18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (2024)

Design Styles

More Design Styles

By

Valerie Ott

Valerie Ott

Valerie Ott is a lifestyle writer who has over two years of experience writing on home decor, accessories, and DIY projects. Her work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, and she runs a blog on home accessories.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

and

Lacey Ramburger

18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (1)

Lacey Ramburger

Lacey Ramburger is a personality expert specializing in Zodiac, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Updated on 05/31/24

Boho design style is unconventional and artistic, a free-spirited approach to home decor that has roots going back to the 16th century. Today, bohemian is more of an adjective than a noun and indicates an aesthetic influenced by generations past.

18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (2)

A modern boho-style interior can be a maximalist space filled with color, pattern, texture, and a multitude of vintage and global decor objects. Or it can feature a streamlined interpretation of the style with white walls, woven accents and furniture, and natural decor elements like plants and dried florals.

Check out these boho design style ideas for inspiration on how to make your home decor more eclectic.

What Is a Boho Style Home?

Boho-style home decor combines items that are relaxed, bold, and unconventional. The look typically involves an eclectic mix of natural elements and many colors, patterns, and textures.

  • 01 of 18

    Mix Patterns and Colors

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (3)

    When it comes to creating a boho-style space, all rules go out the window. Bright colors and lots of patterns such as florals and paisleys mixed with natural prints and mismatched patterns are a hallmark of boho style, like this space from Dazey Den. If brights aren't for you, embrace a subdued mix of shades like olive green, cognac, mustard yellow, and rusty oranges.

    Continue to 2 of 18 below

  • 02 of 18

    Use Natural Finishes

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (4)

    The hippie influence of the 1960s and '70s on boho design ushered in an infusion of accessories that utilize natural or raw materials such as hemp, sisal, wood, and rattan. Think woven wall decor, macrame plant hangers, a sisal or wool Moroccan rug, and leather furniture.

  • 03 of 18

    Emphasize Culture

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (5)

    Bohemian styles have significant ties to global and cultural aspects, so it's important to know exactly what you're representing when decorating your space. This space from Afro Bohemian Living features African artwork, woven baskets, and decorative items for an authentic feel.

    Focus on Authenticity

    With such a focus on global influences, boho design can be prone to cultural appropriation. To ensure your space celebrates other cultures respectfully, it is essential to educate yourself about the significance of items and pay attention to sourcing to ensure that you are buying items from creators rather than imitators.

    Continue to 4 of 18 below

  • 04 of 18

    Add Global Accents

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (6)

    If you're lucky enough to travel to far-flung locales, look for souvenirs that can help you achieve a layered boho-style feel. Otherwise shop thrift stores, flea markets, or source global decor pieces online.

    Continue to 5 of 18 below

  • 05 of 18

    Go Casual

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (7)

    Boho-style spaces are not fussy. Think floor pillows and leather poufs, piles of pillows or a comfy area rug, and spaces that encourage conversation, reading, and listening to music or playing games rather than watching TV.

    Continue to 6 of 18 below

  • 06 of 18

    Try Thrifted Pieces

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (8)

    While thrifting for that perfect find may require some serious effort, you would be surprised at how many potential boho-style accents you can acquire on a budget—especially when it comes to textured pieces like wicker.

    Emma Wilson of Wilson Aesthetics snagged this wicker shelf online, which serves as the perfect place to display her curated decor collection.

    Continue to 7 of 18 below

  • 07 of 18

    Layer Plenty of Textures

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (9)

    Layering textures in your space can help create a chic boho-style atmosphere. Try layering boho-style bedding in a mix of textures, colors, and/or patterns, or add a chunky knit throw on your bed to add dimension to a more minimalist room.

    Continue to 8 of 18 below

  • 08 of 18

    Mix Styles

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (10)

    Mix boho-style with midcentury modern accessories. For example, a mid-century hairpin leg desk mixed with a geometric print rug and a sleek white bookshelf with plants galore will achieve the look flawlessly.

  • 09 of 18

    Be Artistic in Your Design

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (11)

    No bohemian-style space would be complete without a curated, creative mix of art and books. Pile art books on the coffee table, frame album covers as wall art, or hang an eclectic collection of art prints on a gallery wall that stretches floor to ceiling, like this living room from Dazey Den.

    Continue to 10 of 18 below

  • 10 of 18

    Try Boho-Style Neutrals

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (12)

    If you aren't wild about color, design a boho-style living room with a focus on neutrals. Esther Schimdt added textured with layered rugs, leather and wicker accents, and a gallery wall.

    The 9 Best Ottomans of 2024

    Continue to 11 of 18 below

  • 11 of 18

    Add a Touch Of Whimsy

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (13)

    Boho style is meant to be playful, so have fun with it. This apartment by interior designer Alvin Wayne has its share of plants, muted tones, and a calming presence—yet the geometric tapestry on the wall boasting bright, abstract hues adds a whimsical touch to the room without overpowering it.

    Continue to 12 of 18 below

  • 12 of 18

    Pair Earthy and Glam

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (14)

    Pair earthy and glam textures and finishes to add interest to a boho-style interior. This living room by Blue Copper Design mixes leather and wood accents with white walls and floor-to-ceiling curtains for an airy and polished feel.

    Continue to 13 of 18 below

  • 13 of 18

    Decorate With Plants

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (15)

    A bohemian style room can never include too many potted plants. This living room from Leaf and Lolo is covered with natural greenery in various shapes, sizes, and styles. The macrame wall hanging and the wicker baskets enhance the boho-style feel.

    Continue to 14 of 18 below

  • 14 of 18

    Give It a Personal Touch

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (16)

    Ultimately, boho style isn't about creating something perfect—it has to do with making the space feel like your own. Adding personal touches can tie things together. This cozy corner from Home and Spirit includes a string of pothos plants and a painted mural to liven things up next to the white macrame indoor hammock.

    Continue to 15 of 18 below

  • 15 of 18

    Keep It Simple

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (17)

    You don't have to go all out to create a boho-style room (unless you want to). Keeping things simple can sometimes be the key—like this bedroom by Arbor & Co. A black-and-white color palette, a simple tapestry, and an oversize rug make up most of the decor here for an effortless feel.

    Continue to 16 of 18 below

  • 16 of 18

    Add a Gallery Wall

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (18)

    Gallery walls can take a boho-style room to the next level. The key is to work not only with photos or art prints but also with objects, like this space from House of Chais. There are really no rules—and definitely no rhyme or reason—to how your art collections and decor objects should be arranged.

    Continue to 17 of 18 below

  • 17 of 18

    Mix With Other Styles

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (19)

    Mix eclectic boho style with minimalist and functional Scandinavian design to create a modern boho-style bedroom like this space from S.U.S.A.P.

    Continue to 18 of 18 below

  • 18 of 18

    Add a Statement Piece

    18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (20)

    Bohemian styles do not necessarily need a centerpiece to work, but statement pieces can absolutely contribute to the room's overall feel. This bedroom by K Shan Design features a retro wicker flower-shaped headboard that screams boho-style chic.

History of Boho Design Style

The term bohemian design style is derived from shorthand for the French word bohémien, referring to Bohemia, a region in present-day Czech Republic. Bohemia was erroneously believed to be the homeland of the Romani people, the largest ethnic minority group in Europe. Originating in India, the Romani largely led ambulant lifestyles and were known for their creativity, many being skilled artists, musicians, and tradespeople.

In 16th-century France, the word "bohemian" evolved to include any artist, writer, actor, or musician who led an unconventional lifestyle, traveling quite a bit throughout major European cities with little money. A more recent hotbed for boho-style culture existed in Greenwich Village in New York City during the 1950s, as embodied by the Beat Generation and the hippy culture of the 1960s and '70s.

While the Romani people who inspired this style have experienced persecution and discrimination for centuries, after being embraced by middle and upper-class white people, boho design has come to be seen as trendy and fashionable in modern times.

What are the types of boho-style decor?

Bohemian style was originally characterized by its colorful and maximalist embrace of the eclectic and the eccentric. Modern boho-style interiors are often mixed with midcentury modern, Moroccan, or Scandinavian influences, or interpreted with a minimalist touch using neutral palettes and choice accessories.

What are the main boho design colors?

There is no defining color palette for bohemian style interiors, which can range from earth colors to jewel tones to more modern neutral palettes. Feel free to mix and match colors, patterns, and textures to create your own interpretation of boho style.

What is the opposite of boho style?

The opposite of boho style is traditional style. Whereas boho style is free-spirited, eclectic, personal, and rule-breaking, traditional style is based largely on 18th- and 19th-century European styles and conventional notions of what a home looks like.While boho style has long been characterized by a maximalist bent, today's boho-style interiors range from a layered, collected aesthetic to boho chic spaces that are neutral-toned and minimalist.

18 Inspiring Boho-Style Rooms (2024)

FAQs

What is boho short for? ›

"BoHo" is a shortened form of bohemian, self descriptive of the style. Virginia Nicholson (granddaughter of Vanessa Bell, one of the pivotal figures of the unconventional, but influential "Bloomsbury Group" in the first half of the 20th century) has described it as a "curious slippery adjective".

What are the key points of bohemian style? ›

Elements of Bohemian Design
  • Tell your story, expressing yourself visually. ...
  • Balance vibrant colors against natural tones. ...
  • Vintage is (always and forever) the new cool. ...
  • Embrace patterns, textures and layers. ...
  • Let the sunshine in to be playfully present.
Jul 14, 2022

What is the meaning of boho style? ›

Boho style is a free-spirited aesthetic that mixes different cultures and artistic expressions into an eclectic style with an emphasis on organic elements and nature. When putting together your boho style space, mixing patterns, metals, woods, materials, animal hides and trinkets from your travels is highly encouraged.

What are boho colors? ›

Choose a color palette: Boho colors often include earthy tones, such as terracotta, olive green, and mustard yellow. Equally, bright jewel tones like fuchsia, emerald green, and sapphire blue work well. Just choose a color palette that reflects your style and then choose pieces of decor that compliment those colors.

Are boho and hippie the same? ›

Originating in many different parts of the world, the boho style is the result of an aesthetic statement, not a political statement. Boho fashion has its roots in part in the hippie movement, but emphasises the particular lifestyle and personality that more and more women are embracing.

What ethnicity is boho? ›

Boho is an abbreviation for “Bohemian Homeless”, i.e. nomads from the Bohemian region. These nomads were of gypsy ethnicity. This is why the Boho style, or Boho-Chic, is also called “gypsy style”. Bohemian nomads had a style and values very different from the bourgeois and patriarchal Parisian society of the time.

What are the 5 types of bohemian? ›

Bohemian types
  • Nouveau Bohemian. The Nouveau Bohemian: This type of Bohemian harmonizes elements of traditional Bohemian ideology with contemporary culture without losing sight of the basic tenets—the glamour, art, and nonconformity. ...
  • Gypsy Bohemian. ...
  • Beat Bohemian. ...
  • Zen Bohemian. ...
  • Dandy Bohemian.

What is the bohemian dress code? ›

The bohemian, or “boho” style is one inspired by art, the 60s and 70s, travel, and free-spiritedness. By embracing their love of color, patterns, and fun, and keeping a few simple concepts in mind, you can dress just like a bohemian.

What are the four bohemian ideals? ›

artists, and writers). Four core values, or guiding principles, of Bohemianism included Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love. By living by these principles, Bohemians were less concerned with the pursuits of upward mobility and tended not to have permanent ties to places or things.

What is boho slang for? ›

a person who is interested in artistic and unusual things, for example art, music, or literature, and lives in an informal way that ignores the usually accepted ways of behaving: Brooklyn bohos. Synonym. bohemian.

What does boho decor look like? ›

Bright colors and lots of patterns such as florals and paisleys mixed with natural prints and mismatched patterns are a hallmark of boho style, like this space from Dazey Den. If brights aren't for you, embrace a subdued mix of shades like olive green, cognac, mustard yellow, and rusty oranges.

What does boho symbolize? ›

The Bohemian Style stands for freedom, art, peace, love and joy. So the boho style is much more than just a fashion trend. It describes a lifestyle that is unconventional, creative, musical and critical of political and social society.

What is the opposite of boho style? ›

Unlike boho's vibrant patterns and accessories, minimalism embraces simplicity, clean lines, and understated elegance. The minimalist movement in fashion has gained popularity with its focus on essential pieces and streamlined design, making it a stark contrast to the bohemian aesthetic.

Is purple a boho color? ›

While boho-style decorating doesn't have rules, combining and layering warm earthy colors, metallics, and jewel tones makes this style unique. Think deep browns, greens, and grays for base colors, and then accessorize with deep purple, fiery orange, and electric blue.

Is gray a boho color? ›

Bohemian colour, as the name suggests, is a mixture of artistic expressions and various cultures giving it an aesthetic look. Some of the most popular and common bohemian colour includes colours like white, brown, yellow, blue, grey and many more.

What does boho brand stand for? ›

Boho is the short for bohemian. The look of boho dresses owed much of it to free spirits and hippies of the 1960s and 1970s, and also the pre-Raphaelite women of the late 19th century.

What is the original meaning of boho? ›

In 1848 William Makepeace Thackeray used the word Bohemianism in his novel Vanity Fair. In 1862, the Westminster Review described a Bohemian as "simply an artist or littérateur who, consciously or unconsciously, secedes from conventionality in life and in art".

What does boho dress code mean? ›

In fashion, the typical boho style is characterised by colourful and wide garments with a versatile mix of jewellery and accessories. In boho clothing everyone can express themselves in their personality and their own interests. Because everything you feel comfortable in is allowed in the boho hippie fashion.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6489

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.