Bohemian Interior Design: Everything You Need to Know

One of the most distinctive and popular interior design styles of the 21st Century is bohemian, or “boho style” accompanied by its siblings bohemian chic and modern bohemian. Although the bohemian style is easily identifiable, with lots of plants, natural woven materials, hand-thrown pottery, and eclectic patterns, no two bohemian apartment spaces are the same. 

Based on your style preferences, you can make your bohemian space completely your own. In fact, part of what defines boho design is the lack of rules and definition. In essence, it’s about free spiritedness, playfulness, and creativity. We outline what it is and how you can achieve it in your rental with some boho decor ideas.

By definition, bohemian decor bends rules. It’s thought to have originated in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic during the early 19th century, representing a rejection of conformity and convention and an emphasis on freedom. The name is based on a French term originally used to identify the nomadic people from the Bohemian region, who adopted counter-culture styles and customs separate from the rest of society at the time.

Thus, the name “Bohemian” is more indicative of a free and fluid lifestyle than any aesthetic conventions or parameters. There are no clear or strict requirements for the bohemian interior design style, only trends and helpful guidelines. Its origins explain its physical look only in that boho spaces are various and full of individual character.

One of the defining characteristics of boho interior design is the layering of multimedia materials — different colors, patterns, textiles, and finishes. If your living room walls are brick, for example, take the opportunity to intentionally mismatch that brick with decor elements like macrame wall hangings, wood furniture, rattan baskets, and other items that speak to you. 

If have white walls and have been looking for an opportunity to make an accent wall in your apartment with peel-and-stick wallpaper, this is the perfect use case. Pick out a fun wallpaper pattern and intentionally combine it with unexpected decor elements. Maybe you choose a floral wallpaper to go behind your velvet couch, accompanied by a wicker lamp and your favorite leafy plant. For something less permanent, consider hanging a large tapestry (a bonus that comes with this option is that it has sound-proofing effects).

If you find yourself running into a plateau of artistic inspiration when you’re mixing and layering, look towards botanicals for answers. The bohemian aesthetic is all about bringing the outdoors indoors, so look for any opportunity to incorporate natural elements like succulents, leafy plants, stones, flowers, or depictions of greenery.

There’s a balance to strike when it comes to any interior design style: You want to achieve the distinct genre you have in mind, but you don’t want to stray too far from an authentic look — something that makes your space feel really you. When it comes to the boho genre, color can be a helpful guide because any color scheme can facilitate a bohemian look — from pastels to jewel tones.

If you’re into muted and neutral color palettes, you can still get a boho look utilizing earthy tones, pampas grasses, pottery, wicker furniture, and light-toned wood or other natural materials. If you’re a person who generally leans into vibrant color, follow those inclinations as you pick out everything from throw pillows to area rugs to curtains. And although you’re encouraged to mix and match patterns, textures, and materials, you can even zero in on your favorite color — take green, for example — and design your bohemian space around that monochromatic framework. Just don’t be afraid to mix shades and hues of that color to create visual interest.

Although bohemian interior design doesn’t have many rules, it is generally associated with maximalism, meaning you’ll want to fill in many of the empty spaces in your apartment as you decorate. But since boho spaces tend to tell stories and reflect a person’s aura, it’s important to fill your living space with items that matter to you. 

When you travel, for example, head to a flea market to pick out handmade pottery, art, and other decorative items or furniture pieces to bring back and add to your apartment. This way, your space will begin to reflect your most meaningful life experiences (and not just a few shopping trips to big-box stores). You can also make use of old family heirlooms, your favorite photos, second-hand vintage pieces from the thrift store, and authentic handcrafted pieces. 

If you want to design your bohemian apartment aesthetic in more of a minimalist framework, or bend any of the guidelines you see, nobody’s stopping you. The same goes for if you prefer an over-the-top maximalist aesthetic. But borrowing from the hygge concept, see if you can challenge yourself to incorporate design elements and home decor pieces that mean something to you and tell your story. 

When you’re choosing accents, don’t be afraid to go out on a limb and utilize renter-friendly DIY hacks. Being able to hang new lights and introduce new DIY furniture can really elevate the look of your boho space, and you’ll have a “made-it-myself” story to go along with it.

Use adhesive hooks to hang swag pendant lights, reupholster a chair or couch (yes, there are hacks for that), try temporary backsplash in the kitchen and bathroom, add curtains to every window and empty bookshelf, and more. The more work you put into your space, the more you’ll feel like it’s truly yours — and that’s what the bohemian aesthetic is all about.