12 Wabi-Sabi Interior Design Ideas You Can Build Today! (with Pictures)

Some people feel like they need to overdesign everything or spend a ton of money and time getting a room to look a certain way. That’s not what Wabi-Sabi is about.

Wabi-Sabi is about finding beauty in everyday things. But while that’s the general gist, that doesn’t mean you have to rely on other people to see the appeal of your décor. Wabi-Sabi is still a specific design style, and it’s up to you to use it in a way that creates beauty in your house.

This guide highlights 13 different Wabi-Sabi interior ideas, using everyday objects.

The 13 Wabi-Sabi Interior Design Ideas:

1. Use It Intentionally

While Wabi-Sabi is all about highlighting the imperfections, that doesn’t mean you can just leave everything alone and hope for the best. It still needs to be aesthetically pleasing, which means taking your environment and ensuring that it fits the Wabi-Sabi style.

You need to find the parts of the décor that emit beauty even if they aren’t perfect and emphasize those pieces. Wabi-Sabi isn’t an accidental décor style; it’s about the choices that you highlight when you’re using it.

2. Make It Your Own

There’s no one “right” way to highlight Wabi-Sabi in your décor, so don’t try to copy every element of someone else’s idea for your home. Instead, look at the ideas that we’re highlighting here, and find a way to put your own spin on them. This is how to truly master a Wabi-Sabi interior.

3. Cozy Things Up

Finding the beauty in everyday things means making things feel like they’re everyday things! This means it shouldn’t look like you’ve never slept in your bed, and it shouldn’t look like your dining room table and living room couch are just décor pieces.

Things should look nice, but it should feel like you actually use them. Give everything a lived-in appearance, and you’re well on your way to a Wabi-Sabi interior.

4. Don’t Worry About Perfection

While a Wabi-Sabi interior should be intentional and well thought out, that doesn’t mean you need to have everything perfect all the time. The great thing about Wabi-Sabi is that to truly master the style, you must embrace the imperfections in things, whether it’s where something is sitting or if a piece of your décor isn’t perfect.

5. Add Natural Elements

Natural elements fit into just about every interior design style, and Wabi-Sabi is no different. Things should have a transient appearance, so having natural elements near doors or windows is a great way to transition from the outdoors to the interior.

6. Simplify Things

Wabi-Sabi is all about enjoying the everyday things in life, so you don’t need to head out and spend a ton of money on a signature piece for your décor. Instead, try to highlight something that you already have, take out the extra elements that you don’t need, and simplify everything.

You don’t need to fill every nook and cranny; rather, ensure that the room has space to breathe and everything in the room has some sort of purpose in everyday life.

7. Use All Your Senses

When we think about interior design, we typically think about what we can see. Wabi-Sabi goes beyond that. Use all your senses when you’re setting up the room. Add elements that you can touch, smell, and even hear, and you’ll master a Wabi-Sabi interior in no time.

8. Reuse Aging Décor

Just because something is getting older doesn’t mean it’s time to replace it! Plenty of household décor items look better with age, and choosing to highlight these pieces instead of hiding them is a great way to use Wabi-Sabi in your interior décor.

Don’t get rid of older items — move them around, highlight them, and keep using them!

9. Recycle Décor

Just because something doesn’t work the way that it originally did or for its original purpose, that doesn’t mean it’s time to get rid of it. Sometimes, an older object is great for being repurposed into something else entirely. Think of new ways to use old things, and a Wabi-Sabi interior will start to emerge.

10. Use a Color Scheme

Even with a Wabi-Sabi interior, things need to flow and fit together. One of the best ways to do this is with a coordinated color scheme. In fact, without that, you’ll never capture a true Wabi-Sabi interior.

Keep the colors simple and neutral, though, so you’re not overpowering the room with a modernistic vibe when you’re trying to go for the simpler Wabi-Sabi design.

11. Washed Linens

While few things fit into every Wabi-Sabi interior, one is to reuse washed linens. You can use them as tablecloths, placemats, coverings, etc. It’s a simple design that’s extremely versatile and matches the intent of Wabi-Sabi.

12. Enjoy and Highlight Your Routine

Wabi-Sabi isn’t about hiding the everyday parts of your life. It’s about embracing them and finding the everyday beauty that they have. So, don’t try to hide your morning coffee supplies; instead, highlight them in the décor.

Do the same thing with your morning reading materials, occasional hobbies, or whatever else you do in the room that you’re decorating.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about Wabi-Sabi and the different interior designs that you can use to incorporate it into your décor, it’s up to you to put your own spin on it and try it out for yourself.

When you do it right, it’s a great way to incorporate beauty into your home without spending a ton of money or trying to maintain a room in a way that you would never use it in real life.

See Also: 

• 15 Japan Interior Design Ideas (with Pictures)
• 17 Art Nouveau Interior Design Ideas (with Pictures For Inspiration)

Featured Image Credit: Followtheflow, Shutterstock