Bohemian interior design is a timeless and hot trending style. Creative and free-spirited, the bohemian style breathes patterns, colors, and refreshing vibes into your interior—regardless of your design preference.
Whether you’re interested in a unique room-by-room aesthetic or looking for an eclectic interior that blends together multiple design styles, boho decor is all you need. No wonder it’s all the hype!
What is Boho Decor?
Bohemian decor, also called boho chic, is a design style that embodies a carefree vibe and free-spirited style. It’s all about mixing and matching different colors, patterns, and textures to put together a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. Unlike Scandi or modern, boho design embraces maximalism—encouraging individuals to express their personal experiences, love for travel, and passion for diverse cultures. The key is to combine relaxed, bold, and unconventional ideas into one room.
While bohemian decor is definitely a rule bender, there are particular themes that are helpful to use as guides. Whether you want to create a purely Boho interior or integrate aspects of the style with other design styles, feel free to inspire your choices with the tips below!
Eclectic Color Scheme
Bohemian decor doesn’t have a standard color palette, but layering vibrant colors, deep jewel tones, and warm earthy hues can instantly give any interior a boho vibe. For an effective bohemian color palette, think of deep browns, grays, and greens as the base colors, and then accessorize with vibrant shades like deep purple, orange, and blue.
Top this with interesting patterns and textures sprinkled throughout the room. Could be chunky Moroccan knit throws draped over a velvet sofa, or a hand-woven Turkish kilim rug layered on a base of a geometric patterned floor. Embrace the global vibe with colorful Indian bedspreads (chanderi) on chairs, or a mudcloth wall hanging (from Mali) next to a gallery of vintage botanical prints. Make it fun!
Key: Although bright and bold decor ideas are the star of this style, keeping the walls white is essential to give the eyes a spot to rest in an exuberant room.
Bohemian Furniture
Bohemian spaces are all about sinking into comfort. Opt for comfortable pieces low to the ground, like butterfly chairs, chaise longues, daybeds, Moroccan poufs, etc. Bonus points if you find them in natural materials.
Avoid streamlined or straight-back seating and create comfortable floor seating with chunky throws and fluffy pillows. And remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive! You can find tons of boho furniture options at your local vintage stores.
Mismatched Textiles & Patterns
A boho interior extends beyond the matchy-matchy rulebook. It incorporates multiple layered textiles and patterns into one space—a combination that might be considered mismatched in other design styles.
Imagine a plush velvet sofa with a chunky, hand-knitted mohair throw, a sisal rug to add warmth underfoot, and a sisal pouf to finish the look. The key is to find a unifying color palette—perhaps earthy browns and greens accented with pops of jewel tones—to make the most unexpected pairings feel cohesive and undeniably bohemian.
Personal Touches
Pull together the eclectic boho decor with personal touches—family heirlooms, handmade items, rare vintage finds, travel souvenirs, you name it!
Think of these personal touches as conversation starters; a hand-stitched quilt from your grandmother, a vibrant painting you created yourself, or a quirky mask from a hidden market in Morocco. Whatever you choose, be sure it represents your personality and speaks to who you truly are!
Global Accents
Considering the boho culture history of celebrating wandering artists, global-inspired home accessories are a great addition to achieve that unique chic boho vibe.
For folks lucky enough to travel to far-flung locales, look for authentic pieces that help you achieve a naturally eclectic vibe. If not, thrift stores, flea markets, or apps like Mercari or Nextdoor have a lot in store for you.
Boho Wall Art
Use the blank, white walls to inject bohemian lifestyle hints into the space. Macrame wall decor, with its intricate knots and playful fringes, adds a touch of handcrafted charm. For a touch of global flair, consider hand-woven tapestries in rich colors and symbolic patterns.
Don’t be afraid to mix mediums — hang a collection of vintage travel posters alongside a dreamcatcher adorned with feathers and trinkets.
Let your walls tell a story and reflect your bohemian spirit!
Boho Accessories
Beauty lies in the details—and a boho interior proves it! Be it decorative items (like sculptures, candles, and baskets) or aesthetic boho accessories (like pillows, art, lamps, and books), each piece pulls the look together.
Bohemian interior design focuses on “more is more.” Unlike minimalist styles, there’s no need to stress about decluttering. As long as each item holds meaning or purpose, you can layer and curate without worrying about having “too much.”
Bohemian Lighting
Complete the warm, inviting Boho atmosphere with understated lighting. Instead of overhead fixtures, sprinkle multiple floor and table lamps, candles, and lanterns across the room. Be sure to keep the fixture design and color in line with the overall Boho decor. You can find tons of options on the global design market to create the perfect mix-and-match look.
Greenery
Boho decor falls flat without plants… lots of them! Not only does greenery add a punch of color, but it also improves air quality—so the more, the merrier.
The rule for plants in boho chic design is anything goes. Fill every empty corner. There is no right place for peace lilies. There is no magic number of succulents you should add. Things don’t have to match. The choice simply depends on how familiar you are with plant care and the amount of time you have on hand to care for your green friends. Snake plants and dracaenas, for example, are easy to care for.
You can also add levels with plant stands for extra visual interest. For example, use a tall plant stand to showcase a trailing plant near a window and place a shorter stand with a succulent arrangement on a side table. This creates a layered effect that introduces depth to your bohemian space.
Casual Vibes
When decorating a bohemian interior, it is important to keep in mind not to make the space fussy. Boho rooms are all about a casual, cozy vibe that promotes feelings of relaxation. Anything from floor pillows, leather poufs, or a comfy area rug can contribute to the calming aura. The secret is to design a space that encourages reading, conversing, or simply kicking back and dozing off in a plush swivel chair.
Organic Feels
Natural, organic feels are centric to bohemian design. Plants, both real and in the form of botanical prints, are a great start. Top this with other creative ideas like keeping the window treatments light to bathe every inch in sunlight. And don’t be afraid to experiment with furniture and decor made of natural materials. Not only do they add a unique aesthetic, but are also sustainable—it’s a win-win for your style and the environment!
Neutral Colors
Neutrals work great as a foundation for multiple design styles, and bohemian interiors are no exception. If you’re someone who isn’t into eclectic decor and bold colors, this is a great chance to work on your neutral color scheme and sprinkle in boho accents here and there.
You can, for example, curate a gallery wall with various art prints in a toned-down color scheme. This keeps things cohesive while staying true to the chaotic vibe a boho interior brings to mind. Layer a print rug over a solid white one and add leather and wicker decor accents to finish off the look.
