Back to the basics

An interior design trend from Japan has found its way into German living rooms: wabi-sabi.  Its message: Clear out your clutter and focus on the essentials! This will bring more harmony and clarity into your home. The philosophy behind wabi-sabi is deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism, placing great value on authenticity, naturalness and sustainability. Light wood, wool and felt are the materials typical of this Far Eastern living style. Furniture and other everyday utensils are allowed to age and show small flaws or signs of use. This is why a natural wood floor, complete with knotholes or a vibrant grain, goes perfectly with the wabi-sabi concept. Also the building materials used for installation should be sustainable and healthy for the residents. They can be easily recognized by the EMICODE® quality seal.

Wabi-sabi is a centuries-old Japanese concept of aesthetics, closely associated with Zen Buddhism. At the heart of it is the appreciation of beauty found in imperfect, transient and incomplete things. There is no place for extravagance and playful decorative items. Followers of wabi-sabi limit their home furnishings to things that are really close to their hearts: unique items made of organic or natural materials, preferably handmade. This can be a piece of furniture handed down from your grandparents or your own pottery vase.

In its simplicity and straightforwardness, the new trend from the Far East is very similar to our purism and minimalism. But wabi-sabi style doesn’t have to be cold and uncomfortable. Thanks to natural and subtle colors, it also brings a certain warmth and comfort into our homes. The preferred colors are cream, beige, grey, as well as muted shades of green, blue and pastel colors. Large windows and glass doors allow plenty of light to stream into the rooms. Natural materials such as wood, wool, linen and bamboo are also important ingredients of wabi-sabi style living.

Nevertheless, the interior design doesn’t need to be perfect. Furniture is allowed to have a certain patina, your favorite cup may be a little chipped, and the wear marks on the leather sofa simply belong. In other words: It’s not appearance that counts according to the principles of wabi-sabi, but authenticity. In addition, the objects used inside our homes should be as durable as possible. The philosophy from the Land of the Rising Sun thus stands for the exact opposite of our soulless consumerist and throwaway society.