Give your home a casual, relaxed look with the bohemian decor style! Get tips on how to style your space to make it an inviting, happy place to be in!

Do you dream of a home where you feel so relaxed, it’s like you’re on vacation 24×7? Do you want a place where your friends and family can get together and bond over a nice meal or a great movie? Then the Bohemian style is perfect for you!

Bohemian is also called ‘Boho’ or ‘Boho Chic’, and it’s a style that’s immensely popular these days. You’re sure to find it everywhere you look – in magazines, Instagram, Pinterest and maybe even your neighbour’s home! Yes, it’s that popular, and today we’ll look at what this style actually means and how you can go about bringing the Bohemian vibe into your home.

Decor Styles 101: Bohemian

Bohemian is derived from the French word ‘bohémien’, which was a term that referred to people who came from Bohemia in the Czech Republic. to France Later, the term went on to mean gypsies in general and then it was used to refer to artistic and creative people who lived a nomadic lifestyle, traveling from place to place. It is this that eventually became the Hippie Culture of the 60s and 70s.

Staying true to its origins, bohemian design represents a free spirited lifestyle that encourages the creative arts, and is not too obsessed with wealth. It is very relaxed, personal and focuses on stories and memories rather than extravagance. This style follows the ‘more is more’ approach – definitely not one for minimalists!

The Boho style is something that is very easy to implement – and perfect for those who are on a budget! While there are some striking features that highlight the bohemian style, there are other subtle identifying characteristics you’ll find in a boho chic space.

Characteristics of Bohemian Style

• The Boho style is characterized by warm, earthy colors and lots of neutrals. That doesn’t mean there is a lack of color – in fact, there’s a lot of it, especially jewel tones of green, blue and rust orange.
• Similarly, the woods used aren’t dark woods – they are light colored woods with a slightly bleached appearance, that serves as the prefect neutral backdrop for all the other elements in the room.
• Since bohemian used to refer to people who traveled the world, the boho style includes global elements from all parts of the world
• The bohemian style uses lots of fabrics and threads, but they all have a lived in look and don’t look brand new. Macrame, burlap, crochet as well as trims like fringes and tassels are popular in the boho look
• The entire atmosphere is very relaxed, featuring furniture with laid back styles, low seating and lots of cushions
• Boho rooms don’t have harsh lighting; instead, ambient lighting is used to create that calm, comforting feel
• One thing you’ll find in all boho spaces is plants and loads of plants – especially hanging ones
• There are lots of textures in a boho look, especially from natural materials like wood, wicker, burlap

So are you excited to know how you can get this look in your space? Let’s go!

10 Ways to get the Bohemian style in your space

1. Mix and Match

The bohemian style is where you throw all design rules out the window and go with whatever your heart desires. Go ahead and mix and match everything – patterns, colors, textures – everything!

A leather pouffe, a shaggy cushion, a linen throw all work in this world, and you can try various combinations. There are no patterns you can’t use in a boho style, so feel free to combine florals, geometric shapes, Ikkat and paisleys all in one room!

2. Go for Saturated Colors

As mentioned earlier, boho colors are on the saturated side and while there really isn’t a color you shouldn’t use, it’s best to stay away from black and go with browns, oranges, olive greens, mustards and deep maroons. Basically, all earthy tones or colors you’d find in nature are perfect, and feel free to toss in a brightly colored element.

It’s best to keep large furnishings and furniture in the more neutral tones and play with the smaller elements so you can easily change out your decor.

3. Include Natural Elements

Now this is where your room really gets that boho chic feel! Include various items made from natural materials to get an assortment of textures and colors. Jute rugs, wooden artefacts, woven tapestries, wicker baskets and furniture – these are soem great options. You can also add a few elements made from natural stone, hemp, burlap or paper.

4. Use lots of Furnishings

A boho space is ideally very inviting and relaxed; as soon as you enter, it should make you feel like plopping down and leaning back! Use soft fabrics, and layer them with tougher ones like placing a soft rug on top of a jute one. Use fabric everywhere – throws over couches and canopies over beds are classic boho touches.

Bohemian style focuses a lot on low level seating for that relaxed vibe, so add a lot of floor pillows and make sure they’re large and stuffed! Pouffes are also a great addition, as are bean bag chairs.

5. Search for Vintage

Did I mention that the boho style is perfect if you’re on a budget? One of the most exciting things about styling your space in a bohemian look is scouring everywhere for cool vintage finds. Search the second hand store in your locality or take a casual look around your grandmother’s home – you might just land something a little old but bursting with stories.

It’s not just furniture either; you can also decorate with vintage candle sticks, large vases and old globes. You can also create a gallery wall of old magazine covers or album covers – just think about how unique that would be!

6. Go Global

Bring home the true spirit of bohemian culture by incorporating pieces from all over the world. Fabrics are the easiest – you can find many Indian textiles like Ikat or Suzani or Batik. You can also make it more interesting by combining different textiles for a truly global look.

Besides fabrics, you can bring home the globe in decor accents like Middle Eastern lanterns, Chinese jade, Buddha busts, Turkish pottery and many others. Whenever you’re traveling, look for pieces you can bring home; they’ll add to your boho decor and be a reminder of the lovely memories you had.

7. Layer the Lighting

Those grand chandeliers aren’t what your boho home needs. Instead, layer the lighting by using various sources of light like table lamps, pendant lamps, candles and string lights – definitely string lights! The light from these different sources will bounce off the furniture and walls and create a lovely relaxed ambience.

You can also make sure your lamps are in boho style materials, like wicker, jute or wood. Use warm light bulbs so that the light is not too harsh and creates the right environment for your bohemian decor.

8. Hang your Plants

Plants are a great way to refresh any space in your home, but they’re particularly significant in a boho style room. Use interesting planters of various materials like ceramic, jute and terracotta, with some in a few interesting colors and patterns.

If you can, hang your plants – they are a boho classic! Use a macrame plant hanger and you’re all set. You can have any plant you like, but low maintenance ones like pothos, snake plant, peace lily and ferns are idea. Succulents are also a great option for low light areas.

9. Display your Collections

Boho style is all about you and your personal story, so put it out there! Bring out your special collections and display them in an interesting manner. Travel souvenirs, special gifts, family heirlooms all have a place in a boho room.

If you have an interesting collection of art prints or photographs, hang them up on the wall. You can also create your own custom gallery wall by hanging plates, baskets or rugs. Nothing is off limits here!

10. Choose Handmade

Bohemian decor is inspired by all the creative people who used to wander, and who often had no money of their own. Don’t let that be the case with artists today – support them! While you’ll get mass manufactured decor from big box stores and brands, that isn’t what the boho style is about.

To truly get the spirit of bohemian design, buy handmade products from your local artists. Whether it’s a painting, sculpture, wall hanging or something else, do your bit by buying from them. You’ll also get unique pieces that no one else has!

While there aren’t too many rules about decorating boho style, it helps to stay away from too many metallics. Also avoid matching every single thing perfectly – imperfection is what makes boho what it is! You can easily mix boho with any other decor style as well, so you don’t have to suddenly buy a load of wicker baskets and jute rugs!

If too much stuff overwhelms you, or you prefer more formal, luxurious settings, boho won’t suit you. If you’re moving into your first apartment and don’t have too much cash to spare on decor, boho is perfect for you. But what’s most important to see is if you relate to the overall carefree, casual atmosphere. You’ll find loads of inspiration for the bohemian decor style everywhere, so take your time and try it out in one small space. See how you like it and if you’re ready – go boho!

This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Blogging Challenge 2021.