Newest housekeeping trend from Japan—finding beauty in imperfection
Sleek, sparse minimal interiors might photograph well, but they can also be a pain to keep tidy in real life. After all, messiness is an inevitable part of everyday life, and our homes should be inviting and encourage play—not instill fear at the thought of a spill. If you’ve never quite been able to get on board with the paredback, minimal homes that have dominated Pinterest for the last few years, Etsy’s in-house trend forecaster Dayna Isom Johnson says the No. 1 trend for 2018 is made for you. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese worldview that celebrates imperfection, and Johnson says it’ll be big in the home decor space.
“No matter your personal style, there is one key factor to nailing this trend for your home design: Find the beauty in the not-so-perfect,” she tells Elle Decor.
“Accepting the idea that your home does not have to be showroom-ready is all it takes. Keep it real, be authentic, and be happy that for once you don’t have to make your bed to be cool.” Now that’s a trend we can get behind.
Try these simple, achievable decorating tips to embrace wabi-sabi at home:
1. Handmade pottery: Search for decorative accents like vases and trays with organic lines and imperfections.
2. Style in odd numbers: Avoid symmetry at home, and style accessories in odd numbers.
3. Layer linen sheets: Good news for people who hate ironing sheets—wabi-sabi celebrates an undone, lived-in look. Opt for soft, wrinkled linen sheets over pressed percale sheets.