Lived in, slightly imperfect, worn living spaces are taking over our interiors – we can only relax in the knowledge that our interiors don’t have to appear as picture perfect as they might appear on Instagram anymore.
We can thank the beauty of Wabi Sabi design for this one, a Japanese way of life which favours the imperfect nature of items, finishes and things, providing an organic, and more interesting feel to a space.
You can make simple adjustments to a bathroom design to tap into this way of life for a much more, relaxed and stylish bathroom. Not convinced just yet? Here are 17 different ways you can get this trending look in your own bathroom.
17 Wabi Sabi Bathroom Ideas For Imperfect, Trending Style
1.Use Microcement As Your Base
Microcement has become a more popular wall covering in bathrooms in previous years, it has a similar look to traditional shikkui plaster which is widely used in Japan and it brings texture and interest, whilst also being suitable for wet and humid spaces.
There are some drawbacks to this type of covering as it can be quite difficult to clean and can stain easily, so it may not be a suitable choice for all bathrooms.
2. Mix Up Natural Finishes
Natural accents and finishes are welcomed in wabi sabi design, such as wood, granite, stone, marble and unlacquered finishes.
There’s something beautiful about certain finishes that age with time, such as the patina that develops with unlacquered brass, and it’s a hugely a wabi sabi element.
That slight patina and age engages the eye in a bathroom in a different manner, as time goes on. Consider using this metal finish on areas such as taps, and shower heads.
3. Stone Sinks Ground The Bathroom
Another way to introduce some organic material into a bathroom in a truly wabi sabi way is to swap out a ceramic sink for a stone one.
They instantly ground a bathroom, and their imperfect nature brings such a tactile feel to the everyday notion of washing your hands, teeth and face.
4. Irregular Tiles
Wabi Sabi design literally says, the more imperfect the better, and using irregular tiles and layouts is such an easy way to lean into this in a bathroom.
In the below image, the bathroom floor tiles in use are Buscot Limestone Tumbled Pietra Pazza by Ca’ Pietra. Ca’ Pietra said, “There is something quietly refreshing about choosing a floor that refuses to be too perfect, especially in a world where so many interiors begin to echo one another. Pietra Pazza offers a different kind of appeal – one that leans into variation, celebrates the unexpected, and allows a home to feel more like itself”.
The finished look is so soft and worn in when in situ like this, and it instantly feels welcoming.
5. Imperfect Stone Wall
You may have noticed by now that it’s all about imperfection, and there’s so many ways you can achieve this in a bathroom. Take inspiration from the below stone wall, shower wall.
It’s imperfect, textured, uneven and super tactile to touch.
6. Exposed Wood
Wood is central to Japanese design, and using some kind of natural wood in a bathroom design ticks all the boxes for wabi sabi design.
The knots, the colouring, the age, the texture, everything about wood carries a story and interesting angle to interior design. I particularly love it when used as a vanity for the sink, like in the below bathroom.
7. Misshapen Mirror
Challenge the norm of symmetry and specifically look to introduce elements that are slightly imperfect or uneven. The mirror below is a perfect example of this, paired with texture for that wabi sabi style.
There’s so much to love about this bathroom below from the mirror to the stone vanity, to the wooden stool placed underneath the sink.
8. Introduce Textiles
This bathroom setup is unusual but delightfully soft, lived in and comforting. They’ve introduced floor to ceiling length linen curtains for privacy and softness against the cement walls, and it works!
The soft, slightly crumpled pleats bring a really soft and welcoming feel to this bathroom, with a little bit of pooling at the bottom of the curtains for further interest.
9. Restore An Old Sink
Reusing old pieces of furniture, or bathwares and restoring them into a bathroom today are some of my favourite designs. So utterly unique and imaginative.
The below is no exception. An old stone sink that shows its age with the texture, colouring and dimples, it focuses the eye and is the first thing you notice, in a good way in this bathroom.
10. Uneven Textures
Unique, imperfect, unusual, cracks – all these types of imperfections are what creates the organic, and beautiful nature of wabi sabi design in a bathroom.
I adore the style of plastering below which is a kind of shikkui plaster, whilst it can be applied smooth, adding your own kind of texture to it helps to keep things interesting, and unique.
11. Diffused Natural Lighting
Something the Japanese do very well is how they diffuse lighting. Harsh, bright lighting is uncomfortable to sit within, so softening it creates a much more enjoyable experience in an interior.
Shoji paper on doors such as below is a great example of how this can be achieved, or you might want to look at installing linen curtains as shown on a previous bathroom.
12. A Moment For Zellige Tiles
I’ll never stop talking about the benefits of using zellige tiles in your home. The type of tile are fired, and then glazed which gives them that semi gloss, imperfect style. They’re often a slightly different colour variation with uneven edges which makes them so wonderful for using in a wabi sabi bathroom.
Their unique gloss detail engages the eye differently, no matter what angle you look at them in the bathroom.
13. A Wooden Tub
Create a focal feature with a difference and invest in a wooden tub like the one below. It instantly feels grounding in the space with those differing tones and unique detail that you can only get with real wood.
Being surrounded by nature in any form like this instantly makes you feel good!
14. Butted Up Tiles
Grab those zellige tiles in your design, and instead of adding conventional grout lines, butt the tiles up to one another instead. It delivers even more of an imperfect result that feels authentic, aged and lived in.
15. Semi Tile Drench
Tiles are a great natural material, no matter what design style you want to lean into, but even more so with wabi sabi design.
Don’t be afraid to use them outside the shower area, and create a semi tile drenched look by taking them up and onto the walls and flooring as well.
16. Bring The Outside In
Create an inside outside feel in your wabi sabi bathroom by letting in that beautiful natural light. Instead of diffusing it, let it be part of your design.
Natural light casts beautiful shadows and illuminations in a bathroom throughout the day that are interesting and endearing.
17. Handmade Wooden Vanity Space
If you have a small area reserved for a sink, why not create a handmade wooden vanity area to go here? Creating something completely unique, artisan and authentic taps into the wabi sabi design mentality and wood has a habit of instantly making us feel good.
Just ensure you seal the wood before use so it’s protected against humidity and water spills over time.
