How to create a boho home

Boho might be one of the most talked-about interior styles out there, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Search “boho decor” and you’ll get a wall of macramé, fringing and terracotta that can feel more like a costume than a home. This is a stereotype, but even the style itself is a little confusing, because it’s a fusion of time eras and styles, including the retro 60s/70s and Moroccan colours and patterns.

In this guide, I’m pulling together everything I’ve learned: where the style actually comes from, the colours and materials that make it work, how to bring it into every room, all while on a budget.

 

What is the boho style?

“Boho” is short for bohemian, a term that originally described 19th-century artists, writers and free-thinkers living outside conventional society (the word comes from the French bohémien, a nod to the Roma people, who were mistakenly believed at the time to have come from Bohemia). By the 1960s and 70s, the word had attached itself to the hippie movement.

Modern boho interiors borrow that same spirit rather than any single look. It pulls in Moroccan patterns, Indian textiles, mid-century silhouettes, and vintage or handmade pieces, and mixes them together on purpose. This is why boho can be completely what you make it. It’s built on curated eclecticism, so you can mix eras, patterns and price points and get away with it in a way you couldn’t with other styles.

 

The boho colour palette

Boho colour schemes tend to fall into two camps, and it’s worth deciding early on which one your room is going to lean towards, because they don’t always mix well.

The first is earthy and warm neutrals, including terracotta, rust, mustard, sand, olive and warm browns. This is the softer, more grown-up end of boho, and it works brilliantly as a base layer that you can build onto.

The second is rich, saturated jewel tones (for that more Moroccan vibe), like deep teal, burnt orange, burgundy, ochre and forest green. This is a bolder, more maximalist take, closer to the “gypsy boho” look, and it suits people who want more drama.

Whichever palette you go with, I’d recommend that you keep big surface areas a more neutral colour, like your sofa and your walls, and then let cushions, throws, rugs and artwork carry the colour.

This is a great example of minimalist boho: neutral colours, plenty of white space and natural materials:

 

What are the key elements of a boho home?

1. Natural materials and textures

If there’s one non-negotiable in boho decor, it’s texture. Rattan, wicker, jute, sisal, raw wood, linen and cotton all bring a tactile, handmade quality that man-made materials can’t replicate. Think rattan lampshades, a jute rug layered under a smaller patterned one, or a set of woven wall baskets.

 

2. Layered, patterned textiles

Boho is one of the only styles where “too many cushions” isn’t really a criticism. You can mix patterns confidently, anchoring them with a couple of solid colours so the room doesn’t become too chaotic.

If you’re worried about overdoing it, a good rule of thumb is for every bold pattern you introduce, add a plain one somewhere as well. I love all the mixed patterns on the picnic rug below, and when combine with the lamps and candles, you get a true Moroccan feel.

 

3. Plants (lots of them)

Boho style is rooted in bringing the outdoors in. A single windowsill succulent won’t cut it, so layer your plants everywhere! Like trailing pothos on a shelf, a statement fiddle leaf fig or monstera in a corner, and smaller pots grouped together on a console table or plant stand. If you don’t have a great track record with houseplants (I know I’m guilty), dried pampas grass, dried flowers or good-quality faux plants give you the same visual effect without the maintenance.

4. Vintage and secondhand furniture

This is why the boho style is so perfect for anyone on a budget. Boho and secondhand shopping go hand in hand. A single, vintage piece adds instant character that you just can’t replicate with new furniture, and it keeps the room from feeling like it was bought as a matching set. Charity shops, Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and local auction houses are all worth a regular scroll.

 

5. Statement seating

Rather than a matching three-piece suite, boho living rooms tend to favour deep, low sofas with soft, rounded edges rather than sharp mid-century lines. A hanging or cocoon chair is one of the fastest ways to signal “boho” in a room.

 

6. Handmade and artisan details

Macramé wall hangings, woven wall art, handmade ceramics and hand-knotted rugs all add the personal, artisan feel that boho relies on. These are also some of the easiest boho elements to make yourself if you feel like it, too.

7. Layered lighting

I always talk about layered lighting on Dream of Home, whether it’s for your home office, your bathroom or your living space. Whatever you do, skip the one big light. Boho rooms rely on warm, low-level lighting from multiple sources, like pendants, a floor lamp, dimmable wall lights, fairy lights, etc. Warm white bulbs (2700K or below) make a bigger difference here than almost anything else on this list.

 

8. Eclectic wall art

Boho walls tend to be gallery-style, a mix of woven hangings, mirrors, small framed art, and objects like vintage plates or masks, layered at different heights rather than lined up in a neat grid.

 

How to create a boho home on a budget

Boho decor has a reputation for being expensive because so much of the “inspiration” content out there is styled with designer pieces. But actually, I think it’s one of the more affordable styles to build, because it’s designed around collecting things over time rather than buying a matching set in one go.

First, you can shop secondhand. I absolutely love sifting through charity shops, car boot sales, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted for little treasures that no one else wants. These are perfect places for vintage rugs, baskets and furniture that give boho its character. You can even find old furniture ready to be upcycled, and the best part is you get to choose its design and colour.

Next, there are so many trends you can DIY yourself without spending a fortune. Macramé, tassel trims and even simple tie-dye are all beginner-friendly ways to add handmade texture without much cost.

Then, I’d recommend you spend money on one or two statement pieces and then build up the rest gradually (and cheaply). A hanging chair is particularly boho, as is a patterned rug or a striking piece of artwork. These things can also then determine your colour scheme or design.

 

Questions about the boho interior style

Is boho decor going out of style?

Boho has stayed popular for well over a decade because it isn’t really one trend that comes and goes. Instead, it’s a much more flexible and personal approach to decorating rather than a specific colour or furniture shape, which is exactly why it doesn’t date the way more prescriptive trends do.

What’s the difference between boho and boho chic?

“Boho chic” generally refers to a slightly more polished, curated take on boho. It’s usually a bit less chaotic and free, with a more minimal/neutral colour palette. It’s definitely not maximalist.

Can boho work in a small flat or rental?

It definitely can, in fact, it’s one of the better styles for renters, since rugs, plants, cushions and removable wall hangings create most of the look without any permanent changes.

How do I stop my boho room looking cluttered?

My biggest tip would be to include some solid colour/plain surfaces. Not everything has to be patterned to the max or the most colourful item you can find. Minimalism is okay, and plain walls or a plain rug are also okay to anchor the room.

I’d also edit your accessories in groups rather than displaying everything you own at once.

 

Would you ever go for the boho look in your home?