If you'd rather have an apartment that looks like it's lived in on a regular basis and easily welcomes anyone who walks through the door, then the boho decorating style might be for you. It's less precise than other interior styles and is far from boring.
While minimalism has been trending, maximalism has also made its debut. They say less is more, but more is always more — so why not add?
Boho, short for "bohemian," is a relaxed, eclectic style. It's meant to look comfortable, inviting and "lived-in," as opposed to being sterile, bare and calculated. It's essentially the opposite of minimalism and involves mixing colors, patterns and textures in many combinations — some of which you may not have thought of.
You may think it's hard to achieve the boho look when there are no hard rules to follow. That's what makes it great! You can add whatever you want, wherever you want without breaking any design rules. But if you're still looking for a place to start, here are some boho decorating tips you can use to add a bohemian vibe to your apartment.
Get away from cold, bare floors and add texture with a few rugs. Layer a few on top of each other and, if you want, you can even cover the entire floor with them. The rugs don't need to match, either—use different patterns and colors if you're feeling brave!
Plants can give us a feeling of calm and just looking at them reduces stress. So get your stress levels down by adding a few plants in your apartment. You can go as big or as small as you want, but generally, a combination of a few small plants and one or two larger ones can invoke balance in boho decorating.
Other natural elements, like wood, can also create a sense of calm. While it's fine to have painted wood furniture, you'll want to leave some pieces with the natural wood look. Chair legs, a coffee table or a bookshelf can all look great without any paint!
Macrame is a big part of bohemian decor and it easily dresses up any room. You can have macrame wall hangings or there are macrame pillows that look whimsical. Macrame comes in a variety of patterns and colors, too, so you can bring it in no matter what look you're going for.
Baskets come in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can add color and texture to your apartment with a basket or two. You can leave them empty on a shelf or use them as a dual-functioning piece of storage and decor. Try adding a large basket to store blankets by your couch or bed.
Boho means your books don't need to stay neatly upright on their shelf. You can take them off and stack them in miscellaneous parts of your apartment. Put some on the coffee table, stack a few on the floor next to a chair or put a couple of them on the corner of your kitchen counter.
Use rugs with lots of colors and patterns. Persian and Turkish rugs are a go-to for the bohemian style since they have so many unique patterns and a variety of colors. Or you can find other rugs with cool patterns and colors to your liking!
Using a Middle Eastern-style of seating is unique and comfortable, and can actually be much more affordable than buying a chair. Adding floor cushions is functional and stylish as they come in many patterns and textures — you can find them in simple designs or you can go for something in a wild shape with a busy pattern.
Soft lighting can have a great effect on your boho decor. Few other types of lighting are softer and more welcoming than candlelight. You can use plain candles alone or try using colored glass holders if you're into the multicolored look.
In almost any other decorating style, mixing two completely different patterns is a no-no. But with boho decor, it's exactly what you want. Feel free to use a pink and blue flower-patterned pillow right alongside an orange and yellow geometric pillow. Mix and match your patterns, whether it's with wall art, pillows, blankets or rugs.
For bigger aspects of your apartment, like walls, couches and dressers, use whatever colors you want, but use more muted tones of them. Go for a blush rather than a hot pink or a dusty blue over a brighter cerulean.
Since the big stuff will be more toned down, you can bring in brighter colors for smaller decor pieces. Add bright orange, hot pink and yellow books to a shelf, get a teal pot for a plant or add a few crazy pillows to your couch. This will give your apartment some fun pops of color to liven it up!
International elements are a staple of boho decorating. Take inspiration from other countries around the world and bring all of their styles in some way. Use Turkish-style rugs, Mexican pottery and Moroccan lamps, for example. Look at different places and take a page or two out of their stylebooks to add to your apartment.
Pendants often draw more attention than boring ceiling fixtures and there are a variety of styles available. You can choose a vintage or mid-century pendant or try a woven grass or macrame fixture.
Throw pillows can make your apartment feel cozy relaxed. They can also be an easy way to add more colors and textures to a room. So don't be afraid to have lots of pillows on your bed, chairs and couch — or even on the floor!
Bring in shiny accents! Gold and bronze are popular in boho decor but don't limit yourself to that. You can also use silver, copper or other colored metals to give your apartment some shine.
Older vintage pieces are often perceived as having more character than modern, minimalist styles. Look around at thrift stores or antique shops to find vintage pieces for your apartment. Pick up anything from a candelabra to a dresser—there's so much out there that you could use!
Instead of using typical canvas or printed art, try something with fabric. Find a tapestry you like or try your hand at a macrame wall hanging.
Patterns and textures aren't just for pillows and rugs. Incorporate even more colors, patterns and textures in your home by sticking on some wallpaper. There are plenty of designs available as peel-and-stick wallpapers, so you don't need to worry about doing any permanent damage to your apartment walls.
Use pieces like pots, curtains, plates and lanterns with cutouts. Especially when using decor like curtains and lanterns with cutout pieces, it can add even more patterns to a room with the way they let the light shine through.
Boho decorating can be whatever you want it to be. Your definition of comfy and inviting is probably different from others, so do what makes you feel at ease and comfortable in your apartment.
Morgen Henderson is a writer who grew up in Utah. She lived in the Dominican Republic for a year and a half, where she was involved in humanitarian service. Some of Morgen's work has appeared in State of Digital, The Next Scoop and TechPatio. In her free time, she loves to travel, bake, master DIY projects and improve her Spanish skills.