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Home Decor

How to Create a Wabi-sabi Home

4 min read

Home decor trends come and go, but some are more of a philosophy than a trend. 

A great example: wabi-sabi. Bridging the gap between minimalism and maximalism, wabi-sabi encourages you to create a relaxing home, without worrying about perfection.

Let’s explore this style a little more.

What is “Wabi-sabi”?

Wabi-sabi is a traditional Japanese worldview that centers on learning to appreciate the imperfect and natural.

In home aesthetics, wabi-sabi design focuses on incorporating those imperfect, organic, authentic elements into your home. The end result is a living space that feels tranquil and true to your style.

Wabi-sabi Interior Design Tips

Letting go of the perfect isn’t as easy as it sounds, so we’re here to help. Try these tips and tricks to bring wabi-sabi to your home.

1. Declutter and Organize

While wabi-sabi isn’t the same as minimalism, a big element of a wabi-sabi home is order and organization. A great way to start organizing? Decluttering. To get started, check out our guide to decluttering and organizing your home.

When you’re decluttering with the intent of creating a wabi-sabi style home, there’s no need to be ruthless with what you discard. Donate things you no longer need, use, or wear, but keep what makes you happy, even if it doesn’t perfectly match your aesthetic. After all, wabi-sabi is all about letting go of perfection!

organizing clothes in baskets

2. Ditch the Idea That Everything Should Match

For a long time, interior design “rules” said that the furniture in each room should match perfectly or your home would look disjointed. You’d buy your coffee table and end tables as a set or search for an accent chair that pairs with your sofa. 

Aesthetics like wabi-sabi throw that idea to the wayside. 

When aiming for a wabi-sabi home, choose what you like and what goes together rather than what matches perfectly. Try mixing natural materials like marble and wood and earth tone accents like terracotta, olive green, golden yellow, or deep jade in your home.

earthy living room

3. Choose Handmade Decor and Furniture

One of the best ways to get away from trying to get everything to match perfectly? Choosing handmade items for your home. There are few things more authentic and cozy looking than handmade or artisan home decor!

You can find handmade items on sites like Etsy, at local pop up markets, or local gift shops. If you have creative friends and family, you can even ask them if they’d be open to creating something for your home. And if you’re crafty, you might even make something for your own home!

boho living room with wall tapestries

4. Add Greenery

Organic materials are a big part of wabi-sabi interior design, and houseplants are the perfect way to incorporate more of the organic world into your home. Whether you have a green thumb or you need something low-maintenance, you can find the perfect plant for your home and your lifestyle.

peace lily

5. Embrace the Imperfect

In addition to opting for mismatched furniture and decor, wabi-sabi encourages you to embrace the imperfect in all aspects of your home. Think of the things that give your home character like worn wood floors or wrinkled linens. As long as things are clean and organized, there’s no need to worry about those little imperfections in a wabi-sabi home.

brightly decorated bedroom

6. Bring In Natural Light

Another great way to incorporate organic elements into your home is by bringing the outside in. In addition to plants, you can achieve this by incorporating more natural light into your home. We have some tips and tricks to help you maximize natural light, as well as some additional benefits of doing it. 

In line with a wabi-sabi lifestyle, expanded window space allows you to feel closer to the outdoors – no matter the weather. If you’re looking to upgrade your windows to allow for more natural light, opt for sliding windows, bay and bow, or classic double hung windows.

White windows in elegant, modern kitchen

Create a Comfortable Home With Window World of Denver

With increased energy efficiency and a beautiful appearance, our windows and doors make your home more comfortable year round. If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s windows or doors, make Window World your first choice. Get started by requesting your free consultation today!

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