Unleash all the fabrics and textures
If you’re looking to update your living room in a way to bring out your free-spirited and adventurous personality, Bohemian interior decor may be exactly what you need. The eye-catching style infuses areas of all sizes with cozy warmth, creating a comforting and peaceful home
To nail this look, it’s important to understand the basics of the boho design trend. A few key takeaways include:
Mixing and layering fabrics, textures, and colors
Earthy tones
Jewel tone accents
Eclectic accessories
Ready to try it? Find inspiration in these boho living room ideas.
For a muted bohemian look, opt for a tone-on-tone color pallette by choosing a neutral color for the walls and sofa. Layer in features like artwork or rugs that have the same color tone but lighter or darker hues.
Rattan is a type of palm woven into different patterns to make furniture, baskets, and even light fixtures. Rattan is a staple in bohemian interior design, so choosing a chair and table set in this material can complete the look.
Go on a flea-market adventure and pick out unique vintage pieces to incorporate into your space. The original Bohemians that inspired this style didn’t stay in one place for too long, so stick to a nomadic motif by changing up your trinkets from time to time to keep things fresh and interesting.
Bring unexpected colorful and textured fabrics into your space using an assortment of throw pillows. Toss them on a window seat to create a nook perfect for daydreaming. Embrace playfulness by choosing rich jewel tones mixed with neutral textiles to mimic genuine boho style devoid of rigidity.
Embrace luxurious velvet fabric with a brightly colored accent chair or couch. Mix it with rugged pallet shelving, glam metallic coffee tables, and a playful accent wall for a whimsical yet put-together feel.
While you may associate boho living spaces with bright colors, you can also achieve the look using a monochromatic black, white, and gray color palette. Use varying shades of gray furniture pieces mixed with black and white wall art. Add in natural wood elements to complete the look.
Enjoy flowers year-round by incorporating dried-out plants into the room. Mix and match bunches of lavender, baby’s breath, cotton stems, and pampas grasses, and put them in glass vases that vary in height and width.
Bring soft hues into your space with a dusty pink couch or other decor elements. This elegant shade pairs well with neutral wall paint and pillows, as well as copious amounts of greenery. Plus, incorporating dusty pink decor accents can add a welcome pop of color to an otherwise earth-tone room.
Mix varying metals in your home decor for a glamorous, eye-catching look. Place antique glass jars and old-world candles on a hammered copper serving tray in an inviting corner of the room. You can also display your copper dishware or decorative elements on a living room bar cart.
Bring unconventional pieces into your living room design using a free-standing hanging swing chair. Not sure how to hang a hammock or egg chair? Follow this DIY chair-hanging guide.
This type of chair blend the perfect amount of play and coziness to create a relaxing nook you can look forward to snuggling in everyday. Drape warm furry blankets over the chair for maximum relaxation.
A natural straw pouf adds a global element to the space. This fun decor addition can also function as supplementary seating when entertaining large groups of people. Use this floor cushion as a decoration, footstool, or as a makeshift coffee table.
Who says pillows need to be on the couch? In authentic bohemian fashion, stack colorful pillows on the ground, and use vertical space to provide a visually interesting focal point. Plus, stacking your extra pillows is a great way to keep your living room furniture clear of clutter.
Paint your walls an unexpected color like bright emerald green to pair with neutral taupe and beige elements, coupled with natural wood accents. That said, when you choose to decorate with neutral tones, make sure you vary your textures. Woven baskets and linen blankets can bring that carefree vibe to your home.
Use furniture to create a welcoming space by opting for seating close to the ground. Place a matte black tray table in front with woven baskets to keep blankets within reach so you can kick back and relax.
While blanket ladders may often be associated with rustic or modern farmhouse interior design, they also have their place in boho decor. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your favorite textiles using the rungs on the ladder. Add shaggy throw pillows and colorful wall art for more opportunities to mix patterns.
Woven eclectic baskets are another staple in bohemian interior design. Use them to store blankets and other odds and ends to keep your floor space free of clutter. Ensure you keep a mixture of light and heavy blankets for year-round comfort.
For a more subtle bohemian interior look, use a muted color palette. Install textured wallpaper, and set up a beige bench seat to give the space an inviting, lived-in look. Use an oversized pouf as a makeshift coffee table, and incorporate some of your favorite knick-knacks to further personalize the living room.
Don’t be afraid of combining different saturated hues when choosing pieces for your room. Pick bold jewel-toned furniture and mix it with vivid pink, orange, and green pillows to embrace bright colors in the space.
Hear that sound? While records might not be the most common way to listen to music today, they still have their place in eclectic home decor schemes. Hang vinyl records on the wall to serve as wall art or install floating shelves to display them. Bonus points if you use era-authentic records.
Pull inspiration from natural and earthy elements when choosing a color scheme, including the warmth of the bright yellow sun. Opt for a sandy beige wall color mixed with bold yellow textiles to add a fun pop of color to your space.
Macrame, a type of textile produced by tying decorative knots, is a key design element in bohemian spaces. You can use macrame to make pillows, blankets, and baskets alike, but you can also hang a handwoven tapestry on the wall for a carefree look.
While baskets may be more commonly used to hold items, you can take advantage of their naturally interesting aesthetic and hang them on the wall instead. Use different-sized baskets that range in patterns and colors to serve as unique wall art. If you need help hanging your baskets properly, hire a local handyperson to tackle the task.
Throw caution to the wind, and break some design rules by combining bold colors, like lime green and yellow, with vibrant patterns. A maximalist mindset allows you to get creative and experiment in your boho-chic living room without feeling restricted. Incorporate maximalism into your living room by adding bright furniture pieces, eclectic artwork, and patterned rugs.
Plants are an essential element of creating a boho-chic living room. But you don’t need to stack them all on a table. Instead, hang potted plants from the ceiling using brightly colored macrame holders.
Bring warm tones into your room with a leather sofa, chair, or ottoman. Dark tones of leather furniture will help ground the look of your boho room. Pair your leather furniture with vibrant blankets and patterned throw-pillows to add some personality to your space. Alternatively, for a southwestern boho vibe, you could plant cacti or succulents in woven planters to compliment your leather pieces.
If you like the look of leather, but aren’t in the market for a new couch, opt for a brown leather pouf. Choose one with a woven pattern for a homemade, folksy vibe. To make sure it fits your boho living room, opt for an ottoman with earthy tones made with organic fabrics or Moroccan patterns.
As far as bohemian living room ideas go, you can’t go wrong with string lights. Accentuate your space by adding different sources of lighting, including various types of string lights hung across the room. Illuminate macrame tapestries or a gallery wall with lights to make the room glow.
Take advantage of the natural light sources in the living room, and create a nook for reading or relaxing in front of a window. Set up a straw pouf with cozy blankets, and keep your favorite reads in a nearby basket so you have a designated place to unwind.
Layer soft rugs on top of one another or carpet as another way to mix patterns and textures. Start with a muted rug on the bottom, then toss an attention-grabbing patterned rug at a jaunty angle on top. Rug styles that work well with this aesthetic include southwestern and Oriental rugs.
Create a focal point in your living room by creating a natural pallet accent wall. Build up horizontal planks behind your couch, and adorn the finished wall with boho wall art. Sprinkle in green accents with potted plants or other decor pieces to complete the look.
Don’t forget about your furry friends when planning your living room design. Pick coordinating pet accessories, like this pet bed, so even your four-legged companion has an adorable boho place to rest.
Do you have bare walls that you don’t want to paint? Hang a tapestry to serve as a visually striking centerpiece on the wall. While you can’t go wrong with a vibrant, patterned tapestry, you could also add a more minimalist design to contrast your other eclectic decorations.
The bohemians in eras past consisted of artists and writers, so pay homage to them by displaying a collection of books on open shelves. To fully embrace the free-spirited boho style, add some plants and baskets to the mix. As for your books, don’t feel the need to make them look perfect. A stray book or two here and there only adds to the carefree vibe of a boho space.
If you’re outgrowing a piece of furniture, find ways to repurpose it rather than get rid of it. Paint over worn wood or reupholster fabrics with a patterned textile of your choice. If you need help, connect with a furniture upholstery service near you to get the job done.
One of the best ways to tie together a beautiful bohemian look is to add a variety of houseplants to your space. Plants promote clean air and add a sense of liveliness and personality to your home. Some easy-to-maintain, popular house plants include succulents, golden pothos, Monstera plants, and cacti.
Boho style is artsy and playful, meaning it’s a great idea to get creative with your color and texture combinations. For example, place a bright statement piece full of color alongside your neutral-toned furniture. Or you could place furniture with natural textures like leather or macrame alongside metallic fixtures.
If you’re trying the boho style for the first time, it can be intimidating to revamp your home. For some extra guidance, a local interior decorator can help you achieve the look you’re looking for and ensure you’re within your budget.
Nothing screams “free spirit” like an indoor tassel nest hammock. You could pair a bright hammock with a neutral color palette, making it the centerpiece of your living room, or pair two contrasting boho hammocks alongside one another to add an eclectic flair to your space. Follow these hammock-hanging steps to ensure it stays put.
While bohemianism can be busy, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, a minimalist design provides room for vintage furnishings and textured accessories to shine. For example, you might choose to combine a traditional color palette and clean-lined furniture with touches of handwoven furniture and linen fabrics.
Moroccan-inspired decor is a great way to bring form and function to your home with hand-crafted accents and bold tones. All it takes is a touch of Zellige tile work, lanterns, or raffia baskets to add a splash of tradition and culture to your space. You might even hang some vibrant, Moroccan plates on your kitchen wall to pull the look together.
Don’t be afraid to get creative when pairing furniture or accent patterns for a boho look. After all, the bohemian style is about breaking the rules. Bold, contrasting patterns add a touch of eccentricity to your home, so mix a striped throw blanket with a polka-dot pillow.
Blending mid-century modern and bohemian elements can create a unique style that stands the test of time. To pull off this look, you should decorate with classic mid-century pieces that are made of organic and handcrafted materials. These simple pieces will blend well with eclectic accents with varying textures.
Clean lines are a staple of the bohemian design style. Straight-line decor like cylinder lamps, straight arm chairs, and cabinets help modernize your space and leave room for other playful designs to pop.
While you want your space to look good, you also want it to be a space that welcomes relaxation. After all, the boho aesthetic is all about being casual and comfortable. Soft and organic materials in your furniture and pillows can help achieve that cozy vibe.
Floral patterns can add a classic feel to your bohemian living room. You can use floral-patterned wallpaper, throw pillows, chairs, or couches to complete the look. Feel free to mix and match your patterns to add a sense of whimsy to your space.
Don’t be afraid to mix vintage fabrics from around the globe together. Whether you decorate your space with Persian rugs, suzani embroidery, or kantha quilts, there are many fabrics you can use to bring a feeling of craftsmanship to your home.
