Boho style in the interior: 10 tips for creating + photos

No. 1. Origins of style

Boho style comes from the 18th century. It was then in France that a group of young artists challenged society. They promoted art for art's sake, and the artist himself, in their understanding, had to look so that one would want to look at him. It is not difficult to guess that their clothing style and manner of arranging their own homes were special, similar to gypsies. The French called the gypsies Bohemies, Bohème, and by analogy the new style was called bohemian, or boho. Gypsies used elements from different countries in their clothing and jewelry: bright Indian skirts, embroidered and fringed scarves from China, European fur coats, and all this accompanied by a variety of accessories. Interior boho became approximately the same, collected from different styles and trends.

In the 1960s, this style of clothing and interior design was favored by hippies. Today, boho is common in the West. We are wary of it, considering it, to put it mildly, pretentious, tasteless, too colorful - gypsy, in a word. It is believed that it is not difficult to arrange a room in this way: you took out everything that was stored there from the closets, bought the first wallpaper you came across and did not think about the combination of colors - that’s all ready. But with this approach you can only get bad taste. True boho style is all about thoughtful disorganization. Yes, there will always be many shades, textures and materials in the room, but the use of each is subject to an overall strategy.

No. 2. Main features of boho style in the interior

The motto of the style is “combine the incongruous.” Traditional elements of radically opposite directions can easily coexist in a room. The space should be overloaded with things, and all souvenirs and trinkets dear to the heart should not be hidden - they fill all the walls, shelves and window sills . Important features of the style also include the following nuances:

an abundance of bright natural colors , but it is important to outline a color scheme in advance so that the interior is colorful, but not tasteless;
every interior detail should convey the character, morals and preferences of the owner. That is why things, paintings, embroideries, bedspreads and other handmade items are at a special price. Souvenirs brought from overseas travel are also capable of revealing a person’s tastes, so they need to be placed in a prominent place, and in large quantities;
the emphasis is on ethnic ornaments , figurines, paintings and furniture from different peoples of the world;
the more textiles there are in the room, the better. Preference is given to natural fabrics, both quite heavy and dense, and airy, flying. Remember that in the boho style different universes intersect, so you can even combine diametrically opposed things;
Among the materials, preference is given to wood , with metal in second place. It is better to use natural materials, and you can combine any textures;
You can never have too many plants! This is another rule of boho style, so don't be afraid to go overboard with the landscaping;
modern technology, if present in the rooms, is hidden behind furniture facades;
The furnishings in the room should be cozy and conducive to rest.

Boho is the absence of dullness and routine, it is a riot of colors, expression and motley comfort. Only in this style can vintage and military, lace and velvet, things from different countries and eras coexist. Everything that previously seemed too bright and incongruous to you can be used to create a boho-style interior.

Origin of the style

The boho (Bohemian or gypsy) style originates from France and spread from there thanks to the creative life of nomadic students who decorated their temporary housing with bright decor at hand.

The interior looks bright, overly colorful and rich, there is an organized disorder that is characteristic of the younger generation in wandering conditions.

Tips for creating a boho style interior:

Antique and forgotten items for decoration can be found in your grandmother’s chest or attic; items with family history will be a distinctive feature of the interior design.
There are no rules for combining colors, but in order to avoid emotional discomfort, it is better to think through the integrity of the design, alternating textures and colors of textiles.
Homemade decor will be the best decoration for a boho interior.

No. 3. Color spectrum

Despite all the democracy of the boho style and the seeming absence of rules, some nuances are still worth considering in order to get a truly cozy interior:

choose rich and variegated colors, but these must be natural shades. If it is red, then it is not acid scarlet, but the color of ripe strawberries. It is better to prefer the color of young greenery to flashy green;
Typical colors for the boho style are red, green, blue, orange, yellow, as well as turquoise and fuchsia ;
You can forget about the rule of three colors - it’s too boring for a flashy boho, so feel free to mix different shades, but you shouldn’t throw everything into one room either. It is best to identify several shades and work with them, but not pedantically, but giving free rein to your imagination and the opportunity to take a step aside;
if it turns out too bright, the interior can always be balanced with white.

Geometric, ethnic and floral patterns, and images of animals are held in high esteem.

Lighting and color palette

When making lighting, just follow a couple of simple rules:

natural light should be plentiful: large windows, open curtains;
artificial lighting should be warm: yellow electric light, no white fluorescent bulbs.

Boho loves an abundance of small light sources: a floor lamp by the chair, a small table lamp in the middle of the tabletop, a sconce above the bed, a chandelier under the ceiling.

All this is in fabric, paper or glass lampshades that diffuse light. Even if boho has a modern twist, the lamps should look like they came from the twentieth century.

When it comes to interacting with flowers, there are no rules in boho. This style tends towards brightness and colorfulness, towards an almost lurid variegation. It is characterized by:

green like spring grass;
scarlet and almost screaming pink;
yellow, similar to the color of amber or lemon;
blue, like the deep blue of the sea;
sky blue;
lilac, delicate and almost pastel.

And any shades that seem suitable. There is no need to think about the rules of combination; you need to rely solely on your taste and willingness to live in the resulting interior.

If the design suddenly turns out to be too bright, you can simply remove several elements from it and replace them with white ones - this usually helps.

Small boho living room with emerald walls

Cozy small living room in boho style

Accent on a blue sofa in a boho style interior

No. 4. Preferred Materials

Every time you think about what color, material or furniture to choose for boho, remember that this style implies freedom of expression . This means that the principle works: do as you want. When it comes to wall cladding, this rule works very well. It is best, of course, to leave the walls alone, making do with bright paint or plaster , but if you want to hang wallpaper, do not deny yourself this pleasure. Do you want to decorate your walls with themed photo wallpapers? Forward! Are you missing decorative moldings, borders and rosettes? Don't hold back! For floor finishing, parquet or tiles are usually chosen.

The only rule that can be followed in terms of choosing materials is their preferred naturalness. It is, of course, better to avoid plastic panels, as well as overly modern furniture made from new materials. Wood and textiles will look great in a bohemian interior . You can also use natural materials such as stone, metal, ceramics . If money is not enough, you can take cheaper synthetic substitutes, but true boho can only be created with an abundance of natural things. This is a rare case when it is better to take out old stuff from the bins, which it was always a pity to throw away, restore and use.

No. 5. There is no such thing as too much textiles

Fabrics play such a significant role in the boho style that they deserve a separate section. Textiles cover all possible and impossible surfaces in the apartment. It lies on the bed, sofa and floor, hangs on the wall and on the windows, hangs from the ceiling and lies in wait in all sorts of and sometimes unexpected places.

The boho style combines fabrics of different densities, colors and patterns perfectly . You can use both cotton and linen, as well as fur, velvet, silk, chiffon and cambric. Yarn, macrame, embroidery – these are things that not only can, but should be used in interior design. If the tablecloth is knitted by hand, then its value for bohos increases significantly.

Feel free to cover all surfaces and furniture in the house with textiles. Use bedspreads, plenty of pillows, blankets, canopies, cute rugs and rugs, curtains, tablecloths, chair covers. A carpet is one thing that boho cannot do without. Carpets can be not only on the floor, but also used as wall decoration. Yes, yes, you understood everything correctly. There is a lot of oriental in the boho style, and in Vosk carpets are treated in a special way.

As for the colors of the fabric, preference is given to variegated colors, ethnic American, Indian, Chinese and Moroccan patterns . Woven, knitted and embroidered items are welcome.

Even the most ordinary modern sofa can be transformed by decorating it with a themed throw or throwing in a few colorful pillows. Don't forget that the curtains should be bright.

Decor and textiles

Trinkets and textiles are the true soul of boho. Without them, this style cannot be imagined. The decoration can be anything: real candles, figurines of animals and people, mirrors in intricate frames, jewelry in a box, paintings of any century and direction, worn books and tattered magazines, old photos, antiques, lamps, souvenirs from distant countries. Flowers will fit perfectly: fresh or dried, standing in a painted vase. You can decorate boho with literally anything.

The same variety can be achieved in textiles. It can be represented by: tablecloths, lace and knitted napkins, colorful bedspreads, patchwork blankets, furniture covers, embroidered paintings, pillows, poufs, window curtains, curtains for zoning. And, of course, carpets: colorful, fluffy, on the floor and on the walls.

All this abundance should please the owner; nothing more is required from him.

Boho style combines the incongruous

A bright boho owl pattern enlivens a two-tone interior

No. 6. Boho style furniture

natural whenever possible . No chrome elements typical of modern styles. Another important condition is that the furniture should be comfortable and functional , promote rest and relaxation.

An excellent option for boho is wooden furniture , but other natural materials are also at a premium. Any wooden furniture will look appropriate in a bohemian interior: antiques, items in a simple Scandinavian style, shabby chests of drawers and chairs in the Provence style, as well as truly royal furniture with carvings and textile inserts. A leather sofa, armchairs with high armrests, wicker chairs, and soft poufs are also suitable. Things with history are held in high esteem , so feel free to use antiques and characteristic pieces of furniture from different countries.

However, the sofa and armchairs can be easily replaced with an abundance of pillows thrown on the floor . There should be so many of them that you can literally surround yourself with them, taking a comfortable position. The perfect way to relax!

Distinctive style features and colors

First of all, the boho style is distinguished by its range of bright natural colors and the boldness of their combination. The interior combines from 4 to 8 shades in different proportions and without following the rules of combination. The basis for color creativity is bedspreads, paths, panels, patterns on furniture, curtains and homemade lampshades.

Boho interior is loaded with an abundance of decor and a lot of accessories that create a feeling of disorder. All decorative items are important for style; only favorite and symbolic things for a person are used. The creative interior environment encourages the development of creativity, the ability to create new things and implement ideas.

Boho Features:

Wooden furniture and decor, a large amount of textiles.
Bright and at the same time natural colors (raspberry, light green, sky blue, marsh).
Abundance of decor.
Eclecticism (a combination of different textures and colors, borrowing from different styles).
Simple furniture, lack of advanced technologies and trends.

The most popular colors in boho style are: red, blue, orange, grass, yellow. Berry and natural shades of these colors are used, there are no acidic combinations. Bright colors are combined in the interior without rules or precautions. In order not to overload the style with colors, the walls and background furniture can be white, gray or beige.

In the photo, the Bohemian interior of the living room combines modern bright panels with classic stucco on the fireplace.

Varieties of style

eco-boho (with wooden furniture and natural textiles);
hippie-boho (with floral and animal prints, fringe, baubles and beads on floor lamps);
chic-boho (high-quality furniture and upholstery, expensive carpets, classic decor, clutter);
art-boho (modern paintings, rhinestones, crystal, glass, fur and satin decoration);
classic-boho (ethnic motifs, bright natural colors, combination of different furniture).

The photo shows a boho living room with a patchwork carpet, different wall decorations, and a combination of metal and wood. The wooden ceiling with beams is not decorated with anything and is an independent decoration of the style.

No. 7. Accessories and decor

It seems that when there is an abundance of colors, fabrics and pillows around, decorating the interior is too much, but adherents of the boho style do not think so. The decor of the room should convey the preferences and hobbies of the owners. If you bring souvenirs from each country you visit, then feel free to display them. Are you interested in painting? Wonderful! Hang your art on the walls and don't be afraid to go overboard. Have you made a collage with your children? Let it remind you of a great time and remain in a prominent place.

Everything that is dear and dear to the heart should be in sight: candlesticks and boxes, vases and figurines, photos and paintings, globes and posters, African masks and books - all this is placed on shelves, window sills and floors, and hung on the walls. All these things, one way or another, characterize the owner, which means hiding them is a big mistake.

Accessories can be bright, catchy and contradictory - the main thing is that there is a story behind each item, and the result is a very personal interior, filled with memories and warmth.

No. 8. Plants

If the boho style is so characterized by everything natural, then it’s impossible without plants. This is quite logical. Moreover, it is not necessary to limit yourself to a single cactus or geranium - it is quite appropriate to create a small botanical garden right in your apartment . Greenery goes well with colorful colors and wood, balances the interior, making it calmer and more relaxed. Flower pots can be placed on the floor, windowsill, on special stands and hanging flowerpots.

Our editors' recommendation for those who have decided to decorate their interior in boho style with their own hands

To properly decorate the interior, designers advise using the following techniques:

When decorating a boho-style interior, there are no rules, but there is a sense of proportion. The main thing is to keep all the pictures in the same color scheme; you can simply play with shades. This will create the impression of design integrity;
When choosing decor, it is important that all items have their own history. Rare family treasures will come in handy here, making the interior unique;
only natural materials, no synthetics;
in boho style there should be a lot of fresh flowers: in pots on the floor, on window sills, on tables and open shelves;
The best decoration is self-expression. Hand-made details will not leave any of the guests indifferent. Sew, sculpt, knit, draw, make all your childhood dreams come true. Creativity along with imagination are the main principles of boho design. Turn your home into a small museum.

In the video, the designer advises how to correctly use all the recommendations for the boho style in the interior:

No. 9. Boho in different rooms

Designers have accumulated a lot of ways to instantly convey the mood of the boho style in the interior of a particular room.

Boho style kitchen

A boho kitchen is more than just a place to prepare food. This is a special area for cozy family gatherings, relaxation and rest. The walls are painted or plastered in one tone, the floor can be laid with ceramic tiles, but wood will also do. Don't forget about rugs. If they are knitted or woven with your own hands, it will be absolutely wonderful. The more unusual and original they are, the better.

For furniture, you can choose rough sideboards, and ordinary chairs can be upholstered with multi-colored fabric. Instead of chairs, you can use soft poufs or sofas. All bottles, jars, cereals, preparations, scales, spices, cookbooks and other kitchen utensils can be placed on numerous shelves and hung on rails - this is an excellent decoration for the kitchen. Chrome parts and modern technology are prohibited. The latter is better hidden under furniture facades.

Living room in boho style

The living room can turn into a small home museum or even an arboretum - anything, but modern interior drabness called minimalism must be avoided . There are no requirements for wall decoration: paint, plaster, wallpaper, brickwork, decorative moldings - all this is allowed, and the combinations can be the most daring.

The main thing in the living room is cozy and comfortable furniture. You can’t do without a sofa with colorful upholstery, just like you can’t do without a mountain of pillows. You can complement the soft corner with armchairs and poufs, frame it with a bright rug and an unusual coffee table. Vintage elements can be used as cabinet furniture. Don't forget about tablecloths, bedspreads, curtains and drapes, rare items, family heirlooms, your own collections, souvenirs from travel and handmade items. If there are no paintings painted with your own hand, then you can decorate the walls with your favorite canvases, be it a reproduction of a painting by a Renaissance artist or a bright abstraction.

Boho style bedroom

The sleeping area may not be as shocking and colorful as other rooms. Calm beige, blue and green shades are welcome, but bright splashes can also be present. The center of the room is a spacious bed with a lot of pillows and bedspreads. There may be a canopy or a dream catcher above it. A flowing bedspread and curtains will give the room a relaxed atmosphere. Choose bed linen with an ethnic pattern, but you can get by with a calmer linen set, complementing it with characteristic pillows and rugs. Paintings and plants are suitable as decorations.

Children's room in boho style

For a child's room, the boho style is perfect. A fabulous bright room, like something out of a fairy tale, will please any child. It is better to decorate the room in light colors, and convey the diversity with the help of textiles. Colorful rugs, quilts made from scraps, children's toys and crafts - all this will bring the spirit of boho style into the room. One of the walls can even be painted with slate paint so that children can show their creativity.

Varieties of style

Boho is very common in interior design, despite the fact that many people find it chaotic, even disorderly. In addition, it has several varieties, each of them has its own rules and restrictions, here are the main ones:

Ecological. The most natural, sought-after style, where there is no artificial material, including the smallest decorative elements. The main ones include: stone, wood, linen, cotton, leather, silk, ceramics. All these materials together look very stylish, expensive, and elegant.
Luxurious. This direction remains the most modern, because it gives household members a great mood, joy of life, the most saturated colors, and naturalness when using finishing materials.
Glamorous. It speaks for itself, as it includes a lot of glamorous things, all kinds of figurines, jewelry, photographs, crafts, etc. However, all these things should not be stored in closet shelves, but on open shelves, tables, and windows. This trend combines chic with coquetry, glamor with maximum naturalness, taste with sophistication, sophistication with beauty.
Classic boho. There are strict lines here, plus heavy fabrics are used - satin, velvet, tapestry. The characteristic shades of this boho trend are gold, beige, brown, marble. To add some zest, elements of ethno style are added.
Boho hippie. This direction of the boho style is more related to its classic version. It is just as free, bright, a little fabulous, as comfortable and chic as possible. It is impossible to imagine a boho-hippie without the use of bright ornaments, hookahs, aromatic lamps, extravagant decorative elements or musical instruments that create a unique atmosphere of freedom, coziness and comfort.

No. 9. Boho can be different, or Types of boho in interior design

People who love simplicity and minimalism in the interior and value symmetry and order really don’t like boho. Yes, an abundance of fabric, multi-colored and multi-style things can create a feeling of chaos, but this chaos should resemble creative chaos, but certainly not a dump of unnecessary things. It’s very difficult to balance on the brink, so the designers have identified several boho trends to make it easier for us to navigate and recreate the trends at home:

classic boho - These are ethnic motifs with an oriental bias. Canopies, screens, patterned rugs and textiles are held in high esteem. As for shades, preference is given to yellow and blue tones with a slight inclusion of brighter shades;
eco-boho involves the use of only natural materials, incl. brick, wood, stone, paper wallpaper and metal (but not chrome) elements are allowed. The textiles used are mainly linen and cotton. This is a calmer boho direction, but bright colors must be used here too;
boho chic – this is an emphasis on expensive furniture made of wood and leather, expensive fabrics, solid accessories (collectible book editions, classical paintings, valuable vases and figurines). The riot of colors here is conveyed by a large number of bedspreads and carpets. Mirrors and paintings in chic frames, a fireplace, a lush bouquet of flowers, interesting textures and materials will become a decoration;
boho-hippie – the most chaotic of all directions. Ethnic ornaments, floral and animal motifs, souvenirs from different countries, hand-woven baubles, as well as fringe that hangs literally from everywhere are held in special esteem here. Lace and unimaginable combinations of colors and textures find their place in such an interior;
glamorous boho It is distinguished by an overall light color scheme, against which bright beads on chandeliers, fur capes, numerous pillows, vintage items, posters of stars and modern paintings will be clearly visible.

Signs of style, what to consider

To understand what this direction means, you can highlight a few of the most important points, based on them you will be able to create a real boho chic interior without having any special knowledge about design. Here are the main aspects you should pay attention to:

Main stream. Despite the fact that it is characterized by individuality, it has some similarities with other directions. Therefore, before you have to arrange your bedroom, living room, kitchen on your own, you need to choose the main motive for the design of the room. After all, it can be modern, European, oriental. Thanks to this, it is possible to decide what the accent will be, what color scheme will appear in the room. After all, the filling of the room should merge into a single whole, creating a style, and not a repository for a mass of the most diverse, but meaningless things.
Presence of textiles. When choosing boho style design elements, you need to remember that there are quite a lot of textile items. These could be lamps with lampshades, various decorative items, any things that you like are very expensive.
Holiday, bright details. By choosing such an extraordinary interior, you get a holiday, bright details, rich color content.

No. 10. What else to consider when recreating the boho style in your apartment?

Is it fair to say that the main rule of boho is that there are no rules? Yes, but not really. To avoid turning your apartment into a barn, follow these tips from professional designers:

It’s better to choose a general tone for the room and dilute it with accents. The casual combination of different shades is, in fact, a well-thought-out alternation of colors;
some accessories with history can be found in the attic on the mezzanine, in the pantry, in grandma's chest and other places where old things are usually stored that are a pity to throw away;
when selecting furniture and accessories, follow the promptings of your heart, but make allowances for logic.

The boho style has existed for a long time, but has never gone into oblivion. He lives and develops, and all because he goes against the rules. This distinguishes it from other interior styles. This makes him almost hateful by some people. But creative people who love everything unusual and non-standard like it so much.

The article was written for the site.

Tags: Apartment design, Interior style