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 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.

As the editor in chief of Natural Home, a magazine that helps readers create healthy, serene abodes and lifestyles, Robyn Griggs Lawrence spends a lot of time in homes that reflect the art of nurturing. She’s crossed the country to write about and direct photo shoots of beautiful residences, studied several ancient design traditions, and tapped deeply into a burgeoning network of builders, designers, and artists who understand that optimum mental and physical health begins in the home. And after all that, her own home still isn’t perfect. Robyn lives in a very wabi-sabi house in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two children.