A Decorator's Guide to Bohemian Style - The Spruce

Boho is inspired by people who choose to lead an unconventional life such as constant travelers, actors, and writers. The Bohemian style mirrors ... TheSpruce/MargotCavin BohemianstyleorBohodecorisforthosewhowanttheirhomesfulloflife,culture,andinterestingitemsforalltheworldtosee.Thisaestheticfliesinthefaceofmodernsensibilitiesandembracescreative,carefree,andunconventionaldecor.Bohemian-styleroomstendtohavecertainsimilaritiesinthattheyarealwayseclecticandsharesimilarfeaturesthoughnotworoomsareevercompletelyalike. WhatIsBohemianStyle? Bohoisinspiredbypeoplewhochoosetoleadanunconventionallifesuchasconstanttravelers,actors,andwriters.TheBohemianstylemirrorsthatlifebycombiningobjects,colors,andpatternsfrommanyareasoftheworld.Ifyouarelookingforastylethatyoucantrulymakeyourown,Bohemiandesignmightbeforyou. BohemianDesignColors WhiletherearenoruleswhenitcomestoBohemiandecorating,warmearthycolorsarecommon,asaremetallicsandjeweltones.Thinkdeepbrowns,greens,andgraysforbasecolors,andthenaccessorizewithsaturatedpurple,fieryorange,andelectricblue.Combiningandlayeringcolorsiswhatmakesthisstyleunique. Feelfreetomixpatternsandtextures,anddon'tbeafraidtousestylesthatwouldnotnecessarilygotogetherinaconventionalway.Usedyedtextilesandpatternsfromaroundtheworld—likeIkatfromCambodiaorSuzanifromCentralAsia—togivethespaceasenseoffunandexoticism.Layerthrowsontopoffurnitureandtryhangingtapestriesandarearugsonthewallsalongsideyourphotosandart.Ifthisallseemsabitmuch,keepinmindthatwhile saturatedcoloriskeytotheBohemianstyle,white​canhaveaplaceasabackdropforrichertones.Usewhitetostrategicallybringalittlevisualspaceintotheequation.  TheSpruce/AliElshabrawi DecorativeMaterials Astheoppositeofminimal,modern,andsleek,Bohodesignembracesa"moreismore"philosophy.ThekeytousingdecorativematerialsinaBoho-designedroom istomixandmatch.Natural,basicmaterialslikeburlapandsisalcanbecombinedwithsilkandchenille.Thematerialsshouldhaveaslightlywornlook—notdamaged,butnotshinyandneweither.Fringe,crochet,andmacraméabound—pillows,curtains, andthrow-rugscombinetomakeacozy,globally-inspiredhangout.CanopiesoverbedsandlivingareasaresignatureBohodesignembellishments. TheSpruce/CandaceMadonna BohemianFurniture Bohemianfurnitureusuallyisnotfoundinastore.Theseroomstendtobefilledwithfurniturecollectedovertime,sosecond-handandvintageitemsarerightathomehere.Eachpieceoffurnitureshouldbespecialandtellastory.Havefunexploringyourlocalvintageshopsandchooseeachpieceindividually.Ifyouloveit,itwillfitrightin. BothyouandyourguestswillfeeltheBohofeelwithplushchairsandcouchesinsaturatedcolors.Throwrugsoroverstuffedfloorpillowswillcreateawelcomingfloor-seatingatmosphere.AndsinceaBohoroomshouldhavea“sitandstayawhile”feel,streamlinedorstraight-backedfurniturewillnotfitinhere.Choosecomfortable,relaxedpieceslikechaiselongues,daybeds,orbutterflychairs. LightingandAccessories Ambient,understatedlightingwillunifyyourBohodesignroomandcompletethecalmandwelcomingfeel.Ratherthanoverheadfixtures,decoratewithmultiplelanterns,candles,andfloorandtablelamps.Today’sglobaldesignmarketsmakeiteasytofindavarietyofshapesandstyles—perfectforthemix-and-matchlook. Embracingthenaturalworldiscentraltothisstyle,sobringyourroomtolifewithfernsandhangingplants.Notonlydotheylendvibrancytoaroom,butplantsalsoimproveairquality,sothemorethemerrier.Philodendronandpeaceliliesareveryforgivingandwithstandavarietyoflightandtemperaturelevels.Orconsidersucculents—widelyavailableinarangeofcolorsandtextures—whicharegreatforpeoplewithaless-than-greenthumb.Theseeye-catchingplantsneedlittlemorethanasunnyspotandoccasionalwatering. Finally,pulltogetheryourBohoroomwithfamilyheirlooms,handmadeitems,andobjectsfromyourtravels.Accessoriesshouldbepersonal,sofeaturewhatyoulove:tapestries,vintagebottles,maps,ormismatchedchina—younameit.AndkeepinmindthatwhileBohemianstyletendstobeeclectic,itcanstillbechicandglamorous,sodonotbeafraidtotryoutanornatechandelierorachunkygold-framedmirror.Theonlyruleisthateveryitemintheroomshouldsharesomethingaboutyou. FeaturedVideo ReadMore 18InspiringBohoStyleRooms 25MinimalistBohemianStyleLivingRooms TheBestBohoBeddingPiecesforanEclectic,CasualLook The10BestInstagramAccountsforBohoStyleLovers 10BohoStyleBedroomstoCopy 40BabyRoomIdeasforCreatingaUniqueNursery TheQuickGuidetoEveryMajorDecoratingStyle 51WaysToMakeYourMantelLookStylishAllYearLong 4ReasonsTheseDesignersAreOverBohoStyle 48MinimalistBedroomIdeasThatAreWarmandInviting 39JoyfulandStylishBoys'RoomIdeas WhatIsTraditionalInteriorDesignStyle? 58LivingRoomIdeasThatWillMakeYouWanttoStayIn 22WaystoMixPatternsandPrintsinYourHomeDecor WhatIsScandinavianDesign? 50BedroomsTeenageGirlsWillLove