Wabi Sabi: More Than a Design Trend
Wabi Sabi is a way of life. This Japanese philosophy focuses on accepting things as they are and embracing history.
It’s about finding the beauty in ourselves and others while celebrating the richness of life and nature, reminding us that life is short but sweet.
As an empathetic person and Reiki practitioner, I have fallen in love with the imagery of Wabi Sabi design and, most importantly, the principles. Later this summer I’m launching a monthly journal titled, The Serene Life (how fitting is that title?). In it, I plan to not only share with you this beautiful, healing way of life and design principles but also ways in which you can incorporate more of the Casa Serenità lifestyle into your everyday.
What does Wabi Sabi mean? Flawed beauty is one way to simplify the term in interior design, but I love understanding the literal translations behind the words. Here’s what I mean: Wabi means simplicity, while Sabi translates to serenity. Simple serenity. How beautiful.
Principal 1: Kanso – emphasizes simplicity in life and décor, keeping things free from clutter and without complication. I believe in consistency, it calms me. By returning things to their designated places, I know where to find whatever I’m looking for. I also enjoy simple beauty, meaning I can enjoy the shadows and light cast upon a vase or vessel sitting atop a pedestal during the golden hour.
Principal 2: Funkinsei – emphasizes embracing asymmetry and imperfection in life and design. While I love symmetry in design and my paintings, I love to challenge myself to express a more artistic side, allowing things to take shape beyond the mirror image. Do you know what I mean by trying to find that perfect spot to place your object in a way that balances the entire tablescape perfectly?
Principal 3: Shibumi – emphasizes beauty in the understated. I can see how this principle is applied in the Quiet Luxury trend, and it makes sense. This is where the aspects of each piece get to shine: texture, design, color, etc., take center stage without being ostentatious. The well-designed, well-made chair sits in the corner beside a beautifully placed table or plant—that’s Shibumi.
Principal 4: Shizen – emphasizes naturalness: seeking ways to incorporate more natural materials in our home. For example, bringing the outside in, what and how we eat, and the products we use in our home.
Principal 5: Yugen – emphasizing the love and appreciation of subtle grace and beauty in the world. All these principals go hand in hand, but Principals 5 and 6 are intertwined. In appreciating beauty in the world, we are grounded in the moment.
Principal 6: Datsuzoku – emphasizing freedom from habits that distract us from here and now. I think of the importance of lighting, more specifically candlelight, in the home. Something about fire captures our attention and brings us into the present moment. I also feel this way about emphasizing a beautiful view from inside the house and a place to sit and enjoy it. These humble things bring us back to the simple beauty of life.
Principal 7: Seijaku – emphasizes tranquility and creating a serene living space. I think this speaks for itself! This is also the primary focus of Casa Serenità Interiors and what I hope to bring to you and your home.
Interior design is a personal experience; through it, we have an incredible opportunity to create a source of inspiration and a way of life. Whether we realize it or not, each object in our home and each design choice carries energy and frequency into our home. I find this so beautiful about the Wabi Sabi lifestyle and interior design aesthetic.
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In our country cottage, we decided to embrace the scratched up floors. My artwork on the walls also embraces this kind of philosophy of time, of age, of decay, and flawed beauty. To me, the most beautiful people embrace their flaws and find the beauty in what makes them unique. When I turned 50, I was presented with ideas and questions about how I would age. Will I go with fillers and Botox or embrace the natural changes in my skin? With a passion for natural skincare, I suppose it makes sense that I would decide to go my own way. (Don’t I always, anyway lol?)
