The concept of wabi-sabi has characterised Japanese culture for centuries. Applied to modern wall design, wabi-sabi creates interiors that fit perfectly with the idea of slow living and the trend towards greater mindfulness. In this article we feature a selection of wallpapers by Scandinavian wallpaper manufacturer Sandberg, with patterns that follow the principle of wabi-sabi.
The Wabi Sabi Principle
Wabi-sabi celebrates the beauty of simplicity and finds elegance even in the imperfect. Interior design inspired by wabi-sabi principles thus reinterprets the idea of luxury in interior design: the focus does not lie on perfectly coordinated elements. Rather, it is all about being in harmony with the lives of the people who live there.
Scandinavian Wabi-Sabi
For the wallpapers of the Nippon collection, the design team of Sandberg has followed the ideas of wabi-aabi. The results are patterns that bring body and mind to rest with their clear, unagitated aesthetics. Walls designed with these patterns provide a break from the hectic pace of everyday life. In this collection, Sandberg skilfully combines Scandinavian restraint with Far Eastern design principles: The Kenrokuen wallpaper, for example, displays Japanese landscape paintings in subtle colours. In the Pine design, the lighter colours deliberately take a step back in the room. The Wabi Sabi mural relies on the refined simplicity of a Japanese Haikou poem: the calm motif consists of a simple circle representing a full moon and a just a few branches, nothing more.
Wabi-Sabi Colour Shades
Typical for walls designed according to the wabi-sabi principle are calm earthy colours, fine shades of grey, off-white and muted shades of green and blue. They all bring warmth to your interior and create the impression of a larger room.When we are asked for recommendations for wabi-sabi colour concepts, we like to rely on the well thought-out palettes of our British paint brands such as Little Greene, Farrow & Ball or Designers Guild.
Wallpaper: Pine
Reduced to the Essence
Another important design principle of wabi-sabi is to reduce the elements used in a room to the most essential. This allows the wallpaper to become the main design idea. The wallpaper can be complemented by the deliberate use of natural materials such as wood, ceramics and linen fabrics. However, wabi-sabi is not about cool minimalism - accessories and furniture may and should have a soul that makes the room radiate a sense of cosiness.
Timeless appeal
The decision for a wall design with high-quality wallpapers in wabi-sabi style is a commitment to sustainability. This is because the timeless look of the design makes sure that the aesthetics of your room will remain valid for many years to come.
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Picture Source: Sandberg