Functional rather than decorative.
(Andrew
Juniper)
Reproduction?
Decorating and furnishing your house according to a zen aesthetic may
well be ideal, but perhaps not financially practical.
Ultimately, a room is just (and only) a room.
Spending colossal sums of money on material goods seems quite pointless.
Wabi sabi was originally rustic and inexpensive.
What may be more appropriate is to incorporate/express a zen influence rather
than aim to reproduce an oriental house within your own.
Books
There are some marvellous books available depicting houses and rooms that
have been designed and decorated in a zen-inspired manner.
Two examples:
The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty by Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Living in Japan by Alex Kerr
Traditional Japanese design is altogether simpler. It indicates a keener sense
of zen.
The colours are more muted and soft. The wood is unpainted and natural.
There is an absence of clutter and only a hint of ornamentation.
Everything is earthy and fresh.
Japanese approaches to design are beautiful and inspiring, and adhere to the sensibilities of zen:
Art of Japanese Architecture by David Young
In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichiro Tanizaki
The Inner Harmony of the Japanese House by Atsushi Ueda
Japanese Detail Architecture by Sadao Hibi
Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings by Edward S. Morse
A Japanese Touch for Your Home by Koji Yagi
Landscapes for Small Spaces: Japanese Courtyard Gardens by Katsuhiko Mizuno
Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life by Taro Gold
New Zen Garden: Designing Quiet Spaces by Joseph Cali
Practical Wabi Sabi by Simon G Brown
The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space by Azby Brown
Wabi Sabi - The Art of Everyday Life by Diane Durston
Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers by Leonard Koren
Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence by Andrew Juniper
Wabi Sabi Simple: Create Beauty, Value Imperfection, Live Deeply by Richard R Powell
Contemporary Japan
Please note that contemporary Japanese homes are as cluttered as Western
ones.
In Japan, the use of zen sensibilities is often relegated to tea rooms, dojos
and other meditative places.
Aesthetic
Should you decorate your house according to an Eastern aesthetic?
Not unless you really want to.
The zen-inspired style of traditional Japanese furniture and decor invokes a sense of calm,
spaciousness and ease.
Ideally, you can find those same qualities through your own exploration of
colour, texture, light and shade.
Studying wabi sabi is essential in this regard.
Ultimately, decor is an individual thing - we all have different tastes. The
colours, textures, and approach you choose are entirely down to you.
The Japanese designs simply illustrate that zen sensibilities can inspire how
we decorate and furnish our living environment.
Page created 5 March 2007