What is wabi-sabi?

Simply put, wabi-sabi is the marriage of the Japanese wabi, meaning humble, and sabi, which connotes beauty in the natural progression of time. Together, the phrase invites us to set aside our pursuit of perfection and learn to appreciate the simple, unaffected beauty of things as they are. Wabi-sabi can be found in the deep cracks of a weathering pine table. It is flea markets, wildflowers, and cobblestones. Intimately tied to Zen Buddhism, wabi-sabi is an aesthetic that welcomes comfort and a subtle spiritual component into the home. It is not a decorating style, per se, but a mind-set. To create a true wabi-sabi environment, one must slowly strip away excess and learn to be satisfied living in the moment.

The Wabi-Sabi House recounts the rich history of this emerging trend in home design and reveals countless ways to introduce wabi-sabi elements into contemporary living spaces, including tips for gracefully decorating with salvaged materials and vintage furnishings, advice on how to rediscover the lost joy of hand-crafting household items (or supporting artisans who do), and simple solutions for clearing clutter and blocking noise (even with a spouse, kids, and no closet space).

But The Wabi-Sabi House is so much more than a handbook for interior design. With heart and a sense of humor, author Robyn Griggs Lawrence gently reminds us that there is a life in lifestyle books, and she encourages people from all walks of life to slow down and recognize beauty in what may seem ordinary.

Intimate, authoritative, and truly inspirational, The Wabi-Sabi House lays the foundation for transforming any home into a nurturing retreat from a hectic world.

"Wabi-sabi, the 'Japanese art of appreciating the imperfect, the primitive, the incomplete,' may be the next big thing in home design and decoration. Although on the surface it may sound like the popular 'French country' or 'shabby chic' aesthetics, it's 'much more' than that, says Lawrence, editor-in-chief of Natural Home. Wabi-sabi asks that we 'set aside our judgements and our longing for perfection,' and concentrate instead on 'the beauty of things as they are.' In a book that's as much about uncluttering and digging through flea market castoffs as it is about 'quieting' one's home and abandoning the urge for 'the perfect home,' the author guides readers through the process of creating a home that embraces elements of wabi-sabi. The result is a friendly, gentle book with advice on, for example, keeping a quiet home by purchasing a white noise generator or using sound-absorbing materials (like rustic burlap drapes instead of velvet ones) and unleashing creativity through housekeeping by making use of simple, everyday ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon. Refreshing and comforting, Lawrence's book teaches us how to tune out the often chaotic outside world and come home to simplicity and beauty." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic style set to become the next "big thing" in home design. The author reveals the Japanese way of introducing weathered, handmade elements and salvaged materials into living spaces.