Bohemian Chic is the hot new home decor look and for good reason. It’s a little bit throw-back to the hippie era and a little bit world traveller with the end result of a warm, inviting, come-on-in-and-make-yourself-comfortable aura. The Bohemian Chic home is the kind of home you can walk into and immediately join an intimate conversation. Forget the stuffy days of ‘hosting’ and welcome the relaxed, open days of ‘make yourself at home’. The question is how to achieve this casual yet elegant; eclectic but open and airy; effortless but not cluttered look? What are the essential axioms that help a home exude a casual comfort that appears artsy without being uptight? I’ve distilled it down to it’s most basic steps. Here is how to bohemian chic your home in 10 steps!
1. Vary Textures:
Throw in as many textures as possible to a room. Put linen next to metal, next to wood, next to glass, next to plants, next to distressed brick, next to mirrors…throw it all together. The more texture in a room, the better. It doesn’t necessarily have to be overly cluttered but light reflects differently off different materials and with more textures in a room, it add a beauty and depth to the overall look that manages to stay casual.
Source: Architectural Digest
2. Add Low Level Seating:
Whether it is a pouf on the floor or a low bench with cushions next to a pillow-filled couch, low level seating is inviting and does away with anything fussy. It says “come and sit with me.” A house filled with that vibe is a home open to long conversations that last into the night. It doesn’t have to be dramatic either. Replace a simple side table with a pouf and it becomes inviting seating when it’s not used to for an open book.
source: Viciously Cyd Tumblr
Source: Get a Decor
3. White and Blonde Woods
The dark, imposing wood of ‘serious’ furniture are often overly imposing and clunky alongside the vibrancy of the bohemian chic home. Strip, paint or re-stain those pieces white and light. Bounce off as much natural light as possible with light, bright woods. Blonde and white provide a neutral, bright background for the color and texture in the rest of the room.
Source: My Scandinavian Home
4. Bring the Outside In with Plants:
In addition to amplifying textural elements, plants bring color and intensify a wild, unpredictable, vibrant feel. The Bohemian Chic home blurs the line between inside and outside as much as possible. Move beyond the conventional flowers in a vase by placing tree branch cuttings in clear glass vessels or plant greenery and terrariums alongside as many plants as possible.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
Consider a cactus! They’re great indoor plants. You don’t have to worry about watering them much and they look great!
5. Red and Pink Stripes
Stripes and geometrics are taking over where floral textiles used to rule. Throw down a dozen or so striped pillows to immediately Boho up a living room just be sure that you include pink and red! Sumptuous shades of red add richness while pinks add a surprising pop of color without looking like you are trying too hard.
Source: Get a Decor
6. Paint one wall Turquoise
It’s vibrant, unexpected and soothing all at the same time. One wall painted in a lovely turquoise color enhances all those red and pink colors without making a room too dark. If a whole wall feels like too big of a commitment, paint a wooden chair turquoise or add in turquoise ceramics to draw the eye.
Source: Decor 4 All
7. Add Warm light with Twinkle Lights:
If the idea is to make a home warm, cozy and inviting nothing does that as well as year-round twinkle lights. Don’t be afraid to add this soft, sweet light to everything from bedrooms, porches and even the kitchen.
Source: Me and Alice
8. Keep it Rugged and Unfinished:
The Bohemian Chic looks concerns itself more with having a good time than it does with being ‘finished’. The right amount of rugged and unfinished furniture transforms a room into a comfortable nesting spot leaving behind any pretenses and inviting family members to settle in and relax.
Source : Dig Digs
9. Show off your Travel Adventures with Art from Other Worlds
The Bohemian chic home often has what people call a “Morrocan” look but it’s really not restricted to any one cultural approach. It is whatever you want it to be! Use home decorating to show off all the art collected on your travel adventures. Stack painted art next to sculptures and textiles from around the world in a haphazard, happy pile. Regardless of where it came from, a collection of artwork is sure to spark conversation.
Source: Decor 8 Blog review of the book New Bohemians
Don’t worry about making things even or symmetrical! Add your souvenirs however you like.
10. Layer Rugs
We layer pillows on the couch and blankets drape over the couch, why not also layer the rugs? Layer them one on top of the other in playful, unexpected ways to add warmth and a laid-back look to any room.
Source: My Scandinavian Home
Source: Apartment Therapy
The real beauty of a Bohemian Chic home is that there are no rules. It’s what feel right to you, what feels fun and interesting and effortless!
Comments & Reviews
Jennifer G Whitticker says
Thank you for this post. I’ve been trying to do Boho decor ,but I get caught up in matchy matchy. It’s very hard for me to mix pattern and some colors. You have given me great ideas to try to get away from co-ordinating everything!
AprilDawn says
Amazing! Thwack you for the post!
Brooke of Passport Couture says
I definitely want bohemian style in parts of my home. I love the feel of travel and tastes from around the world in this style!
mona says
hi, im from ira, i study architecture and now im taking care of the baby inside me,,, me and my hasband try to decor our home with little small handmade things and now that i have more free time than befor im trying to do some sewing! for my unborn baby and her or his room… some clothes, blanket and…. i hope u help me in this and i have to say that u helped me already by this beautiful pictures and other things inside this web…
thank u , im glad to see u
Frine says
Love it!!!
Byron says
Where is the rug from in the last image please (nursery). Thanks.
Andrea says
You can find it here: https://www.luluandgeorgia.com/painted-desert-rug
Nan says
Irishman, not Irishmen or you’re a polygynist!! Too many pop ups on your site!
Marie says
Confused as to how this is considered a design trend. Please if you’re a bohemian be one, copying another is as as far from a bohemian as you can get. It’s not purchased or something you can run out and buy. Stop feeding the ones who are trying to convince you of this from their lavish homes. The whole beauty behind the truth of this lifestyle is lost on each of you trying so desperately to keep up with the Jones’ . Thanks for the laugh.
Melissa Q. says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. This post is intended to encourage anyone who is interested to embrace a warmer, more inviting and homey environment…a style that includes some imperfection and personality unique to each individual family. It wasn’t intended to encourage imitation, indeed the opposite. Though I can see how the title might have implied otherwise. We should all do our best to be who we authentically are, that’s absolutely true. I always like a little inspiration decorating my home, that’s all.
Tammy says
Just moved into a vintage building. I love the bohemian chic look. It IS who I am. There is so much room for creativity in your suggestions. I love the examples you provided. Please keep posting! Thanks!
Stephanie L says
I think that the lifestyle is actually lost on hateful, judgmental people, not on people who love looking at pretty things and the ideas of others.
Carolyn says
Thank you!
Suzan says
Hi Melissa
I just signed up today and look forward to more posts like this one. I think everyone has just a touch of boho, and the comment about “copying” the look is silly. All of these New Age “hippies” think they are doing something new, but Gypsies and Others started the “look” eons ago! LOL
Patricia A Scott says
Loved it the first time around and now that my kids are grown and my house is my own again, I’m loving it all over again!! I felt the post was to give inspiration and sometimes to help find the things you love…. Back to the Gypsy that I was….
Sheena says
Hi, could you let me know where I can get a copy of your book 10 ways to add a little bohemian chic. I have seen it for sale in Anthropologie but cant find it anywhere.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Best wishes
Sheena
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Deepika says
Very realistic and practical ways to add a bohemian touch to our homes. Awesome tips. Thanks
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Sandee says
I love your suggestions and your vibe.
192.168 1.1 says
This style decoration looks quite impressive. It brings a sense of closeness and warmth. Maybe I will try to decorate my room with this style.
Nancy Ogden says
I think I am a little GYPSY
Testogen says
The color contrast, the wallpaints, floor mats everything you have used is pretty awesome. It is well suited! I have to decorate my house like this, maybe in future.
192.168.1.1 says
I like this kind of decoration very much. I hope one day I have this kind of house
192.168.1.1 says
You are really very successful in doing these things. It’s fun to read your writings.
Nicole says
Any chance you know the name / brand of the turquoise paint shown? We’ve been looking for true turquoise and striking out. Thank You!!
www.192168.info says
If you don’t mind share more like that. This post is amazing.
Dafna says
Wow! Thanks
Ms. Kelly says
Thank you so much for this perfect article. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I grew up in the 70’s as a little hippy girl, and I can tell you that that does not somehow make me or anyone else from that time – excellent at decorating LOL. I’ve had to move so many times, and downsize, and what I have left is an eclectic mix of colors and styles that I just couldn’t let go of – but, making it all look coordinated was a trick.
I also now rent and can’t paint my horrid white walls. So, I knew I had to find ways to make it look colorful in here. So, I started with rugs, saturating the floor with color. And I’d seen the idea of layering rugs, which helped me use what I had to cover a space that I couldn’t afford a huge rug for. So, all happy accidents that needed just a little more deliberate decorating to make it all work.
And I’ve been trying to figure out how to add turquoise in here, because it’s my favorite color, so I’m so excited by the idea of not trying to make it work somehow – just put some in the room!
I grew up with Irish folk, though 2nd generation. I can tell you stories about drunken fights by the men (mostly brothers) at every wedding and funeral – they get angry, beat on each other, drawing blood and loosening teeth, then belly up to the bar crying and telling each other how much they love each other, while the women shake their heads. Gotta love ’em.
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