Are you looking to give your living room a relaxed yet eclectic bohemian vibe? By mixing vintage finds with modern elements and global textiles, you can easily achieve a boho-chic look without breaking the bank. Keep reading for seven fun and affordable ways to embrace bohemian style in your living room decor.
Bohemian or “boho” style encompasses a free-spirited aesthetic that combines exotic patterns, vivid colors, and natural textures. Handmade and vintage furnishings are preferred over sleek, mass-produced pieces. The overall effect is an alluring global design that awakens your inner wanderlust. If this sounds like your interior decorating spirit animal, let’s get started!
Essential Elements of Boho Style
There are a few key elements that set bohemian living rooms apart from other decor styles. Keep these core aspects in mind as you plan your space.
Mix of Vintage and Modern Pieces
Blending vintage finds with modern furnishings creates visual interest and texture. For example, pair a carved wood cabinet from the 60s with a clean-lined leather sofa for eclectic contrast. Or top a sleek metal coffee table with stacks of old leather-bound books. Don’t be afraid to juxtapose different eras in your boho living room.
Layers of Exotic Textiles
Soft textiles make any space feel cozier. For boho style, look for woven fabrics with global appeal. Turkish kilim pillows, vibrant Oaxacan blankets, and Indian print cotton throws add warmth and multicultural flair. Arrange textiles in abundant layered piles on sofas and chairs.
Plants for Natural Texture
Houseplants bring indoor spaces to life and are a staple of bohemian decor. Choose trailing varieties like philodendrons, monsteras, or English ivy to embrace your inner earth child. Group an assortment of potted palms, ferns, and cacti atop handwoven plant stands for an inviting jungle vibe.
7 Ideas to Embrace Boho Style
Ready to give your living room a free-spirited makeover? Here are seven fun and easy ways to infuse bohemian flair.
1. Select One Statement Furniture Piece
Every bohemian space needs one dramatic furniture piece to anchor the room. This eye-catching statement piece grabs attention amidst simpler furnishings. Try a carved wood sofa with turned legs and tufted leather upholstery. Or make a regal cabinet with hand-painted details the focal point of your design.
2. Create a Textile Gallery Wall
Turn a blank wall into a bohemian tapestry display. Gather and arrange woven wall hangings, macrame pieces, and colorful fabric remnants. Include tapestries depicting global icons like elephants or mandalas. Mixing patterns, colors, and textures makes the wall sing.
3. Add Pops of Color With Pillows and Throws
Pillows and throws bring vibrancy to neutral sofas and chairs. Use vibrant jewel-toned pillows in magenta, emerald, or sapphire against a neutral backdrop. Layer in Mexican blankets or vintage quilt scraps as throw blankets. Don’t be shy with bold hues!
4. Incorporate Vintage Rugs
Well-worn rugs flaunt their history beautifully. Search flea markets and online auctions for vintage Persian-style rugs with ornate patterns and fringed edges. Oversized vintage Oushak, Kashan or Heriz rugs woven from wool or cotton make ideal boho floor coverings.
5. Display Your Collections
One person’s belongings are another’s treasures. Showcase your collections of books, plants, artwork, and travel mementos. Arrange them artfully on wall-mounted shelves, stacked crates, or a ladder bookcase. This display reflects your interests and infuses personality into the living room.
6. Add Statement Lighting
Make a dramatic lighting statement with a beaded pendant fixture or crystal chandelier. For boho contrast, try a handcrafted rattan pendant lampshade housing an Edison bulb. Seek out lighting fixtures with global or vintage influences to complement your space.
7. Create a Gallery Wall
Gallery walls artfully display a collection of frames showcasing artwork, photos, tapestries, and mirrors. Arrange pieces gallery-style in an asymmetrical composition for bohemian character. Incorporate frames of varied sizes, shapes, and finishes. Build your living room gallery wall one piece at a time.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to give your living room exotic bohemian flair. Here are some budget-friendly ideas for creating boho vibes:
- Check secondhand stores and online marketplaces for discounted vintage furnishings.
- Use paint or dye to transform tired flea market finds into boho-chic statement pieces.
- Craft your own macrame plant hangers and wall hangings using natural rope or yarn.
- Repurpose colorful saris and scarves as throw blankets or wall art.
- Prioritize one special vintage or handmade furnishing, then accessorize with budget-friendly pillows and throws.
With a little creativity and willingness to mix and match, you can easily create a bohemian living room. Which of these fun ideas will you incorporate to give your space free-spirited flair?
