The Bohemian style is about freedom, individuality, and collected beauty. It’s unapologetically eclectic—mixing patterns, colours, textures, and cultural influences without concern for conventional matching. The result? Homes that feel deeply personal, visually interesting, and genuinely lived-in.
British homes have always embraced a certain eclectic sensibility. Adding bohemian elements simply amplifies this inherent personality. This guide shares how to incorporate bohemian style into your UK home without it feeling chaotic.
The Bohemian Philosophy
Bohemian style isn’t about careful curation or matching sets. It’s about surrounding yourself with items you genuinely love—whether they match or not. It celebrates:
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Individuality: Your home reflects YOU
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Collected beauty: Items gathered from travels, markets, charity shops
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Cultural diversity: Textiles and art from various traditions
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Natural elements: Plants, natural materials, organic textures
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Comfort: Function and comfort matter more than trend
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Colour and pattern: Mixing bold patterns and rich colours confidently
The key difference between bohemian style and cluttered chaos? Intentionality. Every piece should be something you genuinely love.
Colour in Bohemian Spaces
Bohemian style embraces colour confidently. Rather than limiting yourself to three colours, use multiples—just ensure they share a cohesive quality (warm tones, jewel tones, earthy tones, etc.).
Bohemian colour palettes:
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Warm earth palette: Terracotta, rust, mustard, olive, warm cream
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Jewel tone palette: Emerald, sapphire, burgundy, amethyst, gold
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Warm neutral palette: Caramel, warm grey, cream, tan, warm white
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Eclectic mix: Combine several palettes with boho abandon (if executed carefully)
The secret? Choose a dominant colour family, then add accents from other families. This creates cohesion despite apparent eclecticism.
Patterns and Textiles
Bohemian style celebrates pattern layering. Geometric prints, florals, paisley, ikat, ethnic patterns—they can coexist beautifully.
Pattern-mixing principles:
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Vary pattern scale: Mix large-scale patterns with small-scale, geometric with organic
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Shared colour: Ensure patterns share at least one colour for cohesion
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Balance: If walls have busy patterns, keep furniture simpler, and vice versa
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Layering: Throw a geometric cushion on a floral chair with a patterned throw—it works if colours align
Textile sources:
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Etsy: Incredible selection of patterned textiles, kilims, and ethnic fabrics
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Vintage markets: Authentic vintage fabrics, often beautiful and affordable
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Travel and tourism shops: Souvenirs become home décor
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Independent makers: Support artisans whilst getting unique pieces
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Dunelm and Next Home: Budget-friendly patterned options
Layering Textures
Bohemian style revels in texture diversity:
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Soft: Velvet cushions, silk throws, soft wool blankets
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Rough: Jute, burlap, woven wall hangings, rattan
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Smooth: Ceramics, glass, polished wood
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Metallic: Brass, copper, gold accents
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Natural: Leather, wood, stone, plants
Combine these textures liberally. A room with varied textures feels sophisticated and interesting.
Plants and Natural Elements
Plants are essential to the bohemian style. They’re not optional—they’re structural.
Bohemian plant strategy:
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Multiple plants of varying sizes: Tall floor plants, trailing plants on shelves, hanging baskets
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Varied placement: On shelves, floors, hanging from ceilings, in corners
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Interesting pots: Mismatched ceramic pots, woven baskets, vintage containers
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Plant diversity: Mix foliage plants with flowering varieties for visual interest
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Garden outside in: Fresh flowers, dried grasses, branches with leaves
Living plants make bohemian spaces feel connected to nature—essential to the aesthetic.
Artwork and Wall Displays
Bohemian style loves gallery walls and eclectic art displays.
Bohemian wall decoration:
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Gallery walls: Mix artwork, mirrors, woven wall hangings, textiles
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Tapestries: Large woven pieces as wall art
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Macramé: Wall hangings add texture and a bohemian feel
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Mirrors of varying sizes and frames: Different shapes, sizes, and frame styles
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Photography: Personal travel photos, black and white images
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Textiles as art: Kilims, ethnic textiles displayed on walls
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DIY art: Hand-painted pieces, personal creations
The arrangement can be seemingly random (salon style) or more organised—both work within the bohemian aesthetic if executed intentionally.
Furniture Selection
Bohemian style embraces collected furniture rather than matched sets.
Bohemian furniture approach:
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Vintage and antique pieces: Character, history, authenticity
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Mismatched chairs: Different styles gathered around one dining table
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Low seating: Floor cushions, poufs, low benches create cosy intimacy
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Natural wood: Unfinished, reclaimed, or rustic wood furniture
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Layered pieces: Multiple storage options, shelving, vintage trunks
Each piece should have character. Perfectly matched furniture feels wrong in bohemian spaces.
Lighting Bohemian-Style
Bohemian lighting is warm, layered, and creates ambiance.
Bohemian lighting elements:
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Warm bulbs: 2700K or warmer (essential for ambiance)
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Multiple sources: Many smaller lights rather than a single bright fixture
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Candles: Abundant candle use creates warmth and atmosphere
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Pendant lights: Often with fabric shades or interesting materials
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String lights: Fairy lights create a magical atmosphere
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Lanterns: Moroccan-style or vintage lanterns for atmospheric lighting
Lighting should feel warm and intimate, not clinical or bright.
Rugs as Foundation
Large rugs anchor bohemian spaces and define areas visually.
Bohemian rug selection:
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Patterned rugs: Geometric patterns, Persian-style, ethnic designs
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Layered rugs: Multiple rugs of different sizes create visual interest
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Natural materials: Jute, sisal, cotton
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Vintage rugs: Character and authenticity
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Runners: Define pathways, add pattern
Rugs create visual warmth and define spaces in open-plan bohemian homes.
Accessories and Collections
Bohemian spaces celebrate collections—not minimally displayed, but abundantly shown.
Display collections:
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Ceramics and pottery: Display on shelves, in corners, as functional art
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Books: Stacked on shelves, bedside tables, corners (signify intellectual interests)
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Vintage finds: Items collected from travels, markets, charity shops
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Textiles: Folded and displayed on shelves or draped on furniture
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Mirrors: Various sizes and frames grouped together
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Candlesticks, vases, vessels: Grouped by height or colour for visual interest
Collections tell your story. Display them proudly—that’s bohemian decoration.
Budget Bohemian Decoration
Bohemian style is genuinely affordable:
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Charity shops: Vintage finds at bargain prices
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Facebook Marketplace and eBay: Endless treasures
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Market stalls: Often have ethnic textiles and vintage items
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Etsy: Affordable handmade pieces from global makers
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DIY: Hand-paint furniture, create wall hangings, display personal collections
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Nature: Free elements (branches, flowers, leaves)
You don’t need expensive pieces. The Bohemian style celebrates gathered items regardless of cost.
Avoiding Bohemian Chaos
The line between beautifully bohemian and chaotically cluttered is thin:
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Intentionality: Each item should be something you love
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Colour cohesion: Even eclectic colours should feel intentional
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Surfaces aren’t entirely covered: Some visual rest keeps spaces feeling designed
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Cleanliness matters: Dusty, dirty clutter isn’t bohemian—it’s just messy
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Editing: Remove items that don’t serve you or excite you
Bohemian style celebrates abundance, not hoarding.
Conclusion
Bohemian decoration permits you to stop trying to match everything and start celebrating what you genuinely love. Your home should reflect your personality, your travels, your interests, and your aesthetic preferences—not some predetermined idea of how homes should look. Fill your space with colours you adore, patterns that excite you, textures that please you, and items that tell your story. That’s bohemian decoration at its finest: a home that’s unmistakably, authentically yours.
