We explore boho style, made popular by inspiration from the relaxed, casual, tribal-influenced living spaces of warmer climates.
With its often summery geographical beauty, breathtaking photographs from every angle and distinctive blend of nomadic, tribal and modern flavours, boho décor has developed a lifestyle with its own signature. From homes to fashion, restaurants to cafés and boutique hotels to cosmetics, it continues to attract creative minds around the world.
Coastal culture has a special place in the boho spirit. Flowing linens, woven mats, tall pampas grasses and oversized cushions come together with every other detail that evokes summer to form the anatomy of bohemian style. At its heart are a little laziness, plenty of natural character and, above all, making time for life's health-focused pleasures.
This decorative style, known as bohemian or boho, also takes inspiration from eclecticism, blending eras, ancient cultures with tribal elements, beliefs and roots. Dyed textiles and patterns from around the world, such as ikat from Cambodia and suzani from Central Asia, bring a sense of the exotic to a space.
A light, airy palette layered over white... In bohemian décor, built on delicate shades such as mother-of-pearl, bone, ecru, beige, mink, sand and nude, textures including raw wood, wicker and bamboo are scattered like commas between lines. They punctuate spaces, textures and layers of colour, distinguishing one from another.
Although it may look simple and minimal, boho décor follows the philosophy that 'more is more beautiful'. As long as you stay with your core colour palette, you can keep filling your home with decorative elements. Layer rugs, hang groups of woven pendant lights and turn the house into a paradise of ceramic bowls, cushions and wooden stools. The rule in a boho-designed space is to mix and match.
Raw wood is like the lion of the white forest, followed by plant-based materials such as jute, sisal, bamboo, rattan and wicker. Ceramics made beautiful by their imperfections, blown glass, crochet, macramé, linen, muslin, kilims, tadelakt plaster and aged brass for occasional glints all belong to the boho material family. You can also introduce plants in a minimal way here and there.
Let us begin with the larger pieces. Your sofa should radiate comfort, with a soft rather than rigid form, large plump back cushions and a deep seat. Instead of angular L-shaped designs, you can choose distinctive C- or U-shaped models. A loose linen cover made for it will take you in the right direction. Do not be modest with the number of cushions: choose different designs in the same style or coordinating colours, preferably ethnic or tribal.
Armchairs around the sofa can have a slightly colonial feel: simple butterfly-shaped designs with slender frames and no bulky body, as though they could be folded up and taken away. There are no thick armrests or solid bodies reaching the floor. They should be compact, movable and simple.
The floor is your playground. Lay an old kilim over a jute rug, then extend another vintage runner from one corner towards the other side of the room. They can continue to connect like overlapping layers. Round woven rugs, however, are a signature of bohemian decoration.
Speaking of signatures, we must not forget the place of woven textures such as wicker, bamboo and cane in boho style. Wicker is to bohemian décor what lungs are to a living being. Wicker, bamboo and rattan textures are always present in lighting, furniture, runners, baskets, pouffes, table settings and wall accessories.
Now for the walls: they cannot remain empty. In boho style, a bridge between cultures and a celebration of primitive art, walls provide the backdrop for creative groupings. Decorative elements such as dreamcatchers, woven plates, wall fans, wooden and ceramic bead strands, masks, batik panels, large leaves, feathers and iron cages appear more often on walls than on coffee tables.
Second-hand shops and antique markets should be on your list of places to visit. Blend characterful wooden pieces found there with contemporary items: imagine brass candlesticks on linen tablecloths, for example. Indirect lighting is the key to a more peaceful atmosphere. If you want to add more, generous groups of woven lights in different shapes or floor lamps will serve you well.
Bamboo or woven headboards are like the throne of bohemian décor. If your current fabric-and-foam headboard is rather unremarkable, replace it with a woven design, perhaps scalloped, half-moon-shaped or made from rows of bamboo.
We mentioned that bohemian style involves a little laziness, did we not? So think big and do not limit yourself. Buy a macramé hammock and place it in a suitable living-room corner for hours of comfort, relaxation and time to yourself. Remember, it is as good for the soul as it is decorative.
Black outlines, borrowed by boho from Nordic style, often appear in furniture frames, mirror frames and textile patterns. In recent years, black has also appeared in nostalgic decorative tiles. Tiles in pairings such as black and white, black and cream, or black and grey suit the splashbacks and floors of bohemian kitchens beautifully.
We said bohemian style values laziness, but that does not mean giving up productivity. If you are a freelancer who loves bohemian style, this solution is for you. The only rule for a workspace is that it should invite you to work. Create a flexible area for movement, an organised storage system and a decorative scheme that encourages creative thinking, motivation and efficiency. Fill the walls with elements that feel warm to you, such as plants, messages, textiles or paintings.
The bathroom is a centre for water therapy and a sanctuary of renewal. Combining water's healing, restorative qualities with nature's other gifts is part of the bohemian philosophy. By introducing large-leaved plants, trailing greenery and plants associated with aromatherapy such as aloe vera or eucalyptus, boho enthusiasts transform their bathrooms into an Amazonian atmosphere.
Bohemian decoration comes alive with people. The style is inherently multicultural, full of different voices and joyful, and all these qualities find meaning when they meet in one place: around the table. Remember, then, that you will need a good understanding of food and dining culture, will often host groups of guests and will spend long hours at the table. Choose a large solid-wood table and surround it with chairs in different shapes but the same style. You can extend this mix-and-match approach to plates and serving pieces. A natural linen-coloured tablecloth, a runner made from gathered leaves and woven placemats form the basis of a bohemian table setting. Do not forget handmade ceramics and brass candlesticks.
