18 Ways to Embrace Boho Style for a Laidback Look You’ll Love

Jessica Bennett

Mon, July 18, 2016 at 4:48 PM UTC

6 min read

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The relaxed, global-inspired boho aesthetic bends traditional design rules to create a personalized look. Embrace the style’s vibes with these ideas.

The idea of "bohemian" originated in 16th-century France, evolving to encompass unconventional lifestyles typical of creatives who traveled from place to place entertaining people and earning money selling their artwork. In the late 1950s, the Beat Generation continued the bohemian lifestyle, leading up to the current trend of boho fashion and interior design.

Boho style incorporates an eclectic mix of colors, patterns, and textures. The relaxed, global-inspired style bends design rules while keeping a distinct, identifiable ambiance. The free-spirited and artistic aesthetic combines different cultural influences in spaces that are distinctly different from any other room you've been in. Embrace boho with these creative decorating ideas and make your home the personalized, unique space you want it to be.

Boho Style Bedroom Ideas

Bold, colorful patterns are a hallmark of bohemian home decor. Incorporate boho style into your bedroom by layering in patterned area rugs, throw blankets, and pillows. Choose a variety of patterns (such as stripes or shibori), but stick to a similar color palette to keep the look consistent. Add a bench at the end of the bed to complete the look.

Related: 13 Boho-Style Bedroom Ideas

Simple Boho Style

Bohemian style allows for experimenting with vibrant colors and quirky accessories but can also take on a more subdued, sophisticated air. You can incorporate boho decor into your space in smaller ways by choosing unique patterns and textures. In this bedroom, fringed pillows and Damask-inspired wallpaper introduce boho flair. Still, the black-and-white color scheme keeps it polished.

Outdoor Boho Style

Create a boho-style outdoor space perfect for relaxing evenings and laid-back entertaining. Opt for casual seating choices that optimize comfort. Layer several patterned area rugs underneath to turn a patch of grass into a cozy outdoor room. Just make sure all rugs and furniture fabrics are rated for outdoor use.

Boho-Style Porch

With its Moroccan elements and patterns, this porch is an unmistakable example of boho style. A high-sided sofa, lined with fringed textiles, pulls up to a versatile leather pouf, providing a cozy spot to read a book or entertain guests. Garlands and chandeliers, hung at various heights, bring the eye upward, while an ornate folding screen offers privacy.

Small-Space Boho Style

Turn a small space into lofted bunks to maximize angled dormer ceilings. Eclectic bohemian style is ideal for mismatched bedding and furniture, so gather antique or thrifted finds to outfit the room. Here, whitewashed plank walls let the fun patterns and bright colors be the focus.

Boho-Style Home Office

Feel free to mix and match styles with bohemian decorating. This home office combines a shaggy Moroccan rug with a salvaged desk, overstuffed chaise lounge, modern cube bookcase, and ’70s accents. The white walls and floor allow the more vibrant pieces to pop.

Boho-Style Living Room

Textiles and artwork are two easy ways to infuse boho style into your space. Layer a colorful rug over your existing one, then stock up on embroidered, block-printed, beaded, or tasseled throw pillows. Add color to your walls by hanging a gallery of interesting framed drawings and paintings.

Boho Meets Modern Style

A neutral backdrop of creamy whites and warm woods allows more unusual boho-style decor choices to become the focal point. This primarily neutral dining space blends pink wire chairs with modern, sculptural white ones, with both styles pulled up to a more traditional dining table. The remaining accents, such as a black globe pendant light, are few—but pack a punch.

Colorful Boho Style

If you love many different styles, focus your decor on a single color. Many elements in this bedroom (the canopy drapes, quilt, pillows, and artwork) feature strong and varied patterns. The combination works well because they all predominantly feature the same shade of hot pink.

Neutral Boho Ideas

Bohemian style doesn’t have to be extremely colorful. When the correct elements are collected and layered correctly, even a mix of brown hues can evoke an artistic sensibility. Weathered wood and tan tones dominate this bohemian dining space. An old rug features hints of pink and orange, and plants provide freshness.

Sophisticated Boho-Chic Style

Bohemian style is often characterized as unrestrained and relaxed, but there is a way to pull off the style elegantly. Embrace the fun patterns and bold colors you love, but temper them with a dark, rich charcoal or chocolate brown backdrop. When selecting fabrics, opt for sumptuous silks and velvet. Finally, add a gilded touch with a metallic light fixture or accents.

Bohemian Bar Cart

Use empty wall space by transforming it into a handy cocktail-serving spot. In keeping with boho style, look for a bar cart made of rattan or wood instead of glass or metal. A graphic red-and-white rug, potted plants, and an upholstered chair define this living space. Fun artwork and a quirky wall sconce above the bar cart add color and interest.

Boho-Style Living Room Ideas

Incorporating bohemian style into your home doesn’t mean starting over. Instead, blend the laid-back style with your existing decor by targeting one central area, such as the floor or walls. In this living room, a pair of rugs (an animal hide layered over a larger jute rug) helps the overall space take a big step toward bohemian style. Cheerful pillows refresh traditional furniture, and a sizable fiddle leaf fig tree adds warmth.

Boho-Style Patterns

Make a tremendous impact without breaking the bank by hanging a dynamic wallpaper on an accent wall, such as a floral or botanical print. To balance the pattern’s busyness, mellow round shapes are repeated throughout this dining room’s mirror, light fixture, and dining table. A color palette based around the same warm wood color unites the look.

Bohemian Kids Room

A medley of animal decor pieces provides a youthful take on bohemian style for a playroom or children’s space. Artwork, lighting, and even a simple rocking horse expand on the theme. Brightly patterned wallpaper adds impact, while a whimsical garland supplies decoration that can be switched out.

Boho-Style Bedroom Decor

Showcase a stunning fabric panel by hanging it on your bedroom wall. It makes a stylish substitute for a headboard when centered behind a bed. The key is to hang it high to display as much of the large-print pattern as possible.

Easy Boho Style

A distinctive bohemian-inspired fabric, such as ikat or a suzani print, is an easy way to infuse the eclectic style into any space. In addition to this bold blue ikat table skirt, a framed ethnic necklace, salvaged architectural trim, and graphic artwork all help lend a layered and collected look to this bohemian entryway.

Breezy Boho Decor

This warm bedroom has several classic boho elements, including a suzani needlework pillow, sunburst mirror, and fringed table skirt. Yet the space feels fresh because of a surprising jungle-green painted ceiling. A dose of airy white, rich wood tones and warm gold accents keep the adventurous color choice from feeling overwhelming.

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