Wabisabi not Feng Shui

By John Stanley Indoor and outdoor living styles are constantly changing and as �home living� retailers we need to keep up with the latest trends and be aware of the leading edge trends. Many home owners in the 90�s designed their living areas with Feng Shui in mind, but the leading edge home owners are now into Wabisabi. No, this is not a Japanese food dish, it is a design trend based on Zen Buddhism. It is the art of finding beautiful things that are no perfect. In retail terms this means, that a sector of consumers are rebelling against perfectly made �off the shelf� products. They are looking for products that have harmony, tranquility and balance to match their home, but show the passage of time and have slight imperfections. According to Taro Gold, a wabisabi guru, “People will get it because we have a natural tendency away from perfection, we�ve grown tired of mass production.� As far as product selection is concerned, consumers want unique products, made by local artisans, especially in containers, furniture and ornaments. What does a wabisabi consumer want? Earth red, browns, sage, greens, spruce blues and ochre colours are in (they don�t want beige or white). Clutter is out, people are cleaning up the look of their garden and home � less is more. Local products are in fashion. Seasonal looks that are natural are in and consumers will change items every season. Want to learn some more? Check out �The Wabisabi House� by Robyn Griggs Lawrence.