Ideas + Advice
- Styles
- Guides
- How Tos
- Decor Tips
- Kids + Teens
- Getting Social
- Holidays
View Items in Room
Styles
Author Editor
Last Updated May 04, 2024
Interested in boho style? You're not alone. Searches for the keyword showed a 17% rise in popularity this past quarter on Google Trends. Here, we see what they hype is all about — and how to show your unique style by bringing a boho chic vibe into your home. It's truly one style where free expression is not just suggested, it’s required!
What Does Boho Mean?
View Items in Room
Let's take a peek into history to discover the origin of the term boho. Boho is derived from the French word bohémien, and it was coined in the late 19th century to describe theRomani, who were thought to have come to Europe from Bohemia in the Czech Republic.
The Romani were wanderers who lived on the margins of society, excluded from the mainstream. In the early 1800s in Paris, their culture was romanticized because they lived outside conventional society, and the word bohemian came to mean any student, artist, writer or intellectual who adopted a nonconformist lifestyle with few worldly possessions.
View Items in Room
What Is Boho Today?
Today, the term bohemian describes someone with an unconventional, often dismissive, view of social structures and traditions. Modern boho, which has a rise in interest by 18% the last few months on Google Trends, is a style catapulting upwards in interiors and fashion. ('Boho furniture' and 'boho home decor' have similar rises, with increases of 18% and 13% on Google trends, respectively.) It encompasses trends from the beatnik and hippie eras when the cultural aesthetic was similar to the bohemians, and it still represents a counterculture spirit.
What Is Boho Style?
Based on the free-spirited, footloose lifestyle of bohemians and hippies, boho style disengages itself from mainstream fashion and might best be described as "a look of contrived dishevelment." "Boho fashion," our LS Designer Jessica Harris divulged to us, "is romantic and flowy and often includes vintage items and elements from many cultures." For a practival imagining, think of the super-boho color palette: hues are rich and vibrant, and patterns are mixed with abandon. Garments are frequently long and loose, and outfits are layered. No boho outfit is complete without accessories such as necklaces, bracelets and dangly earrings.
Boho chic is a more curated boho look. Pieces may be more closely fitted, more coordinated and use more neutral colors than boho, but the style is still very self-expressive.
View Items in Room
Boho Home Decor
We wanted a bit more info on the aesthetic, so to help us out, we pressed our LS Designer Pamela Oleson, a seasoned specialist in decorating homes in boho and other styles, to give us her end-all, be-all advice. "To bring boho chic into your home," she tells us, "look to the mainstays of the style. It's carefree, worldly, eclectic, and blends the old and the new for a one-of-a-kind, life-well-lived look that expresses your unique personality."
View Items in Room
For a warm color scheme, try saffron, bright pink, magenta and golden yellow. Ruby and teal grew in popularity by 14 and 15 percent over the past quarter — consider this your sign to incorporate these two designer-approved hues! Cool boho colors include amethyst, turquoise and jade. You don't have to choose between warm and cool; combine them so your space exudes exuberance and energy. Stick with more neutral tones for large pieces and upholstered furniture for longevity.Choose rich, saturated colors
View Items in Room
To reflect the well-traveled vibe of boho, choose patterns from other parts of the world. Africa, Asia and South America all produce distinctive, culturally influenced aesthetics. Think mosaics and tribal prints. For an extra dose of on-trend print, choose paisley and geometrics, which saw rises on Google Trends in search interest by six and five percent over the past quarter, respectively. Select a mix of textures — smooth, plush, soft, coarse — to add another layer of sumptuousness.Mix patterns and textures
View Items in Room
Boho home decor is casual. Feel free to mix your vintage finds with new items, and experiment across a range of decor styles. Authenticity is important, so look for natural materials like wood, leather and sisal.Blend the old and the new
View Items in Room
When you travel, pick up local textiles and other handcrafted treasures. When you get home, give these pieces a place of prominence in your room, perhaps as a curated collection on a global style wood table or wall. You can achieve the same look by shopping at stores that specialize in imported goods.Display Your Treasures
View Items in Room
Look for Soft Forms and Rounded Edges
One of the keys to boho home decor is comfort, so look for soft, upholstered furniture and add lots of cushions and ottomans. This is one style where it's okay to fill your room to the brim. Furniture and accessories with soft curves blend well with rich colors and multiple patterns. (Curved furniture, by the way, isn't soft in popularity: over the past quarter on Google Trends, it grew hard and fast, by 15% this past quarter.)
Watch: Boho Style Tips
Boho Style Inspiration
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Dean Sand Queen Upholstered Panel Bed as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Dean Sand King Upholstered Panel Bed as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Knox Black Queen Metal Panel Bed as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Magnolia Home Hartley II 6-Drawer Dresser By Joanna Gaines as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Larkin White II 6-Drawer Dresser as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it Jul 07 - Jul 21
Get the Newport White 84" Sofa as soon as Jul 07 - Jul 21
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it Jul 07 - Jul 21
Get the Sebastian Cream White 111" 2 Piece Convertible Futon Sleeper Sectional with Left Arm Facing Storage Chaise as soon as Jul 07 - Jul 21
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it Jul 07 - Jul 21
Get the Sebastian Cream White 111" 2 Piece Convertible Futon Sleeper Sectional with Right Arm Facing Storage Chaise as soon as Jul 07 - Jul 21
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it Jul 07 - Jul 21
Get the Malaga Outdoor Lounge Chair as soon as Jul 07 - Jul 21
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Jacoby Denim Blue 78" Sofa as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Malaga Grey Rectangle Outdoor Coffee Table as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Caspian Navy Outdoor 2 Piece Conversation Set as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Rattan Natural 26" Counter Height Stool With Back as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Crew Navy 78" Outdoor Sofa as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Lodge Grey Performance Fabric Velvet 96" Sofa as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
+ 79 more
Quicklook
This item qualifies for Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Get the Kara Brown Wood Rectangle Mid-Century Walnut Brown 60" Kitchen Dining Table as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 10
Quicklook
Beyond Boho Style
View All
Styles
Styles What Is Glam Style?
Styles 17 Country Cottage Furniture Ideas
Styles Top 7 Bedroom Decor Ideas for Fall
Boho Picks
- Boho Decorative Pillows
- Multicolor Accent Chairs
- Bohemian By The Beach Look
- Boho Furniture
- Boho Bedroom
- Boho Outdoor Furniture
Read the Latest
Shopping Basics 6 Best Rugs for High Traffic Areas
Shopping Basics The Softest Rugs That Feel Luxurious
Shopping Basics Best Washable Rugs of 2024
Shopping Basics The 5 Best Rugs for Dog Owners
Editorial Disclaimer: Articles featuring tips and advice are intended for educational purposes and only as general recommendations. Always practice personal discretion when using and caring for furniture, decor and related items.