Are you looking for a style that you can truly make your own? Then your search ends with the Bohemian style. Through this blog, Gharpedia shares with you the nuances of this extremely popular Bohemian interior design style and showcases some of the best Bohemian home decor ideas for you to try.
Uninhibited and imaginative like a gypsy, the Bohemian style lends colour, pattern, and good vibes to any space, irrespective of your style.
What Is Bohemian Interior Design?
Bohemian Design, which also goes by the abbreviated term Boho Design is a style of interior design that celebrates playful colours, textures, and patterns. Unlike the minimalist Scandinavian or modern design, the Boho design comprises maximalism and emphasises individual expression through the curation and layering of multicultural textiles, artworks, and decorative objects. Bohemian design encompasses decor ideas from around the globe, and it is precisely this free-spirit, anything-goes approach that has made Bohemian design one of the most popular interior design trends of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Origins Of Bohemian Interior Design
The term “Bohemian” owes its roots to the French word “bohémiens,” which is a term used to describe a nomad, outsider, or adventurer. It was originally a harsh expression used in the early 1800s to describe the Romany (gypsy) population of Paris, whom the French believed were from Bohemia, a historical region in the present-day Czech Republic. Since then, this word has evolved, and today it means being free-spirited, unconventional, and eclectic, and it is these qualities that have carried over into a loosely defined approach to interior design.
Who Is Cut Out for The Bohemian Style Interior Design?
Basically, this style is for those who aspire to make their houses full of life, culture, and interesting items for the entire world to see. It is an eclectic home decoration for those who whole heartedly embrace creativity and are carefree. This is a tad quirky décor for those who wish to lead an unconventional life, say, for instance, travellers and those from the creative segment like actors, writers, etc.
Bohemian Home Decor Ideas
Below is a list of bohemian home decor ideas for you.
- Go For Vibrant Color Palettes
- Mix Lush Patterns and Textiles For Boho Interior Design
- Accessorize Boho Room Decor with Ornamental Pieces
- Rethink Old Furniture for Boho Living Room Décor
- Bohemian Chic Interior Design Is Incomplete Without Lighting
- Hang Plants for Bohemian Home Décor
- The Finishing Touch with Family Heirlooms
01. Go For Vibrant Color Palettes
Well, we did say that there are no rules when it comes to Bohemian decorating, yet a look into Bohemian interior design reveals that warm earthy colours, metallics, and jewel hues are common. Go ahead and use shades of deep brown, green, and grey as your base colours, but remember that what makes this style stand out is the knack for combining and layering hues. So, don’t forget to accessorise your base colours with saturated purple, fiery orange, and electric blue!
02. Mix Lush Patterns and Textiles for Boho Interior Design
Replicate the same rule with patterns and textures and use dyed textiles and patterns from around the globe to lend your space a tone of exoticism, for example, ikat from Cambodia or suzani from Central Asia. You can even make layers of throws atop your furniture or hang rugs and tapestries on the walls neck-to-neck with your photograph frames and paintings. And of course, don’t forget to strategically capitalise on white to bring a little visual space into the equation.
03. Accessorize Boho Room Decor with Ornamental Pieces
Being radically opposite to the minimal, modern, and sleek style, Boho interior design firmly adheres to the more is more philosophy, with the underlying rule being to mix and match. So how about combining natural materials like burlap and sisal with chenille and silk? Do ensure that the materials have a slightly worn look. Signature elements of the Boho design embellishments comprise crochet, fringe, and macramé pillows, curtains, throw-rugs and canopies over beds and living areas.
04. Rethink Old Furniture for Boho Living Room Décor
Previously owned and vintage items are perfect to capture this look. What is important here is that each piece of furniture should be exclusive and tell a story. Some Bohemian decor ideas in this segment are plush chairs and couches in saturated shades; overstuffed floor pillows for an inviting floor-seating ambience; chaise lounges, daybeds, butterfly chairs etc. The mantra is simple: Just let your imagination run wild!
05. Bohemian Chic Interior Design Is Incomplete Without Lighting
Swap overhead fixtures with candles, lanterns, and floor and table lamps in varying shapes, styles, and sizes to emit the understated lighting that is distinctive to Bohemian design.
06. Hang Plants for Bohemian Home Décor
How can we forget this important component while thinking of Bohemian decor ideas? Enliven your space with ferns and hanging plants; philodendron and peace lilies; or even succulents, which are easily available and that too in a range of colours and textures. They demand less maintenance. Occasional watering and a sunny spot are all that they need. For more home décor ideas, have a look at our blog.
07. The Finishing Touch with Family Heirlooms
You just cannot complete your Bohemian look without family heirlooms, handcrafted items, and memorabilia from your travels. The only condition here is that they should share a story about you; it could be maps, tapestries, vintage bottles, mismatched china, an ornate chandelier, or a chunky gold-framed mirror.
Features Of Bohemian Style Interior Design
If you are still not clear what Bohemian style is, have a look at the features of Bohemian style interior design. Below is a list for you.
01. Boho Interior Design Style Is Organic
The Boho design incorporates elements of the natural world, both literally and visually. So, plants are primary as they infuse life, air, and energy into a space. You can achieve a maximal look by using bright colours and geometric patterns. If you are not much of a green thumb, then opt for nature-inspired patterns like florals or leafy prints.
02. Bohemian Style Is Layered
What sets Boho apart is layers; these could be in the form of a marriage of bright patterns or a cosy combination of neutral textiles. Throw cushy blankets over a ladder leaning against a shiplap wall, hang a beaded pendant from a wooden beam, place patterned rugs over reclaimed floors—there’s so much that you can do! And go ahead and splurge your heart’s desire on blankets and rugs. The more, the merrier!
03. Bohemian Style is Textured
Woven textures like rattan and wicker create the cosy warmth that characterises the Boho style. You could bind Kazi sweet grass baskets of different sizes to a wall to create a cohesive and natural Boho design. Basically, this look blends varying cultures and artistic expressions into an eclectic style with a deep thrust on natural elements; so, you could mix animal hides, materials, metals, patterns, trinkets from your travels, woods, etc.
04. Boho Interior Design Style Is Inspired by Different Parts of The World
If you are a travel buff, then your house will have memorabilia like globally-sourced woven baskets, multi-coloured juju hats, hand-carved wooden side tables, wool rugs, etc. That’s what the Bohemian style is all about: embracing cultural influences and depicting a global style. So, what are you waiting for? Dig out those safely stored-away art pieces, souvenirs, textiles, vases etc, and let them narrate your travel story.
05. Bohemian Style Is Diverse
This look focuses on mixing and matching to create an eclectic blend of colours, shapes, and visuals. How about adding assorted motifs into your bathroom space, say geometric wallpaper, nature-inspired art, a tribal rug, and bright colours and patterns? Trust us, the outcome will turn out to be uniquely Bohemian.
06. Bohemian Style Is Comfortable
All those cosy layers and texture that we’ve been harping on in this blog collaborate to ring in one key design element, viz. comfort. Go ahead and create your own Bohemian space with soft fabrics, cool hues, and punchy patterns.
Revisiting The Characteristics Of Bohemian Interior Design
Incorporate some essential characteristics to transform any room in your sweet home into a Boho room. Here is a list of such essential characteristics:
- Heterogeneous colour palettes: Opting for a range of deep jewel tones, bright colours, earthy colours, or even a heady mix of all three will suffice in injecting the Boho ambience into any living space. Want to go a step further? Then go ahead and display macramé or natural-dyed wall hangings on Boho-chic aesthetic, white walls.
- Incompatible textiles and patterns: Well, if you’re looking out for symmetry, then the Boho style is not for you, my friend! This style will incorporate burlap, chenille, sisal, silks, and crushed velvet, all in the same space. The reason being that Boho Design basically entails recklessly foraying into the untouched world of mixed patterns, which is considered taboo by other interior design styles.
- The global impact: Common features of the Boho look comprise Cambodian Ikat and Persian area rugs.
- Frayed and natural: Second-hand vintage items are the focal points of Boho interiors; you can experiment with inimitable sculptures, paintings, pottery, and rugs that help tell a story that’s unique to your room.
- Green is vital: Boho space needs to be colourful, fresh, and lively, so add succulents and houseplants.
- Furniture dedicated to lounging: Bohemian furniture is mandatorily low to the ground, prepared from organic materials, and scattered with plush pillows and throws. In case you have pieces of furniture of odd heights and colours, then bingo! Popular Bohemian Design trends comprise chaise beds, rattan chairs, mid-century coffee tables, and Moroccan pouffes.
- Warm lighting: Bohemian décor could include both candles, lanterns, and table lamps for lending a warm ambience, or alternatively, a combination of a flashy dining room chandelier with modern pendant lights.
Finally, while many abide by a “more is more” approach, you can adopt the Bohemian interior design in whichever variant you are comfortable with: maximalist, minimalist, modern, chic, etc. The key here lies in mixing, matching, layering, and exploring; including mementoes from your travels; and creating a cozy and meaningful space.
Also read
15 Wall Decor Ideas to Refresh Your Space!
10 DIY Interior Decoration Ideas for Your Home That You Must Try!
Create a Boho Chic Garden Area With These Simple Tips
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.
