A Modern Introduction to Wabi Sabi: the Art of Imperfection
- elomoutier
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
I recently read the book by Nobuo Suzuki titled « Wabi Sabi: the Wisdom in imperfection ». Not only did it perfectly reflect a perspective that I was starting to connect with more and more, but it allowed me to go deeper on this very fascinating subject: embracing imperfection.
In our fast paced world, we are used to chasing perfection in everything and everyone, be it in our career, dating life, environment or even in the objects we purchase. Wabi Sabi, on the other hand, invites us to slow down, observe our surroundings and ourselves through a completely different lens and teaches us how to appreciate imperfection.
Take a moment to pause, slow down, breathe and read on.
What is Wabi-Sabi?
Wabi Sabi first emerged in the Arts, particularly in Japanese tea ceremony culture around the 15th century.
From there, it spread to poetry, painting, pottery and architecture. In Art, Wabi Sabi favors and values humble spaces, pieces of irregular forms and shapes, as well as asymmetry and minimalism.
Inspired by the cycles and impermanence of nature, Wabi Sabi went beyond the aesthetics and developed as a philosophical approach to life, a way of seeing the world and appreciating the imperfect and impermanent.
Wabi Sabi is composed of two Japanese words which, together, express this humble philosophy.
Wabi refers to a kind of simple, rustic beauty — the charm of things modest, humble, and unpretentious.
Sabi relates more to the passage of time — the beauty of aging, wear, and the patina that comes with it.
If wabi-sabi could be materially represented as a handmade ceramic bowl with a crack or a broken vase repaired in Kintsugi style, it speaks to our ability to accept and embrace imperfection as a way of life.
Wabi-Sabi as a way of life
As it slowly developed into a lifestyle, wabi-sabi is a very calming and grounding way to experience our existence.
It encourages a shift in how we see ourselves, our homes, our relationships, even time itself. It's not just an aesthetic — it's a mindset.
Here are some core ideas behind living with wabi-sabi:
Embrace imperfection
As an uneven ceramic bowl has much more value than a perfect one in wabi-sabi Art, our own cracks and imperfections are also what make us authentic and unique.
Instead of stressing ourselves to show up as flawless, wabi-sabi encourages us to let go of perfectionism and strive for genuineness.
Accepting our own shortcomings with grace will also allow us to accept them in other people, thus relieving the pressure we constantly put on ourselves and our entourage.
2. Appreciate impermanence
As wabi-sabi is strongly influenced by nature, it teaches us to welcome the ephemerality of life. Everything is always changing — seasons, emotions, relationships, bodies.
Instead of resisting this natural evolution, wabi-sabi wisdom invites us to flow with it and find beauty in transience.
3. Simple & Mindful living
As we saw earlier, the word « wabi » refers to simple, humble beauty. It is not about having nothing, but about choosing intentionally. It is about finding peace in simplicity — not the starkness of minimalism, but the warmth of just enough.
One of the key principles of wabi-sabi is to declutter your space and keep only what feels soulful, what truly excites and ignites you.
4. Connection to nature
Wabi-sabi is inextricably linked to nature, whether in art or in its philosophy.
Everything, from observing the changing seasons, to tending to the garden or walking in the forest is wabi-sabi.
Our connection to nature is what helps us be present and reminds us that everything is passing, making every moment unique and beautiful.
5. Presence over perfection
In a world that often pushes speed and success, wabi-sabi says: Pause. Breathe. Be here now. It helps soften ambition with acceptance.
Living wabi-sabi can feel like giving yourself permission to slow down, mess up, and still be enough. Kind of a quiet rebellion against the pressure to be shiny and perfect all the time.
How to apply Wabi-Sabi to our modern lives
If it is easy to see how wabi-sabi can be found in Art and aesthetics, it can feel a bit more difficult to concretely apply it to our daily life.
I have listed below a few ways to easily integrate wabi-sabi practices into our modern lives:
🧺 In Your Home
Choose materials that age well: Wood that weathers, linen that softens, pottery that shows use. Let things patina.
Let go of “perfect” décor: Display cracked bowls, handmade art, or mismatched plates. The story matters more than the style.
Highlight natural light and shadow: Use soft lighting, candles, or just open the blinds and enjoy the moodiness of a cloudy day.
Incorporate nature: Add branches, stones, dried flowers, or even moss into your space. They remind us everything changes.
🧘♀️ In Your Mindset
Reframe flaws as features: A wrinkle, a scar, a shortcoming — wabi-sabi invites you to see them as evidence of living fully.
Slow down: Build pauses into your day — not as a reward, but as a rhythm. A quiet tea, a phone-free walk, sitting in silence.
Embrace “good enough”: Done is better than perfect. Life isn’t always polished — and that’s okay.
🪴 In Daily Routines
Make rituals out of simple tasks: Washing dishes slowly, writing by hand, making your morning tea or coffee like a ceremony.
Wear your favorite, well-worn clothes and repair your broken objects: The ones that feel like home. Let go of “new = better.”
Cook simply: Seasonal, local, unfussy. A bowl of rice and miso soup. Roasted veggies. A plate of raw fruits.
💬 In Relationships
Be real, not ideal: Let people see the messy, vulnerable you. That’s where connection happens.
Accept others as they are: Not trying to “fix” or “optimize” them — just holding space.
Value presence over presentation: A quiet evening together, imperfect but heartfelt, can mean more than a picture-perfect plan.
💻 In Work & Creativity
Leave room for imperfection: Don’t over-polish. Let your writing, design, or art breathe a little — some roughness adds soul.
Take breaks from tech: Go analog. Journal, draw, read a book. Let silence return.
Create with the materials you have: Don’t wait for the “perfect tools” — wabi-sabi loves the humble and immediate.
Value trying several times over waiting to do everything perfectly: You will learn faster this way and get over your fear of « failing »
🌙 In Your View of Time
Accept seasons and cycles: Energy rises and falls. Creativity comes and goes. Everything blooms, fades, and returns again.
Honor aging: Not as decline, but as depth. The older we get, the more wabi-sabi we become — layered with stories, softened by time.
Ultimately, wabi-sabi is an invitation to be here, now, as you are — no filters, no rushing, no need to be more than human.
If we all have been shaped and taught to be perfect, it takes time to understand that our imperfections are actually what makes us beautiful and unique. Slowly, through time and practice, we can start reconnecting with our true selves, the raw, authentic versions of who we are.
Enjoy every messy part, every bump in the road, every quirk, try to find beauty in it, and most of all, don’t beat yourself up for just being who you are.