The free spirited and unconventional influence of bohemian artists from early 19th-century France has remained a design aesthetic that reappears time and time again in various guises. It is easy to see how the early 2000s were a particular cultural touchpoint with fashion drawing heavily from the free-spirited attitude that eventually centred around icons such as Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. Their catwalk looks and fashion magazine editorial content refined a two-hundred-year-old inimitable style into what became known as Boho Chic.
In the past 12 months, there has been a new emergence of Modern Boho for interior design that builds on these early 21st-century fashion elements for a more pared-down and thoughtful application. The living room in any home is the perfect place to experiment with this trend in a functional and transformative way that can reset the heart of the living space as an area of personal expression.
Our guide to a collection of significant Modern Boho features demonstrates how one can begin to explore this as a practical and cohesive design brief.
Natural Materials
The earthy textures that are present in natural materials such as rattan, sisal, jute and reclaimed wood offer an honest and raw Modern Boho option for the living room. This is all about keeping the overall effect of the room raw and grounded, but with an honesty to the aesthetics. Cane-fronted cabinets and raw timber tables deliver tactile appeal that can be balanced with polished surfaces like marble or smooth, sanded oak for an elegant juxtaposition that draws attention in subtle movements. Organic cotton is also a great way to elevate soft furnishing finishes within the Modern Boho brief.
Layered Textiles
The comfort and harmonious energy that Modern Boho seeks to achieve makes layering a good tool to explore for living room interiors. Importantly, this should be done using a combination of neutral and patterned designs to avoid any chaotic clashes that can disturb the overall energy of the room. One of the best ways to experiment with this is through the use of overlapping rugs that differ in texture, perhaps building on a base of the practical and durable sisal material with a vintage statement patterned rug on top. Similarly, cushions can be mixed through a collection of velvet and cashmere for indulgence in the same space as boucle and embroidered options for earthier tones.
A Rich & Natural Colour Palette
Modern Boho prioritises the naturally occurring tones and colourways that prevail in the natural world over the riotous colours of many recent interior design trends. Forest greens, the decaying oranges and darker hues of rust and autumnal flashes of burnt ochre and umber should all be considered as base layers and accents in the living room. Beginning with soft putty of plaster white makes a fantastically crisp canvas that one can add accents onto, with aged brass or antique bronze working well for door fixtures and fittings in a boutique-inspired manner. The warmer aspects of leather upholstery and ceramics can then provide interesting accents to position around the room in a semi-orderly design.
Minimalism is More
The clean lines of minimalist furniture are a welcome addition to the Modern Boho toolkit for living room redesign. Taking cues from the evergreen Scandinavian style of beautiful utility and muted tones is a good way to begin. The classic silhouettes of Eames-style chairs and low-profile sofas work as a boho bedrock for the layered accessories to fix themselves upon, acting like anchors that ground everything in the room. Slimline wood tables, perhaps with the addition of black metal frames or stone tops, can lend an ultra-modern twist too. It can remain playful but never overbearing.
Artisanal Accents
So much of the classic bohemian movement was concerned with representations of soul and identity that valued individuality over mass production. This energy is easiest to achieve through handcrafted and often irregular pieces that suggest they carry their own stories and history, taken from all around the globe. Hand-thrown pottery and wall weavings from artisan craft makers or brands work incredibly well in this regard. For the ultimate application of this element, it is a good idea to commission pieces directly from identified leading artists in their fields. Charm and authenticity are the defining characteristics one should be working towards here.
Biophilia is Best
The use of plants, flowers and greenery in interior design has been one of the most impressive, valuable and successful design trends of the last decade. It imbues a space with the serenity and calming focus of the living world, bringing the joys of the outdoors inside with refreshing permanence. For the Modern Boho brief, one should look to oversized potted plants such as fiddle-leaf figs, monstera and birds of paradise to live in corners for a sense of movement and seasonal changing and growth. Hanging planters and decorative pots can also work as room dividers to define and frame certain functions within the living room for entertainment and relaxation.
Ambient & Layered Lighting
Getting the lighting to suit the style is often the most important aspect of any interior design trend. With so much of Modern Boho concerned with atmosphere and laid-back luxury, there is a requirement for layered lighting to avoid any harsh ceiling spots and promote uniform lighting coverage. Rattan or bamboo chandeliers aligned with low-level table lamps and wall sconces are an interesting option to explore, using soft white and warm tone energy-efficient bulbs that enhance earthly colours. Parchment lampshades, or even linen, diffuse the light in a more elegant way that will make the hazy evening glow last long into the night for a Modern Boho living room.
Personal Expression is Key
The ultimate stamp of authenticity in the Modern Boho living room should be one’s own sense of curation and expression. The walls, objects and design choices should be telling your story in a space that is created to share experiences with those near and dear to you. Gallery walls and open shelving provide spaces that should never feel finished, waiting for your next journey or life event to offer something new to showcase.
As you begin to sketch out ideas for a Modern Boho living room, let imagination be your guide in the first instance. The redrafting, refining and redesigning stages are all about distilling the essence of one’s spirit and soul into a focused display of warmth and comfort. This is a design style and aesthetic that evolves alongside you. Therefore, one must ensure that there is always room for your Modern Boho living room to welcome new additions, adapt existing functions and accept any changes with effortless grace.
