“Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities”. These words would be perfect for Oscar Wilde with his sense of beauty, aristocracy and non-standard ideas about morality. Nevertheless, they belong to Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect and designer, and very accurately describe the features of the modern Bohemian style in the interior. Since it is not at all about minimalism, but a riot of colors and a pile of all kinds of things, which in their amazing symbiosis give a feeling of comfort and fullness of life.

Avant-garde, unconventionality, eclecticism are the three pillars on which the style rests. Some of its interiors may even seem ridiculous and incongruous at first glance. But pretentiousness and some absurdity only suit Bohemia. Let’s remember Helenа Bonham Carter’s everyday looks.

It’s the same with Boho, because the style allows you to combine what seems to be incompatible – let’s say Gothic and Baroque with ethnic and contemporary. And the multi-layered nature of such interiors creates a unique charm that you want to plunge into.

This is not the most practical style – it consists of an endless number of dust collectors – sofa throw pillows and figurines, carpets and rugs, wall sculptures and paintings as well as lamps, candles, pots of indoor plants and books arranged in neat stacks on the floor, chests of drawers and tea tables.

But psychologists have long proven that it is in such interiors that, interacting every second with our favorite and aesthetic things, we fill ourselves with the voluminous energy of beauty. There is a relationship – utilitarian interiors can make us utilitarian and prone to depression. In interiors where there are colorful wallpapers and different textures or a mixture of styles, our brain quickly relaxes and gets rid of the worries of the day.

Brief History

The origin of Bohemian decor started in the 19th century, in Paris. The French used the term ‘Bohemian’ to describe a nomad, adventurer, artist, or writer. This style aimed to challenge aesthetic norms by disregarding rules and went on to become the most popular design trend of the late 20th and early 21st century.

Meanwhile, designers identify several subtypes of Boho:

Glamorous Boho

More mirrors, brighter shades, velvet textures, fur and openwork metal details play a major role here.

Scandinavian Boho

There are a little more cool shades in the palette and fewer bright colors – this is the main difference.

Industrial Boho

It blends raw and utilitarian characteristics of industrial interior design with the free-spirited, artistic, and colorful elements of Bohemian decor. The result is a relaxed interior that celebrates individuality and creativity.

Although Frank Lloyd Wright worked in the so-called Prairie style, his furniture, characterized by straight lines and rectilinear forms, is a great soulmate of Boho chic.

Today, his oak coffee tables, chairs and even waste baskets cost a lot of money, but aside from the economic issue, they are incredibly simple and harmonious and don’t overload complex interiors with unnecessary details.

If you pile pillows with Indian patterns on the golden imperial chairs and hang reproductions of Renaissance paintings along with plasticine installations made by your 5-year-old daughter on the wall, it will be at least a different style – kitsch – and, at worst, a catastrophe.

Therefore, although quite chaotic, this style has its own rules: something in the interior should always remain simple, otherwise there will be a cultural overdose.

Comfort and relaxation in the captivity of your favorite things is unlikely to be complete without a greenhouse, integrated into the interior of your room.

You can still do without a talking cockatoo in a cage or a good-natured Maine coon, but without houseplants, Boho style does not manifest itself 100%. Plants perfectly purify the air, fill it with oxygen and can become an important part of the decor for many years.

And since we have already talked about the riot of colors in the style, then the riot of life should take its place in it. Be sure to take a closer look at all kinds of indoor palm trees, bonsai, orchids and climbing plants. They should not stand in a row on the windowsill or in the far left corner, they should occupy the entire space from bottom to top

In any detective story, the crime would never have been discovered if some inconspicuous details had not surfaced and were not properly interpreted by either Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot.

Fortunately, Boho style does not need traces of blood soaked into the parquet, but it should consist entirely of hints and clues. Here is a Buddha statue. No, it’s not just for the sake of beauty. Not just because the designer you have hired put it on your dresser, creating Bohemian chaos at its best. Surely you have been to Asia or practiced meditation on a regular basis. And here is a Chinese fan. Yes, you have definitely been to Asia and are probably passionate about it.

Boho style does not tolerate random trinkets. They should be brought back from your journeys or given as a gift by your friends. Without a story that inextricably intersects with yours, they don’t have a chance in your home.

Bohemian style is the embodiment of nature not only in the cultivation of tradescantia and succulents, but also in the matter of fabrics, upholstery and, finally, furniture. Polyester curtains or eco-leather sofa may look luxurious, but they are incredibly far from the idea of ​​Bohemian chic. The more natural, organic, homemade, the better.

For example, linen curtains. Do you think they are hopelessly outdated? You are wrong. These curtains are not only environmentally friendly and safe to use, but also transmit less UV rays.

Of course, in everyday life it is difficult to get rid of plastic mixers, kettles or headphones, but it is better to buy furniture made of wood if you decide to stick to the style. Ready-made vases from the housewares and decor department are also not an option; give preference to handicraft ones made of clay and other natural materials.

There is no need to turn your home into an antiquities shop, but a light vintage flair will suit it. If funds allow, this could be a chessboard on which a cunning medieval bishop lined up his moves or a set of 18th century Murano glass flutes.

If not, your great-grandmother’s tablecloth and a sailor’s cigarette case bought at a flea market will also work. But be sure to think about the contrast: Where an old thing appears in the house, an ultra-fashionable thing should be located next to it. You shouldn’t try to make everything fit together – a nonchalant approach is encouraged here.

Bohemian style is not afraid of experimentation. Throw a zebra-patterned rug onto the floor and place it next to the Moroccan carpet. Paint one wall in the room yellow and the others green.

However, a Boho interior can look expensive and not only festival fun. It is just worth choosing darker and deeper shades (brown, navy blue, emerald green, amethyst purple,  and wine red), if you want more elegance and luxury.

But let’s not forget about white walls. Remember the rule that something in the interior should be simple, unpretentious, without unnecessary patterns. But then this wall can be covered with paintings by modern abstractionists mixed with photographs, posters, African masks and a couple of bookshelves.

A chandelier is not the most ideal option, to be true, but in theory there is no taboo against it. Floor lamps, table lamps, as well as lanterns and candles create a cozy and inviting vibe more typical of Bohemian style. And if incense sticks sometimes smolder in the room, filling it with natural fragrance, this is real chic.

When it comes to candles, choose a variety of sizes and shapes, placing them everywhere. Don’t neglect the strangest shapes – skulls, for example. After all, it is in their details that Boho is best revealed.

Firstly, it is for people who are optimistic, love life in its many manifestations and are open to everything new. But let’s look deeper into the issue.

There are no solutions which require huge spaces or high ceilings, so Boho chic is good even for small typical apartments.

Such an interior is like a construction set, and it means that if you like changes, you will also find your passion in Boho. If some trinkets no longer reflect your personality, they are simply replaced with new ones.

Boho proclaims the joy of life in all its diversity.  Looking at photographs of Bohemian interiors, you catch yourself thinking that combining things of different textures, eras and trends is truly an art. But when this style becomes part of your life, then luxury becomes a reality.