Design Styles Defined: Your Guide to Bohemian Style Interiors

As we’ve seen in our ongoing blog series exploring popular home décor styles and aesthetics, the design spectrum is wide and varied, running from sleek and playful contemporary style on one end to familiar and welcoming traditional interiors on the other.

Other styles occupy various positions between these two anchoring endpoints: We’ve already covered evocative mid-century modern design, cozy Scandinavian décor, in-demand modern farmhouse style, easy transitional spaces, breezy coastal aesthetics, and bejeweled art deco interiors.

Every home and every interior design style has a story to tell. If you like the idea of telling a room-by-room story that’s as creative, laid back, and unique as you are, bohemian style — or boho — may be the way to go. This artistic and unconventional approach combines various colors, patterns, and vintage elements to create a distinctive and personalized space.

Bohemian Interior Design 101: Embracing Boho Style

Boho design is a free-spirited approach to interior decorating — a style that fully embraces playful colors, textures, and patterns, embodies individual expression, and encourages “thoughtful maximalism” through the careful curation and layering of multicultural artwork, textiles, and decorative objects.

Inspired by the original bohemians — or the 19th century artists, writers, performers, nomads, and adventurers who believed creativity was more valuable than money — boho style first appeared in Parisian interiors in the 1890s, and quickly caught on throughout central Europe.

The bohemian mindset emerged during a time of civic unrest and social change. Backed by an “outsider” concept of life that merged cultures, ideals, and a staunch refusal to conform to accepted conventions and beauty standards, the boho mentality effectively tossed out all the rules and embraced the unconventional. The Beat Generation further influenced this style, emphasizing a break from societal norms.

As a popular and enduring interior style, bohemian style décor has evolved to become a nonconformist, highly individual, free-spirited, anything-goes approach to design. Hippie culture also played a significant role in shaping bohemian design, promoting creativity and individuality.

This evolution reflects a rejection of mainstream culture, highlighting the connections between bohemianism and various cultural movements.

Elements of Bohemian Room Design

When they’re done well, boho interiors exude eye-catching creativity that illuminates a space in a tasteful yet totally unique way. Through the artful layering and mixing of patterns, colors, and furniture styles, it imbues every room it touches with fun, free-spirited vibes. Earthy tones like terracotta and olive green provide a solid foundation for the overall design, drawing inspiration from nature and global cultures.

From a well-packed room bursting with color and pattern to a more toned-down space that exudes global exoticism, there’s nothing cookie-cutter about boho décor. Mixing and matching hues such as earth colors, jewel tones, and modern neutral palettes can help form a unique boho style. Wood accents also play a crucial role in enhancing bohemian design, adding warmth and a natural element to the space. Here are a few tips to help guide the process of achieving a boho look that’s just right for you.

1. Tell your story, expressing yourself visually

Bohemian style is essentially a combination of the unconventional, the imaginative, and the explorer, with the main idea being this: Tell a visual story of where you’ve been and what you love, in a way that’s meaningful to you.

Given that the origin of this design style is rooted in creatives, such as writers and artists who valued self-expression that had no conventional rules and embraced unconventional lifestyles, bohemian style design asks you to curate your own style of beauty using your experiences as your muse, and your home as your canvas.

Natural elements are a common theme of boho style — from potted plants, stones, feathers, and nests to rustic stoneware and clay pottery, nature draws the eye and offers a counterpoint of calming energy. Maps, travel artifacts, original artwork, and cherished family heirlooms are other highly personal design elements that often appear in boho interiors.

Get started by creating an inventory of what you’re most passionate about, and find artifacts that exhibit those passions. You don’t need to commit to a single theme, cultural influence, or even concept. Instead, think eclectically.

2. Balance vibrant colors against natural tones

Classic bohemian design tends to use an abundance of color, whereas the more modern take on boho style focuses on neutrals and earth tones. If you opt to infuse your bohemian space with color, don’t be afraid to lean into a bold jewel tone palette.

Gemstone hues such as sapphire, emerald, ruby, and amethyst can serve as inspiration. And when it comes to colorful boho, more is often more — you don’t have to settle on just one or two colors, feel free to include any color that speaks to you and feels right in the space.

But remember: bohemian style is all about being comfortable, so incorporate some neutral tones in the background to give the eyes a place to rest. You can accomplish this by offsetting every colorful element in your scheme with a neutral one: Place a natural jute rug beneath a smaller, heavily patterned rug, or set vibrant artwork in a wide, earth-tone frame.

When it comes to neutrals and earth tones, boho style embraces the kind of colors you might find hiking through the woods: Leafy greens, dusty terracotta, muddy browns, and overcast grays. Whatever speaks to you is what works.

3. Vintage is (always and forever) the new cool

If the heart of bohemian décor is to be original and unique (and it is), then vintage is what it is all about. Vintage objects and pieces are those rare treasures that can no longer be found in conventional stores; they’re also usually the decorative items that spark the most interesting conversations among dinner guests. The influence of hippie style on vintage bohemian decor is evident in the vibrant motifs such as peace signs, daisies, and tie-dye that add a distinct visual element.

You don’t have to be a world traveler to enjoy vintage pieces — simply begin the search in nearby flea markets, thrift stores, or antique shops. A few well-chosen vintage pieces can tie multiple design elements together to really set the boho mood in a given space; vintage finds are also an excellent means of expressing a home’s individuality.

4. Embrace patterns, textures and layers 

Pattern, textures, and layers: All three are hallmark traits of the boho design style.

When it comes to rugs, layering (patterns and textures) is the name of the game. You can start with a jute base and pair an intricate Persian on top; you could even add a colorful handwoven cotton rug, layered at an angle, on top of that. Don’t forget to consider plush shag rugs, which exude a quintessential “cozy boho” feel.

Baskets, foot stools, and poofs of all different colors and patterns (often mixed and matched) are staple elements of bohemian style that are just as functional as they are aesthetic.

Get even more creative by mixing furniture materials and tones, pairing blonde woods with dark woods, or setting a rattan chair alongside an iron metal headboard on a cozy daybed.

Macrame, dream catchers, woven wall décor, statement pillows, and hammock seating options are all wonderful avenues to explore boho style as you decide what you want to incorporate to give your room just the right expression of your inimitable personality.

5. Let the sunshine in to be playfully present

Fussy window dressings aren't very bohemian; instead, opt for bare or minimally adorned windows that let the sunshine in, ushering in that ever-so-basic element of nature — light — that encourages you to be playfully present. 

At the end of the day, boho is all about paying attention to what excites your soul. Those are the colors, pieces, and artifacts that personify the bohemian style of home décor by making it exquisitely expressive of exactly who you are. 

Boho Chic Furniture and Decor

Boho furniture and decor are all about embracing a free-spirited and eclectic approach to decorating. This style combines vintage and global elements with a mix of textures, patterns, and colors to create a unique and visually interesting space. Imagine a room where a mid-century modern chair sits comfortably next to a Moroccan pouf, or where a rustic wooden table is adorned with vibrant, handwoven textiles. The essence of this style lies in its ability to blend the old with the new, the bold with the subtle, and the familiar with the exotic, creating a harmonious yet eclectic environment that feels both curated and spontaneous.

Mixing Styles and Eras

One of the key elements of this style of furniture and decor is the artful mixing of styles and eras. This can include combining vintage pieces with modern furniture, or pairing antique items with contemporary decor. The goal is to create a space that feels layered and eclectic, with a mix of different textures, patterns, and colors. Picture a sleek, modern sofa adorned with an array of colorful, vintage throw pillows, or a contemporary coffee table surrounded by an assortment of antique chairs. The beauty of boho chic lies in its ability to tell a story through its diverse and eclectic mix of elements, each piece adding its own unique chapter to the narrative.

Lighting and Textiles

Lighting and textiles play a crucial role in boho furniture and decor. Vintage or antique lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers or sconces, can add a touch of old-world charm and elegance to a space. Incorporating natural textiles like wool, cotton, and linen into your decor can enhance the cozy, inviting feel of a bohemian room. Bold patterns and vibrant colors can be introduced through throw pillows, blankets, and rugs, adding layers of visual interest and texture. Imagine a room bathed in the warm glow of a vintage chandelier, with a plush wool rug underfoot and a colorful array of patterned pillows and throws adding pops of color and comfort.

Boho Style Updated: Modern Bohemian Interior Design

Boho style doesn't have to look like it came straight out of a 60s-era hippie apartment. You can evoke a free lifestyle without resorting to design themes that are dated or kitschy.

Modern bohemian interior design is the answer. It is a style that seamlessly blends vintage and global elements with a mix of textures, patterns, and colors. This style is characterized by a free-spirited and eclectic approach to decorating, often associated with a relaxed and casual lifestyle. It’s a style that invites you to break the rules and create a space that is uniquely yours, reflecting your personality and experiences. Whether it’s a collection of travel souvenirs, a mix of modern and antique furniture, or a vibrant palette of colors and patterns, modern bohemian design is all about creating a space that feels lived-in, loved, and uniquely you.

Characteristics of Modern Bohemian Style

Some common characteristics of modern bohemian style include:

• A mix of natural materials: Wood, stone, and brick are often used to add warmth and texture to a space.

• A focus on texture and pattern: Mixing different materials and textures, such as a plush velvet sofa with a rough-hewn wooden coffee table, creates a rich, layered look.

• Bold colors: Turquoise, chartreuse, and coral are just a few of the vibrant colors that can be used to add energy and personality to a space and balance out more muted tones.

• Comfort and coziness: Plush throw pillows, blankets, woven baskets, and rugs create a welcoming and comfortable environment.

• A mix of vintage and antique items: Old doors and windows, vintage furniture, and antique decor pieces add character and a sense of history to a space.

Overall, modern bohemian interior design values individuality and self-expression, making it perfect for those who want to create a unique and eclectic space that reflects their personality and style. It’s a style that celebrates the beauty of the unconventional and the joy of creating a home that is truly your own.

For more home-related tips, trends, and advice from Hogan Design & Construction, subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, read our weekly blog, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.