Wabi-Sabi Interior Design Style

This glossary article explores the Wabi-Sabi interior design style, a Japanese aesthetic that embraces imperfection, simplicity, and natural materials. Learn its core principles, benefits, and practical tips to incorporate this calming and authentic design philosophy into your home or workspace.

Wabi-Sabi Interior Design Style

Have you ever walked into a space that feels effortlessly calming, timeless, and deeply connected to nature? That’s the magic of Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese design philosophy that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the natural cycle of life. Unlike modern design trends that chase perfection and newness, Wabi-Sabi finds beauty in the worn, the weathered, and the imperfect. It’s about creating spaces that feel authentic, humble, and deeply human.

Wabi-Sabi is more than just a design style—it’s a way of life. Rooted in Zen Buddhism, this philosophy encourages mindfulness, simplicity, and a deep appreciation for the transient nature of existence. In interior design, it translates into spaces that are unpretentious, functional, and deeply connected to nature. Think natural materials, muted colors, and a sense of quiet elegance.

This article will delve into the principles of Wabi-Sabi, its benefits, and practical tips for incorporating this timeless style into your home or workspace. Whether you’re a design enthusiast or someone looking to create a more serene and meaningful environment, Wabi-Sabi offers a refreshing perspective.

The Principles of Wabi-Sabi Design

Wabi-Sabi is built on a few key principles that guide its aesthetic and philosophy:

  1. Embracing Imperfection
    In a world obsessed with perfection, Wabi-Sabi teaches us to find beauty in flaws. Cracked pottery, weathered wood, and uneven textures are not just accepted—they’re celebrated. These imperfections tell a story and add character to a space.

  2. Simplicity and Minimalism
    Less is more in Wabi-Sabi design. The focus is on decluttering and creating a space that feels calm and uncluttered. Every object in the room should have a purpose and bring joy.

  3. Natural Materials
    Wabi-Sabi emphasizes the use of natural, organic materials like wood, stone, linen, and clay. These materials age gracefully and develop a unique patina over time, adding depth and authenticity to the space.

  4. Muted and Earthy Colors
    The color palette in Wabi-Sabi design is inspired by nature. Think soft neutrals, earthy tones, and muted shades of beige, gray, brown, and green. These colors create a serene and grounding atmosphere.

  5. Connection to Nature
    Wabi-Sabi design blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. Incorporating elements like plants, natural light, and raw materials helps create a space that feels connected to the natural world.

Benefits of Wabi-Sabi Interior Design

Why should you consider incorporating Wabi-Sabi into your home or workspace? Here are some compelling benefits:

  1. Promotes Mindfulness and Well-Being
    The simplicity and calmness of Wabi-Sabi design encourage mindfulness and reduce stress. It’s a reminder to slow down and appreciate the present moment.

  2. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly
    By using natural and repurposed materials, Wabi-Sabi aligns with sustainable living. It’s a design style that values longevity and reduces waste.

  3. Timeless Aesthetic
    Unlike trends that come and go, Wabi-Sabi is timeless. Its focus on authenticity and natural beauty ensures that your space will never feel outdated.

  4. Encourages Authenticity
    Wabi-Sabi celebrates the unique and the imperfect, allowing you to create a space that truly reflects your personality and values.

How to Incorporate Wabi-Sabi into Your Space

Ready to bring the Wabi-Sabi vibe into your home or workspace? Here are some practical tips:

  1. Declutter and Simplify
    Start by removing unnecessary items and focusing on what’s essential. Keep only the objects that bring you joy or serve a purpose.

  2. Choose Natural Materials
    Opt for furniture and décor made from wood, stone, linen, and clay. These materials age beautifully and add a warm, earthy feel to your space.

  3. Embrace Imperfections
    Don’t shy away from imperfections. A chipped vase or a weathered wooden table can become the focal point of your room.

  4. Use a Muted Color Palette
    Stick to soft, natural tones like beige, gray, and green. These colors create a calming and cohesive atmosphere.

  5. Bring in Nature
    Incorporate plants, natural light, and raw materials to blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

  6. Focus on Craftsmanship
    Choose handcrafted items that showcase the skill and effort of the artisan. These pieces add a personal and authentic touch to your space.

Examples of Wabi-Sabi Design in Action

Here are a few examples of how Wabi-Sabi can be applied in different spaces:

  1. Living Room
    A cozy living room with a weathered wooden coffee table, a linen sofa, and a handmade ceramic vase. Add a few plants and soft, natural lighting for a calming ambiance.

  2. Bedroom
    A minimalist bedroom with a wooden bed frame, linen bedding, and a woven rug. Keep the décor simple and focus on creating a serene and restful environment.

  3. Workspace
    A workspace with a reclaimed wood desk, a handmade clay mug, and a small potted plant. The simplicity of the setup encourages focus and productivity.

Tips for Achieving the Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic

Here are some additional tips to help you master the Wabi-Sabi style:

  1. Start Small
    You don’t need to overhaul your entire space at once. Start by incorporating a few Wabi-Sabi elements and gradually build from there.

  2. Focus on Texture
    Mix and match different textures like wood, stone, and linen to add depth and interest to your space.

  3. Create a Sense of Age
    Look for furniture and décor that have a weathered or vintage feel. These pieces add character and tell a story.

  4. Incorporate Handmade Items
    Handmade items bring a sense of authenticity and craftsmanship to your space. Look for locally made or artisanal pieces.

Wabi-Sabi vs. Other Design Styles

How does Wabi-Sabi compare to other popular design styles? Here’s a quick comparison:

Design Style Key Characteristics Comparison to Wabi-Sabi
Minimalism Clean lines, neutral colors Wabi-Sabi adds warmth and natural textures
Scandinavian Light colors, functional furniture Wabi-Sabi embraces imperfections and natural materials
Bohemian Eclectic, colorful, layered Wabi-Sabi is more subdued and minimal

Final Thoughts

Wabi-Sabi interior design is more than just a trend—it’s a philosophy that encourages us to embrace imperfection, find beauty in simplicity, and connect with the natural world. By incorporating Wabi-Sabi principles into your space, you can create a home or workspace that feels authentic, calming, and deeply meaningful. So, take a step back, simplify, and let the beauty of Wabi-Sabi transform your environment.

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Emily Layton

Graphic Designer

Emily Layton is a graphic designer and creative with a BFA in Graphic Design & Digital Media with action sports emphasis from Laguna College of Art and Design. Adept at aligning brand goals across formats, market trends, and consumer behavior, she translates insights into compelling visual narratives. Her experience spans corporate decks, brand books, and apparel collections—ensuring brand consistency, clarity, and impact. She values strong creative collaboration and brings a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to every project.

Project Experience:

  • West Creative Agency, Costa Mesa, CA
  • Huntress Decor, San Diego, CA
  • La Jolla Group - O’Neill Irvine, CA
  • Gotcha Digital Design, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Veterinary Emergency Group Various Locations
  • Nostos Grocery Store Panama City, Panama
  • Tribute Hotel Nob Hill Albuquerque, NM

Priscilla Bueno

Interior Designer

Priscilla is a Cal State Long Beach alumna with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. She has worked across residential, hospitality, nonprofit, and wellness sectors, with a focus on creating spaces that support emotional well-being and human connection.

Influenced by her interest in psychology, Priscilla approaches design with a deep understanding of how physical environments impact how we feel, behave, and connect. Her work combines material sensitivity, spatial clarity, and user-centered thinking to foster environments that help people feel grounded and safe.

From luxury spas to trauma-informed nonprofit spaces, she designs with a clear goal: to shape interiors that invite presence, foster restoration, and create a true sense of belonging.

Project Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • Alexan Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Alexan Arcadia, Arcadia, CA
  • Babyletto, Los Angeles, CA
  • Cozy Earth, Newport, CA

Jen Khor

Senior Interior Designer

With a thoughtful and intuitive approach, Jen Khor brings strong expertise in hospitality design, as well as experience in retail, F&B, and corporate offices. Her user-centric, narrative-driven philosophy reflects local culture and context, creating spaces that feel relevant and resonant.

Jen has a deep understanding of hotel brand standards and leads quality control for custom casegoods with high attention to detail. Sensitive to client needs, she communicates ideas through tools like BIM, AI, and hand sketches. Jen is passionate about crafting spaces that evoke emotion, inspire curiosity, and foster inclusivity with lasting impact.

Project Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • DoubleTree Guestroom Prototype, Various Locations
  • Alexan Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Alexan Arcadia, Arcadia, CA
  • Wild Greens, University of Arkansas, AR
  • Joybird Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA

Melissa He

Senior Interior Designer

With years of experience in working on various project types, Melissa approaches each design as a new narrative, infusing storytelling, cultural context, and personality into every space. Educated in Fine Art in China and Interior Design at Cal State Long Beach, Melissa applies a detail-driven and research-based methodology to craft spaces that are both visually compelling and deeply resonant. Her approach reflects a belief that each project offers a chance to explore new voices and challenge convention, leading to designs that not only reflect individual identities but also support the broader community. She continues to evolve her design practice through collaboration, curiosity, and purpose, seeking to create spaces that adapt, grow, and inspire meaningful engagement.

Project Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • Alexan Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • DoubleTree Guestroom Prototype, Various Locations
  • Alexan Arcadia, Arcadia, CA
  • Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Wolf and Shepherd, Manhattan, NY

Chris Gorney

Director of Procurement

Chris is the Senior Director of Creative Sourcing and Procurement at DyeLot. A proven industry professional, he has worked with many of the world’s largest hospitality and development companies. He can speak to the entire lifecycle of design, development, and construction as well as contribute to the minutia of bespoke fabrication and production. Using an open-book and collaborative approach, Chris has the advantage of understanding the nuances of millwork, furnishing, and custom fabrication in order to reach a true-to-concept product. He brings with him more than a decade of experience working across multiple disciplines within the design industry.

Project Experience:

  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • Wayfarer Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
  • The Edwin, Chattanooga, TN
  • Downtown Marriott, Des Moines, IA
  • Lincolnshire Marriott, Lincolnshire, IL
  • Capitol District Marriott, Omaha, NE
  • The Ferrier, Temecula, CA
  • The Tin Building by Jean George, New York, NY

Mathew Vo

Senior Interior Designer

As a designer with a background in both architecture and interiors, Mathew brings a layered perspective to every project. Drawing on experience across diverse project types—from hospitality and food & beverage to sports and retail—he crafts spaces that balance performance, beauty, and emotional resonance. Inspired by his interest in theater and production design, Mathew focuses on creating immersive environments that take users on a curated journey. His command of design technology and documentation tools, including BIM, allows him to navigate complex projects while staying grounded in storytelling and purpose-driven design. Mathew continues to find inspiration in context, culture, and narrative—translating them into built environments that leave a lasting impact.

Project Experience:

  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Swing Set Productions, Long Beach, CA
  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT

Ava Javaheri

Senior Interior Designer

With roots in a family of entrepreneurs and artists, Ava’s passion for hospitality design was sparked early—surrounded by showrooms and inspired styling sessions in her family’s furniture store. Today at DyeLot Interiors, she channels that lifelong aesthetic instinct into creating immersive environments that elevate the guest experience. Ava approaches hospitality interiors as both a visual narrative and an emotional journey, blending function with atmosphere in spaces meant to inspire, delight, and linger in memory. Her creative process draws on everything from global travel and museum exploration to cinematic set design, all feeding her pursuit of detail-driven, unforgettable spaces where people feel genuinely transported.

Project Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • Hotel Maya, Long Beach, CA
  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • Swing Set Productions, Long Beach, CA
  • Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Chaya Juntara

Procurement Specialist

As a key member of DyeLot Interiors, Chaya is dedicated to collaborating with clients and vendors to deliver an exceptional experience marked by reliability, accountability, and integrity. Her primary focus is executing each project vision on time, ensuring top-tier quality, and managing the budget with precision. With deep expertise in sourcing and FF&E, Chaya brings a strong technical foundation that is essential to the creation of remarkable hospitality interiors and furnishings—the cornerstone of our procurement practice. She has worked alongside industry leaders in custom furniture, providing her with a wealth of experience. Her unique background in both interiors and procurement allows her to offer creative solutions that consistently exceed client expectations.

Project Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • Hotel Maya, Long Beach, CA
  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • Cliffrose Springdale, Springdale, UT
  • Nuri Steakhouse, Dallas, TX
  • The Tin Building by Jean George, New York, NY
  • Solis Park, Irvine, CA

Adam Ford, NCIDQ

Senior Interior Project Designer

As a Senior Interior Project Designer at DyeLot, Adam leans on his expertise in interior design and theatrical storytelling to bring designs to life. Having extensive full-service and focused service hotel design experience, he is attuned to both branded work with Marriott, Hilton, and IHG and non-branded/independent projects. Adam helps create immersive and functional spaces that resonate with guests and elevate brand identities. His collaboration with hotel brands has honed his ability to blend aesthetics with practicality, ensuring seamless guest experiences and maximizing operational efficiency.

Project Experience:

  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • Where The Wild Greens AR, Fayetteville, AR
  • Camp Creek Golf Resort & Inn, Inlet Beach, FL
  • Hotel Cyrus, Topeka, KS
  • Delta by Marriott, Thornton Northglenn, CO
  • Tribute South Park, Austin, TX

Brittany LeBlanc, NCIDQ, CID

Senior Project Designer / Associate

With a multi-disciplinary design and architecture background, Brittany continues to create unique user experiences for diversified projects. Brittany concentrates on designing spaces that provoke interest, emotion and encourage brand longevity. After studying interior design, Brittany continues to grow and expand her knowledge of interiors and architecture by working within both disciplines. Brittany’s experience comes from a vast range of industries including hospitality, food and beverage, retail, and experiential marketing.

Project Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • Hotel Maya, Long Beach, CA
  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • The Wilder's Lounge, Springdale, UT
  • Anu Restaurant, Springdale, UT
  • Wolf and Shepherd, Manhattan, NY

Gustavo Neri

Director of Branding

Gustavo Neri serves as the Director of Branding, leading branding and signage/wayfinding campaigns for hospitality and residential projects Neri creates the narrative for a project before it begins – setting a strong aesthetic and identity for the project to ensure its message and character is carried through the life of the design process. Neri’s view of design is that it must be seen through the lens of the viewer, not the designer. One must take into account the experience of the person perceiving his work as they are guided through it, taking all elements into careful consideration and removing himself from the experience.

Project Experience:

  • Hotel Indigo, Savannah, GA
  • DoubleTree Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
  • Hotel Amarano, Burbank, CA
  • Glenmark Hotel, Glendale, CA
  • Eminence Boston Hotel, Boston, MA
  • Hilton Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Alexan Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Wolf and Shepherd, Manhattan, NY

Krystle Fader, NCIDQ, CID

Design Manager / Senior Associate

As a Design Manager at DyeLot Interiors, Krystle brings over 15 years of professional experience in interior and architectural design to the team. With experience in a range of markets including food & beverage, multi-family housing, hospitality, workplace and healthcare, she brings her combined knowledge from each and is able to apply that to new project opportunities. With an education in interior architectural design and a passion for efficient solutions, Krystle has been able to grow into a leadership role managing projects from design concept though completion of construction.

Project Experience:

  • Alexan Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Alexan Arcadia, Arcadia, CA
  • The Monde, Scottsdale, AZ
  • Partake Collective, Long Beach, CA
  • Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • Swing Set Productions, Long Beach, CA
  • Din Tai Fung, Various Locations
  • Fogo de Chao, Various Locations

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Alex Kuby, AIA, WELL AP

Associate Principal

Alex is a licensed architect specializing in hospitality and experiential interior design, with a foundation built on years of practice across high-end hotels, branded environments, and lifestyle-driven residential spaces. His work is grounded in architectural rigor and elevated by a narrative-driven approach that shapes immersive, memorable experiences. With a deep understanding of design theory, construction, and project execution, Alex brings a holistic, strategic lens to each project—bridging spatial storytelling with operational excellence.

Hospitality Experience:

  • Vintera Resort at Napa Creek, Napa, CA
  • Hotel De Novo - Tapestry by Hilton, Springdale, UT
  • Hotel Indigo - IHG, Los Angeles, CA
  • Grand Hyatt - Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas
  • Pullman Baotou, Baotou, China
  • Hilton Resort Wenchang, Hainan Island, China

Residential Experience:

  • Perla Luxury Condo Tower, Los Angeles, CA
  • Watermark Assited Living, Westwood, CA
  • Alexan WestEnd, Long Beach, CA

Jackson Thilenius, AIA

Senior Principal

As Senior Principal of DyeLot Interiors, Jackson operates at the intersection of strategy, design and implementation, driving innovative and authentic solutions to hospitality projects around the world. With over twenty-five years of practice in architecture and interior design, combined with a comprehensive understanding of the hospitality industry, Jackson collaborates with clients to establish project objectives which produce original designs and tailored brand positioning. Jackson has created a broad range of award-winning projects across the globe, leveraging his understanding of operational trends, local culture, and narrative-driven design.

Brand Experience:

Marriott
Hilton
Pacifica Hotels
Hyatt
Equinox
Loews Hotels
IHG
Karisma Hotels and Resorts
Oxford Capital Group
Marcus Hotels
Blackstone
Radisson Hotels
Starwood Capital