In a world formerly dominated by sleek lines and flawless finishes, wabi-sabi is making its mark as the latest and biggest interior design trend.
From limewashed surfacing and earthy micro cement and subtle curves everywhere, here are 6 of the best wabi-sabi interior design renovations in Singapore that perfectly exemplify the trend and demonstrate why it has become the trend of the year.
What is the concept of wabi-sabi interior design?
With origins stemming from 16th-century Japan, the wabi-sabi design concept was popularised by Sen no Rikyū, a Japanese tea master, who used a set of principles to design his tea rooms. His belief: that atmosphere played a huge role in shaping the “essence” of tea ceremonies. Fast forward to today, and wabi-sabi has exploded into a global trend amongst homeowners looking to create that refined, zen ambiance in their homes. emphasising natural materials and celebrating the beauty found in simplicity and imperfection.
What are some common elements in the wabi-sabi theme?
The crux of the wabi-sabi interior aesthetic is natural materials. We’re talking wood, stone, and clay in their natural, unrefined state, showcasing cracks, grains, and signs of weathering to create a cosy, lived-in mood at home. Typically, you’ll notice that wabi-sabi homes don’t stray too far from a eutral color palette, with tones like beige, green, grey, and taupe, evoking a calm, warm, and earthy atmosphere.
Staying true to its Japanese roots, wabi-sabi spaces are kept minimal in terms of furniture and decor. The winning trick is to ensure you have a good amount of natural light streaming in—this will help the home appear more spacious and inviting.
Examples of wabi-sabi interior design to recreate at home
Now that you have a better understanding of the concept behind wabi-sabi interior design, here’s a list of home renovations for you to draw inspiration from:
Joo Seng Road – Modern wabi-sabi in a 4-room HDB flat
Image credit: The Interior Lab
A prime example of modern wabi-sabi interior is this 4-room HDB flat in Joo Seng designed by The Interior Lab, which features a consistent muted beige palette of creamy beige surfaces with a lime wash finish and pops of dark wood. The homeowners opted for an open-concept home with glass partitions in place of walls for a more spacious look and feel.
Image credit: The Interior Lab
While simple in design and functional in layout, the home exudes the rustic warmth of wabi-sabi through the thoughtful use of linen day curtains in the living room and study to bathe the home in more natural light and give the interior that soft, dreamy look.
Clementi Woods – Whimsical wabi-sabi condo reno
We love how the wall-mounted TV and its protrusion, in addition to the rustic, minimal wood console, look very much like a modern “fireplace.”
Image credit: Uncommon
This home in Clementi Woods is a tranquil haven in a sea of urban chaos. While this second home on the list checks the wabi-sabi boxes of a muted, one-note colour palette and a limewash treatment for its many surfaces, the unconventional choice of furniture in the form of Baroque rococo-style dining chairs and set of vintage chandeliers throw a whimsical twist into the home’s otherwise modern design.
Image credit: Uncommon
In perhaps a move to create more contrast and depth, the master bathroom is bathed in a coat of dusty rose limewash. The scalloped wall sconce, delicate marble sink and the addition of lush plants also work wonders to give the bathroom that spa ambience.
Image credit: Uncommon
What’s interesting here is that every living space, from the living area to the bathroom, sports a different vibe and gives you a heavy dose of rustic whimsy.
Wasa.bi Home – Resort-esque wabi-sabi HDB
Curves truly take centre stage in this wabi-sabi HDB flat that boasts organic lines in every direction you look, from its circular accent false ceiling in the living room to the doorways and windows.
What we love about this renovation has to be the measured use of limewash to add depth and texture whilst incorporating other upholstery textures and natural elements such as rattan and pampas grass to make this HDB truly look like a resort.
Image credit: Wasa.bi Home
When they decided to add structural dividers, the homeowners went with pocket doors, a far more versatile option that allows the space to be opened up or closed while saving space. Arches and curves throughout the home add a softness and tie together otherwise disparate spaces.
Museion Botanica – Modern “rough” wabi-sabi
Image credit: Studio Metanoia
Breaking the light, muted colour palettes of the previous few wabi-sabi renovations is this ground-floor condo designed by Studio Metanoia that shows us a well-executed “rough” wabi-sabi that puts forth a darker take on this popular interior trend.
Image credit: Studio Metanoia
The bathrooms in the home, in particular, are solid proof that you don’t need a lot of fancy materials or fixtures to make your home look spectacular. Microcement takes centre stage here, with most of the master and secondary bathrooms featuring the unique material in abundance.
The subtle screed finish and the earthy tint of it blur the lines between natural and man-made and give us the overwhelming feeling of being in a raw, natural environment. We’re not discounting those twin “stone” bathroom vanities, either.
Image credit: Studio Metanoia
The dark earthy tones in the rest of the home further the sense of nature, while the soft organic forms around the home inject the home with a sense of rustic quirkiness.
944 Tampines – Wabi-sabi “desert” maisonette
Image credit: Oblivion Lab
At 1,345 sqft, this home in Tampines is already fairly large for an HDB, but its open design and use of wabi-sabi-inspired interior elements further amplify the space, creating an expansive, spacious effect. In the living room, the use of blinds as opposed to curtains preserves privacy while allowing light to filter into the home, casting a gentle glow on the room.
Image credit: Oblivion Lab
Meanwhile, the inclusion of Japanese ornamental plants like bonsai helps to subtly incorporate elements of nature whilst adding a pop of colour, which contrasts against the muted tones of the marble countertop, limewash walls, and muted marble in the kitchen.
Image credit: Oblivion Lab
In the private quarters of the home, the owners went for more ambient lighting as opposed to harsh, fluorescent overhead lighting, offering a glow of softness to the rooms. The lights also align with Japanese design style – resembling traditional oriental lanterns – tying into the home’s wabi-sabi theme.
East Coast condo – Aesop store wabi-sabi
Image credit: Ovon Design
At first glance, this East Coast condo looks exactly like an Aesop store. But despite what its interior may suggest, the space is actually a 3-room condo in Marine Vista.
Image credit: Ovon Design
Warm lighting casts a gentle glow on the home, while the curves of the walls, dining set, and built-in floor-to-ceiling cabinets further this sense of softness. The wabi-sabi theme doesn’t end in the common areas, as the bathroom includes the familiar limewash of the living space.
Yet, unlike the living area, the bathroom lacks distinct curves and is, instead, marked by sharp, crisp edges and clean lines. This creates a visual distinction between the spaces while maintaining the theming throughout the home.
What’s the difference between wabi-sabi & Japandi interior design?
While some homeowners might think that wabi-sabi is just a subset of the Japandi aesthetic—given their similar color palettes and use of wood—the two actually have distinct differences.
For one, the Japandi interior style is a combination both Scandinavian and Japanese minimalism. Its focus: clean, structured lines, smooth surfaces, and sharp edges.
On the flip side, wabi-sabi is a lot more rustic with its natural textures. Colour-wise, wabi-sabi utilises darker, earthier neutrals whereas Japandi typically uses shades of black, white, beige, and grey.
Check out our guide on Japandi interior designers in Singapore to find out more about achieving the Japandi aesthetic at home.
Best wabi-sabi home renovations in Singapore
Unlike other design styles that require intensive overhauls and serious renovations, wabi-sabi encourages homeowners to embrace their homes’ natural imperfections and enhance them rather than hide them, as illustrated through these homes.
Whether you’re still deciding if wabi-sabi is the theme for you or just preparing ideas for your future home, hopefully, these wabi-sabi homes will inspire other homeowners to seek out the simple and the imperfect.
For more, check out:
- Boutique condos launching in 2023 with prices from $1,750 psf
- Second-hand furniture stores in Singapore
- Best interior design firms for budget renovations under $50K
- This family’s condo has a rock wall for each of their kids’ bedrooms, cost only $2K to build
Cover image adapted from: Wasa.bi Home, Oblivion Lab, Studio Metanoia, Ovon Design
This article was originally published on 2nd November 2023, and updated on 23rd October 2024.
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