A Calm Home With Japanese Obi Art

July 19, 2024

A calm home can still have a rich, detailed piece of art. Give one Japanese obi a clear place on the wall, then let the furniture and everyday objects around it stay simple and useful.

Explore the vintage obi collection

Keep the sofa, change the view

Illustration of a couple enjoying a calm living room with a cream and red obi wall display. — Illustration created for this scenario; the textile shown is not a specific catalog item.

Imagine coming home from Japan with a fresh appreciation for uncluttered rooms and beautiful textiles. You keep the sofa you love and clear a busy wall above the console. One cream obi with red curved accents becomes the room’s focus. The change is modest, but the place where you sit each evening now holds a reminder of the trip.

Make room for the piece

Start with what you use

Keep comfortable furniture and useful objects. Clear the display area rather than replacing the whole room.

Leave space around the art

A clear border of wall helps the obi’s pattern read from across the room.

Repeat one color

A small ceramic piece or cushion can echo a shade from the obi without adding more competing patterns.

Enjoy the detail up close

Close-up of a rolled orange-red obi with gold woven floral and geometric motifs. — Simple surroundings leave room to appreciate a detailed textile.

Minimalist styling is a choice for this room, not a rule for all Japanese homes. Choose the textile and arrangement that feel right to you. An obi is a sash worn with kimono; it can also be appreciated as a textile display.

Browse the current vintage obi collection for the actual photographs, dimensions, materials and condition of each piece. The color and scale guide helps you match a textile to its setting.