Boho vs. Boho-Chic Styles (2024)

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Last Updated May 04, 2024

Interested in boho style? You're not alone. Searches for the keyword showed a 17% rise in popularity this past quarter on Google Trends. Here, we see what they hype is all about — and how to show your unique style by bringing a boho chic vibe into your home. It's truly one style where free expression is not just suggested, it’s required!

What Does Boho Mean?

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Let's take a peek into history to discover the origin of the term boho. Boho is derived from the French word bohémien, and it was coined in the late 19th century to describe theRomani, who were thought to have come to Europe from Bohemia in the Czech Republic.
The Romani were wanderers who lived on the margins of society, excluded from the mainstream. In the early 1800s in Paris, their culture was romanticized because they lived outside conventional society, and the word bohemian came to mean any student, artist, writer or intellectual who adopted a nonconformist lifestyle with few worldly possessions.

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What Is Boho Today?

Today, the term bohemian describes someone with an unconventional, often dismissive, view of social structures and traditions. Modern boho, which has a rise in interest by 18% the last few months on Google Trends, is a style catapulting upwards in interiors and fashion. ('Boho furniture' and 'boho home decor' have similar rises, with increases of 18% and 13% on Google trends, respectively.) It encompasses trends from the beatnik and hippie eras when the cultural aesthetic was similar to the bohemians, and it still represents a counterculture spirit.

What Is Boho Style?

Based on the free-spirited, footloose lifestyle of bohemians and hippies, boho style disengages itself from mainstream fashion and might best be described as "a look of contrived dishevelment." "Boho fashion," our LS Designer Jessica Harris divulged to us, "is romantic and flowy and often includes vintage items and elements from many cultures." For a practival imagining, think of the super-boho color palette: hues are rich and vibrant, and patterns are mixed with abandon. Garments are frequently long and loose, and outfits are layered. No boho outfit is complete without accessories such as necklaces, bracelets and dangly earrings.

Boho chic is a more curated boho look. Pieces may be more closely fitted, more coordinated and use more neutral colors than boho, but the style is still very self-expressive.

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Boho Home Decor


We wanted a bit more info on the aesthetic, so to help us out, we pressed our LS Designer Pamela Oleson, a seasoned specialist in decorating homes in boho and other styles, to give us her end-all, be-all advice. "To bring boho chic into your home," she tells us, "look to the mainstays of the style. It's carefree, worldly, eclectic, and blends the old and the new for a one-of-a-kind, life-well-lived look that expresses your unique personality."

Choose rich, saturated colors

For a warm color scheme, try saffron, bright pink, magenta and golden yellow. Ruby and teal grew in popularity by 14 and 15 percent over the past quarter — consider this your sign to incorporate these two designer-approved hues! Cool boho colors include amethyst, turquoise and jade. You don't have to choose between warm and cool; combine them so your space exudes exuberance and energy. Stick with more neutral tones for large pieces and upholstered furniture for longevity.

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Mix patterns and textures

To reflect the well-traveled vibe of boho, choose patterns from other parts of the world. Africa, Asia and South America all produce distinctive, culturally influenced aesthetics. Think mosaics and tribal prints. For an extra dose of on-trend print, choose paisley and geometrics, which saw rises on Google Trends in search interest by six and five percent over the past quarter, respectively. Select a mix of textures — smooth, plush, soft, coarse — to add another layer of sumptuousness.

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Blend the old and the new

Boho home decor is casual. Feel free to mix your vintage finds with new items, and experiment across a range of decor styles. Authenticity is important, so look for natural materials like wood, leather and sisal.

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Display Your Treasures

When you travel, pick up local textiles and other handcrafted treasures. When you get home, give these pieces a place of prominence in your room, perhaps as a curated collection on a global style wood table or wall. You can achieve the same look by shopping at stores that specialize in imported goods.

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Look for Soft Forms and Rounded Edges

One of the keys to boho home decor is comfort, so look for soft, upholstered furniture and add lots of cushions and ottomans. This is one style where it's okay to fill your room to the brim. Furniture and accessories with soft curves blend well with rich colors and multiple patterns. (Curved furniture, by the way, isn't soft in popularity: over the past quarter on Google Trends, it grew hard and fast, by 15% this past quarter.)

Watch: Boho Style Tips

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Boho vs. Boho-Chic Styles (2024)

FAQs

Boho vs. Boho-Chic Styles? ›

Boho chic is a more curated boho look. Pieces may be more closely fitted, more coordinated and use more neutral colors than boho, but the style is still very self-expressive.

What is the difference between boho and boho chic? ›

Chic Fashion is a combination of both Boho and Hippie styles. It's a more polished and put-together look that includes elements of both styles. White bohemian dresses are a style of clothing that typically feature flowing, loose-fitting designs, often with intricate embroidery or lace details.

What are the different types of boho? ›

Bohemian types
  • Nouveau Bohemian.
  • Gypsy Bohemian.
  • Beat Bohemian.
  • Zen Bohemian.
  • Dandy Bohemian.

Is boho chic still in style? ›

The core of boho aesthetics is all about being artistic and carefree. It is still the same in 2024 but has a modern take. A lot has changed since this style was first invented, like the lifestyle of people, the introduction of technology, and the style and size of homes.

How do you describe boho style? ›

What Is Bohemian Style? Born carefree and eclectic, bohemian design mimics the artistry of those who appreciate the textures, patterns, colors and motifs of nature. While many take a “more is more” approach, you can do boho however you'd like: maximalist, minimalist, modern, chic.

What does boho chic look like? ›

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

What dress code is boho chic? ›

The essential components of a Bohemian Attire include lace, patchwork, embroidery, and various colors. A dress in a solid color with a boho vibe is impossible to find. It must be constructed from sturdy materials that are vibrant, have a variety of prints, and are most importantly intriguing.

What is modern boho style called? ›

Modern boho, also known as urban boho, is a variation of bohemian style. Urban boho adopts the most prominent elements of the bohemian style, such as rattan, macramé, and ethnic patterns on pillows and rugs.

What is the opposite of boho style? ›

The polar opposite of boho, minimalism requires less to create its gallery-style aesthetic. As its name suggests, it's about keeping the number of objects down.

What is classic boho style? ›

Throughout history, Bohemian fashion has undergone significant transformations, reflecting the cultural shifts and influences of each era. Today, contemporary Bohemian fashion embraces flowing fabrics, vibrant colors, and natural, woven materials instead of knits.

Is boho out of style in 2024? ›

Boho style is by no means a new trend, but 2024 has updated this earthy look. Inspired by organic shapes, colors, and a free-spirited attitude, bohemian style is easy and breezy. However, 2024 is giving the boho look a darker twist with deep-colored accent walls and jewel tones peppered throughout the home.

What is another term for boho-chic? ›

The term, "bobo chic" (also known as "hobo-grunge", "heroin chic" or "luxe grunge"), had similar connotations, "bobo" (or "BoBo") being a contraction of "bourgeois" and "bohemian" coined by New York Times columnist David Brooks in his book, Bobos in Paradise (2000).

What color is boho-chic? ›

Some of the most common colors in a boho colour scheme are yellow, brown, white, light grey, blue, and red. A combination of these colors may be too much visually in other styles, but boho just finds a way to make them work and look effortlessly cohesive.

What is the difference between boho and boho chic decor? ›

Boho chic is a more curated boho look. Pieces may be more closely fitted, more coordinated and use more neutral colors than boho, but the style is still very self-expressive.

What makes a boho outfit? ›

Since the boho outfits are inspired from the hippie culture, some of the common silhouettes are Mini-skirt, waistcoats, denim shorts, dresses with different patterns and color palette, loose fitted tops, long flowy dresses with surface ornamentations such as embroideries, tassels, and prints.

What is the meaning of boho chic? ›

Short for “bohemian,” boho as a style is most closely associated with the hippies of the '60s and '70s, but the truth is it borrows from so many fashion subcultures and time periods that almost any outfit can be "boho" if you style it right. Especially if you mix in a few of these elements along the way.

What does boho chic stand for? ›

Boho-chic is a style of fashion drawing on various bohemian and hippie influences, which, at its height in late 2005 was associated particularly with actress Sienna Miller, model Kate Moss in the United Kingdom and actress/businesswoman Mary-Kate Olsen in the United States.

What color is boho chic? ›

Some of the most common colors in a boho colour scheme are yellow, brown, white, light grey, blue, and red. A combination of these colors may be too much visually in other styles, but boho just finds a way to make them work and look effortlessly cohesive.

What is considered boho clothing? ›

Since the boho outfits are inspired from the hippie culture, some of the common silhouettes are Mini-skirt, waistcoats, denim shorts, dresses with different patterns and color palette, loose fitted tops, long flowy dresses with surface ornamentations such as embroideries, tassels, and prints.

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