Wabi sabi is a Japanese idea: things that are simple, natural and worn by use are beautiful too. Bringing it home doesn't take a renovation or new furniture. It takes removing things, choosing materials you want to touch and letting the light do the rest.
Here are seven small changes, each under €50, that you'll notice the same day you make them.
Idea 01 / 07
Leave one object on each surface
The first change is free: take things away. Clear the hallway console, the coffee table and the kitchen counter, then put back only what you use every day. What stays needs its own place. A low bowl by the door catches keys and wallet and turns clutter into a habit.
The piece
Barca walnut bowl, 16 cm of solid wood with a rounded rim.
Idea 02 / 07
One branch instead of a bouquet
Wabi sabi prefers a single branch to a full bouquet. Find olive, eucalyptus or a dry stem from a walk or the florist, and put it in a narrow-necked vase so it stands on its own. It lasts for weeks and changes over time, which is the point.
The piece
Esbel vase, with a 1.7 cm mouth made for one or two stems.
Idea 03 / 07
Unvarnished wood on the table
Unvarnished wood darkens with hands and years. A tray on the coffee or breakfast table gathers what sits there (coffee, fruit, a book) and adds warmth without filling the room.
The piece
Folha tray, a leaf of solid wood with no wax or paint, whose stem works as a handle.
Idea 04 / 07
Natural fibre for what you don't want to see
Blankets, towels, chargers, toys: in a calm home they don't disappear, they're kept in sight in something good-looking. Seagrass takes daily use, works in any room, and every basket is slightly different.
The pieces
The Junca rectangular basket for shelves and counters, or the Bolma basket for blankets and plants.
Idea 05 / 07
Low light in the evening
Switch off the ceiling light after eight and keep a low lamp and a couple of candles. Beeswax burns slowly and smells faintly of honey with no added scent. To go one step further, a stick of sandalwood incense marks the end of the day.
The pieces
Idea 06 / 07
Plants in textured pots
A small plant brings life, and the pot matters as much as the plant. Look for surfaces that look like stone, wood or clay, not shiny plastic. A succulent or a small bonsai needs very little care.
The piece
The Troka planter, cement that looks like old wood; or the Azura glazed pots for a touch of colour.
Idea 07 / 07
Textiles that crease
Linen and cotton gauze crease the moment you use them, and that's their charm: no ironing. Swap paper napkins for cloth ones and the table already looks different.
The piece
The Gasa napkin, double-gauze cotton with a frayed edge.
Watch out
Three mistakes that spoil it
Buying everything in one colour. An all-beige home looks flat. Mix tones of wood, stone and clay with one black or charcoal piece for contrast.
Filling every gap. Empty space is part of the decor. If a shelf holds five objects, remove two and you'll see the rest better.
Chasing perfection. A creased napkin, a crooked branch or a basket that doesn't match the other one aren't flaws: they're the idea. The goal is calm, not a catalogue.
To finish
Where to start
Start with the first change, which costs nothing, and add one piece at a time. Wabi sabi isn't bought all at once: it builds up, and the house feels calmer with every thing you take away.
Every piece in this guide ships free.
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