Have you heard about a Japanese philosophy named Wabi-Sabi? It is the way of thinking about finding beauty in imperfections. Now, it can be applied to interior design.
When it comes to home design, wabi Sabi is focused on adopting a peaceful and authentic sense at home. The natural elements are part of this design concept.
Beside that, by adding your personal touches and some vintage items, it will help you to create this interior design for your sanctuary.
If you ever check wabi sabi interior design on Pinterest, you will find intentional feeling and romanticizing vibes everyday at home. Let’s explore it for your design inspiration.
What is Wabi-Sabi Interior Design?
According to The spruce, wabi Sabi is a tea ceremony popularized by Sen no Rikyu. He is a tea master in history.
When we break it into two words, Wabi means simplicity and humility that refers to nature at home. While Sabi is a way to accept a life cycle.
So in the interior design, this concept is to create an intentional feeling at home, with place and purpose of everything in there.
It also implements the Wabi-Sabi principles like, adding natural elements, using earthy tone, textures, and some handcrafted items.
So, beside the Japandi style, which is also inspired from Japanese culture, you can implement Wabi-Sabi design as your interior design which will add value and character for your home.
Key Characteristic Wabi-Sabi Interior Design
How to create simplicity, natural, but imperfection that resonates with this home design? You have to know about key characteristics for Wabi-Sabi design.
You can incorporate the natural elements like plants, use some neutral color tone, and pieces of decor based on your personality. Taken from foyr, here are the detailed about:
Natural elements
Yes, house plants are a natural element for this design. This is about greenery that makes your home feel cozy and peaceful.
Beside that, you also can use a wooden table as natural and raw materials. These can create a Minimalism with real nature.
Be Intentional
The Wabi-Sabi Interior design must make you feel intentional, when you are at home. So, it is about transforming your home aesthetic, so you can easily choose specific interior decor for it.
Add Personal Touches
Wabi-Sabi Interior design doesn’t need much modern home decor that is glossy and new. It just needs an aesthetic design that personalizes you.
For example, you can check on wabi-sabi interior design on Pinterest, many home -used wabi-sabi wall art, some artwork, and striking statement vases.
Tidy your Bed
As a key characteristic, making your room tidy is related to wabi-sabi principles. This means you respect your daily task and try to discipline.
So, this home design is n’t always about a tidy and perfect bed, but about encouraging you to make an imperfectly made bed daily.
Keep Cozy
Your home is your place to stay that should be cozy, warm, and comfortable for Yourself. Avoid all mess up things and clutter the interior you don’t need.
For example, just adding some pillows and a blanket to your living room. This is a simple way to make you comfortable and warm.
Use Washed Linen
To keep Japanese design tradition through Wabi-Sabi interior design, linens are considered as a beautiful fabric and richness to make your room comfortable.
It helps you to make your home “live in”. Linens also look natural, aesthetic, and make everyone see it feel relaxed.
Incorporate your Antique Collection
Some vintage decorations and antiques are related to wabi-sabi principles. When, these items mean to get better with age.
It can be anything as your room decoration. It might be a vintage large mirror in your living room, or a statement piece of art as your room focal point.
Color Scheme
Don’t forget about the color scheme, even though the Wabi-Sabi interior design shows nature and raw elements, it doesn’t mean without color scheme.
Like we said in the first paragraph, Wabi-Sabi incorporates earthy tones to show vibrant and bright colors.
If you are still confused about the colors, try these inviting earthy tone colors such as browns, muted greens, cream, orange, white, black, and beiges.
You also can add some textures and accents on the wall to feel more nature. It is also part of the wabi-sabi character in the interior design.
Practice Sustainability
It is not Wabi-Sabi, if you are not practically sustainable around your home. You can start with reusing broken projects as your room decoration.
For example, you can put some finished glass jar of olives as a beautiful flower vase. Even just a broken tea pot, it doesn’t matter, because we want to embrace the imperfections.
Bring Wabi-Sabi in Your Daily
To be more Wabi-Sabi at home, not only for the design, you can start to find joy and beauty in your daily life. This is like what you might see on social media, morning Coffee or tea.
For those who are book lovers, stay in your room while reading a book. These are just daily tasks, but with the set of Wabi-Sabi interior design, it can be so memorable.
Wabi Sabi Design Inspiration for Bedroom and Living Room
I have two examples of wabi-sabi style for bedroom and living room that look amazing for your home design inspiration, taken from jennings.
Please tell me in the comment below, how do you feel while seeing these pictures? If you feel more intentional, warm, and cozy, that is Wabi Sabi interior design. Let’s take a look:


Embrace Imperfections to Your Home
Wabi-sabi interior design is an alternative home design that is inspired from Japanese philosophy. This is linked with Japandi style, but has a different purpose of design.
Wabi sabi is more focused aesthetically on imperfections, while Japandi style must look perfect and modern.
This interior design wants to bring your home into a place that is comfortable, cozy, and mindful. So, you can balance between the design, color scheme, and also the decorations.
Find more about interior and exterior design for your inspiration in 2026, only at mudahome.com. See you in the next article.