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If you want your living room to be warm, inviting, and filled with romantic touches, embracing the bohemian design style is the way to go. Boho living rooms create a welcoming, free-spirited vibe that encourages relaxation and community within your home. The beauty of this design style is its adaptability—it easily molds to any mood without much effort. Although many believe they understand this laid-back, eclectic style, it can be challenging to know where to start.
Whether you want to transform your entire living room into a boho paradise or simply incorporate a few key elements, this guide offers inspiration from top designers to help you along the way.
THE HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN DESIGN
The bohemian aesthetic has a rich history filled with layers of culture and influences. You can spot its elements everywhere, from an Anthropologie store to your favorite local coffee shop. As designer Kim Gordon explains, “Originally, the bohemian aesthetic was a counterculture movement in the late 18th century, following the French Revolution. It reflected a section of society that lived an unconventional and often nomadic lifestyle.”
Below, we’ve highlighted 20 unique boho living rooms to inspire your decor journey. The sooner you decorate, the sooner you’ll enjoy the relaxed vibes of your new space.
FOCUS ON ORGANIC SHAPES
Bohemian design is all about embracing a free-spirited mindset. Therefore, avoid rigid lines and structures in your decor. Organic shapes are essential to this design style, which is why designer Kim Gordon incorporated a curved couch and rounded ottoman in her boho living room. These softer, natural shapes bring a sense of fluidity and comfort to the space.
LAYER PATTERNS AND TEXTURES
One of the great things about the boho aesthetic is that it encourages layering. As Gordon says, “You don’t need to change everything about your space. Simply add accessories, decor, colors, and prints to capture the boho vibe without major renovations.” Textures and patterns are key to this look, creating an eclectic, exciting feel.
MIX IN LOCAL STYLES
Consider drawing inspiration from your local surroundings to elevate your boho living room. For example, the team at Dekay & Tate Interiors used a bold color palette inspired by Palm Beach in one of their designs. Principal designer Nina Grauer explained that they combined florals, organic shapes, and antique pieces to give the space an authentic, eclectic feel.
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GO HEAVY ON GREENERY
Nothing says “bohemian” like an abundance of plants and flowers. Interior designer Frank de Biasi transformed a Park Avenue apartment into a tropical oasis, enhancing the bohemian atmosphere by using traditional decor elements alongside lush greenery.
UPHOLSTER YOUR WALLS
While bohemian spaces are inherently cozy, you can take this up a notch by upholstering your walls. Not every wall needs this treatment; one accent wall can be enough. Designer David Mann upholstered the panels behind a daybed, turning the space into a pillow-like oasis that’s perfect for relaxation.
GET THE LOOK: BOHEMIAN Style Printed Throw Pillows
HIGHLIGHT ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
You can capture bohemian style through decor but don’t forget about architectural details. In one sunny porch living room, designer Lisa Tharp added arches to the windows, which echoed the house’s design while adding an eclectic, boho feel.
COFFEE TABLE
WLIVE Lift Top Coffee Table for Living Room, Small Coffee Table with Storage, Hidden Compartment and Adjustable Shelf, Mid-Century Modern, Wood, Cherry, Espresso.
PILE ON THE PILLOWS
Nothing says boho like colorful, patterned throw pillows. Designer Molly Luetkemeyer used five fun pillows on one side of a custom sectional, adding layers of color and pattern that brought joyful, free-spirited energy to the room.
PAINT YOUR CEILING
For an unexpected boho touch, consider painting your ceiling. In the same home, Molly Luetkemeyer painted stripes on the lounge ceiling to create a beachy, cabana vibe. The curated mix of eclectic furnishings completed the boho look.
INCORPORATE VINTAGE PIECES
Vintage furnishings mix beautifully with modern items to create a free-spirited, bohemian living room. In a room designed by Molly Luetkemeyer, vintage and contemporary elements come together in a vibrant, lively space.
USE HEAVILY SATURATED COLORS
Bohemian style tends to favor mellow, saturated hues over bright, garish colors. For example, designer Janie Molster balanced the strong architecture of a historic home with blue walls and red curtains, creating a rich and layered look.
DRAW INSPIRATION FROM NATURE
Nature plays a significant role in boho design. Designer Wendy Wurtzburger and her husband called their living room the “nature room” because it was filled with organic objects they collected over the years. Boho style often incorporates botanical motifs, so let nature guide your decor choices.
ADD GOLDEN ACCENTS
Mixing textures and materials is a key element of boho design. Adding gold accents that reflect light can bring a lot of warmth and life to your space. Wendy Wurtzburger used dark, moody colors in her living room but made the space feel playful with gold picture frames on the gallery wall.
INCORPORATE ANIMAL MOTIFS
Bring your boho living room to the next level by adding quirky animal motifs. Wendy Wurtzburger did this by incorporating eccentric vases shaped like animals, which added a fun, natural element to the room.
EMBRACE RELAXED ENERGY
Boho living rooms should feel relaxed and free-spirited. Designer Schuyler Samperton’s home has a laidback vibe, where even her dog, Tricky, roams freely throughout the space.
INSTALL A HANGING CHAIR
For a casual, laid-back touch, consider installing a hanging chair. Designer Frances Merrill hung a rattan chair in a California home, adding to the room’s bohemian energy with a calming, laidback vibe.
ADD WARM FURNISHINGS
A cozy boho living room isn’t just about layering colors and textures—it’s about choosing furniture that invites people to relax. Frances Merrill’s design featured a roomy leather sectional perfect for lounging with friends and family.
BRING IN RATTAN ELEMENTS
Bohemian design draws on many global influences, including Moorish styles ( Moroccan ) and rattan accents. Designer Ashley Sharpe used rattan in an outdoor boho living room in Palm Beach to capture the relaxed, worldly feel of the style.
USE WOOD PANELING
If you prefer a minimalist approach to boho design, consider relying on elements like wood paneling to bring out the free-spirited vibe. In this design from our Whole Home project, the space is minimal but the wood-paneled walls and layered rugs add depth and warmth.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, the natural world can still inspire your boho living room. Large picture windows with stunning views can act as a constantly changing backdrop, making it easy to incorporate nature’s beauty into your decor.
THROW ON A QUILT
This gorgeous sunroom in our Whole Home from 2024 mixes elements of traditional and European design, creating what designer Claire Staszak likes to call “luxury boho”. She makes it feel homier and slightly more eclectic with the gorgeous sari quilt lying across the couch, beckoning whoever is home to snuggle up on it.
With these ideas in mind, you’re well on your way to creating a beautiful, free-spirited boho living room that radiates warmth and comfort. Whether you go all in or just add a few boho touches, this versatile design style will bring life and relaxation into your home.
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