isn’t. It’s flea markets, not shopping malls; aged wood, not laminate tiles; a single twig, not a dozen roses. Wabi-sabi understands the raw beauty of a dilapidated shed and the whispered elegance of a rusty nail. It celebrates cracks and frayed edges, rot and rust, and all the other marks that time and weather and use leave behind. Wabi-sabi is about acceptance and an appreciation of the process of time and its effects on nature and the material world that surrounds us. Through wabi- sabi we learn to celebrate, not conceal imperfections. What could be more liberating?
Bringing wabi-sabi into your life doesn’t require money, training, or special skills. It simply requires a willingness to accept things as they are- without ornamentation. It is a low-maintenance aesthetic characterized by asymmetry, roughness, irregularity, simplicity, economy, and an overall appreciation of nature. Having said that, there are a few essential principles to keep in mind when styling a wabi-sabi inspired home.
Embrace imperfections
Above all else, wabi-sabi celebrates the imperfect beauty of nature, with all its natural flaws and blemishes. When embracing the wabi-sabi approach to your home, you can finally ditch the endless pursuit of the perfect vignette or the shiniest object. Let go and learn to live with and adore the cracked vase, the weathered beam, and the faded linens.
Go organic
Wabi-sabi is about connecting to the earth so it’s important to include natural materials in your design scheme. Think hand-crafted pottery, wrinkled linen sheets, patinated woods and metals, branches and stone. The colour palette should reflect earth tones like brown, gray, green and rust.
Darrell Mahoney is an interior decorator and the owner of Minotaur Home Décor, eclectic home decor. Located at 10 Prince Street in downtown Charlottetown (across
Keep it simple
from Founders Hall on the corner of Water Street and Prince Street). This is a must-see oasis for the inspired homeowner.
Simplicity is key. Wabi-sabi interiors are about pared down layouts where the functional items are the focal points. Build the room around the furniture and be sure to leave plenty of
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SUMMER 2018 www.pei-living.ca
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