Trend Alert: Patina shows us tarnish is the new varnish

Age perfect - Patina proves that there’s beauty in letting nature take its course

Image: Michael Murphy

It probably seems counterintuitive as a trend, but weathered interiors - or, more nicely put, beautifully aged interiors, are on the rise. It's all stemming from the ancient Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection, known as wabi-sabi. We're talking worn out woods, imperfect ceramics, misshapen shelves, natural materials, and oxidised colours.

“Wabi-Sabi is an understated beauty that exists in modest, rustic, imperfect or even decayed, an aesthetic sensibility that finds a melancholic beauty in the impermanence of things,” says author, Andrew Juniper in his book Wabi-Sabi — The Japanese Art of Impermanence.

The latter is where Patina comes in - Patina is the greenish-brown film that forms as a result of oxidation on the surface of bronze and other materials, also called verdigris. It can also refer to a sheen or gloss on any surface resulting from age, polishing or use.

What benefit does Patina bring to a space? Well it brings a sense of grandeur, while also keeping the room from feeling too formal. Aged items also bring a natural warmth to a home. Unique imperfections and patina bring added dimension to a design, that is difficult to achieve in any other way. A more subtle and sophisticated take on the shabby chic trend that has become somewhat dated, the added benefit to this is that finding the perfect in the imperfect can be super affordable too.