What’s your style? Bohemian?

DISCOVER YOUR STYLE

Do you love to break the rules?  Do your friends often say that you are the first to try anything new?  If so, you may be a fan of Bohemian design.  It’s bold, curated, and certainly unconventional.  Did you take a leap year off after college before entering the workforce that changed your life?  Do you dream of visiting Nepal over Cancun or Las Vegas? Let's take some time to discuss Bohemian Interior Design.

For many people this style will literally be the 70s revisited.  I would like you to reach a little further.  Bohemian interior design can certainly give a nod to the 70s era, but it should not be limited to just that.  The options are endless.  Everything you can think of in terms of color, style of furniture, accessories, lighting, and accents can all be done with this style.  

In my design practice, I encourage my clients to focus on these key pillars to elevate their bohemian look.

Color.  Bold color palette andf neutral colors work well.  Rich magenta, gold, and literally every shade of blue will work.  In addition, lighter hardwoods with a mix of stains on casegoods are the way to go.

Pattern.  You can safely take risks with patterns.  Nordic, tribal, geometric even paisley will work beautifully.   When pairing patterns of fabrics don’t forget to mix in solids to make them pop even more.
Theme  Create a theme that tells your story.  Who are you? What story do you want to tell?  Where have you been?  What are your dreams and goals?  There is never a more perfect place to break the rule to make your home reflect who you really are and what you are all about.

Variety.  Use a variety of types and eras of furniture.  Don’t be afraid.  Chippendale, art deco, mid century modern.  Break the rules and spice things up a bit.  Remember to pull everything together with color.

If I could say one thing about Bohemian design, I would say it is highly personal.  This is a great design style for people that may like contemporary but don’t want to commit to a certain style. When I say that you can do almost anything...you can do almost anything.  If you have inherited older furniture from a deceased family member, this is a great way to incorporate these items that you don’t want to part from into your home.

I get it Timothy but how can I begin to make my home very more bohemian on my own.  

Gallery Walls.  This is a great way to tell a story or to serve as a conversation piece in your home.  Fill your walls with eclectic  prints, picture frames and unique pieces that are carefully planned out and installed on the wall.  In my design practice, I avoid lots of small things on the wall.  By creating a beautiful gallery wall you basically create your own art installation.

Rugs.  Never forget the floor or the ceiling when creating great interior design.  They are walls as well.  Think pattern, texture, and color--they will totally transform your space and add so much visual interest to your home.  In addition, play with layer rugs.  Tribal patterned rugs with bear skin or cowhide?  

Unique furniture pieces.  Did you grandma have an amazing china cabinet that is just sitting in your parents garage?  Grab it and get to work.  If your family is like mine there are still some family pieces that you may not have valued when younger but they could work beautifully in your home.  No family?  No problem.  Hit the streets to search for the perfect in your local used furniture shops and flea markets.  Don’t just drop them in your home.  Play with paint, fabrics, and stains to make them truly one of a kind.  Great dining tables, beds, sofa, accent chairs, and dining chairs are a great place to start.  Remember a gallon of paint goes a long way.

Curated Accessories.  Add even more personality into your home with great accessories.  Consider displaying your collections trinkets from world travels, cutting boards, beads, even photographs.  Everyone loves a great coffee table book.  Have you considered creating your own coffee table book?  There are many great websites for making these.  Creating a great cover and quality binding will make your coffee table book a perfect accessory.  Finally,  think retro, personal, and inherited.  This is not the style that requires you to spend thousands of dollars on accessories.  They should be about your life and story.

In closing, Bohemian design is not rigid and boring.  It’s energetic, fun, and comfortable.  This style is not about dumping every piece of old dated furniture that you can find into your home.  It is just a tad more delicate than that.   The goal is not to make your home look like a 70’s TV set or a thrift store.  In your home, creating a bohemian style can actually be about incorporating accessories , fabrics, art and lighting into the mix of furniture pieces that you have invested money in and making them work.

I hope you found this article interesting and helpful.  Wanna keep in touch? Consider joining my weekly newsletter. A weekly newsletter keeping you up to date on the latest of all things real estate, interiors, renovations, and custom home building.

Join our community of over 5000 readers and receive a well curated mix of inspiration, education, and resources on all things related to curating the home of your dreams.

Click here to sign up for this amazing free resource.

Goodbye for now!