The first Bohemians were travelers or refugees from Central Europe. These days the term Bohemians is used for people who live unconventional and usually artistic lifestyles. Bohemian style is more than just a style, it is a way of living. No limits, a mix of influences. A bohemian will decorate their home in a very personal way.
wallpaper William Morris - paintings Pre-Raphaelite via Tate - fashion drawing via CDM
In 1848 a group of young artist in London created a secret society called the Pre-Raphaelites. Their subjects were painted as realist as possible, initially religious but later also inspired by poetry, literature. Specially love and death were their favorite subjects, but they also explored modern social problems. They wanted to get away from the genre paintings typical from that time. Initially they endured a lot of opposition, later they were highly influential. Dante Gabriel Rosetti and Edward Burne-Jones were the most known artists of the group. William Morris was a later follower.
interior fo Charleston farmhouse via Tatler and House and Garden - picture Virginia Woolf
The Bloomsbury Group was formed around the Stephen sisters, Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf. Writers, artists, philosophers and intellectuals who lived, worked, and studied together close to Bloomsbury, a district of London. They were united by an abiding belief in the importance of the arts. Their work in the first half of the 20th century had a big influence on literature, economics and they had a very modern approach towards feminism, pacifism and sexuality. The group would meet in their homes in Bloomsbury or at countryside retreats, one of them is the Charleston Farmhouse, all decorated by artist friends.
Biba interior via Van Paris - Twiggy via Byron’s Muse - Opium YSL
For most interior design styles there is a defined period when the style was most popular, not for the bohemian style. The world went through and recovered from two world wars, in the 60s and beginning of the 70s we would see again a reaction again the established society, women wanted and got more freedom. Unisex fashion, new synthetic materials, the mini skirt, Twiggy and much more all happening in just a few years. The hippies, Woodstock, love as the center of life, protests against the war in Vietnam. In London Barbara Hulanicki opened, beginning of the 60s the fashion shop Biba, decorated in a non-traditional way, with references to Art Deco.
interior via h-o-r-n-g-r-y - Oscar Torlasco chandelier 1stDibs - printed blankets via Rural Girl - Sunburst mirror VTNG - Upupe wallpaper 1stDibs
Rule number one to create a bohemian interior is: Mix it all up! And do it with confidence. Combine classical furniture with vintage, printed fabrics, and ethnic objects. Decorative objects will tell the story of the people living in that house. A bohemian interior is created over time, you can’t just plan your interior and go the shops to order it all at once. It is this kind of interior that gets richer with each object you find. You just “run in to it”, you can find maybe on unexpected locations or times the piece which you love and can see what you have already in the house. So you feel here that you need confidence to create this interior, it has to be you.
olive leaf gold wallpaper 1stDibs - outfit Dries Van Noten - studio Dries Van Noten via El Pais - flushmount ceiling lamp 1stDibs
It is only you who have to live in your home, so don’t care what other people think or say. It will reflect your artistic soul. When I advice people, when they decorate their home, than I tell them to plan well and don’t start buying before you have all things on the list. Because when you find maybe the perfect coffee table you have to change another object you selected before. But this is not a rule for the bohemian style.
painted door via Apartment Therapy - dining room via The Guardian -Spanish wooden chair VNTG
So how do we start creating this look? Simple, collect whatever your heart loves, the things which makes you happy, the beauty you see in those flea market finds. You can get inspired by looking at other bohemian interiors but don’t copy, they should tell your story. That is a reason that they probably decorate their homes by themselves, they don’t work with an interior designer.
Moroccan rug Breuckelen Berber - Louis XV style sofa 1stDibs - standing lamp Emery & cie - interior image via Lonny - coffee table Kathy Kuo - iron and glass ceiling lamp 1stDibs - outfit Dries Van Noten
This is a style which is difficult to understand for people who like the house well organized, imagine what the minimalist thinks of this style. I see that when I’m teaching and show those different styles; they will say it is dusty. I tell them than that it only adds patina. So you see this is a style which really has to fit the people living their. Every piece has or a story, or is chosen for its beauty. Mix prints, mix colors. Adding a lot of white and a touch of black will make the mix easier and more modern.
interior image via House and Garden - Hornbeam wallpaper Farrow & Ball - Jacqueline flush mount Circa - hand painted cupboard via Thoughtful Misfit
When adding a modern design piece to this interior will bring it to the 21st century. Does it fit for you? Ot you dislike it totally? Maybe you can see yourself visiting a friend and feel immediately at home, but it is not the interior you want to live in. This style has something cozy and inviting. Unless you are a pure minimalist and start sneezing just by the idea of dust.
fireplace in YSL’s house in Marrakech via Elle Decor - Claret chandelier Circa - on the right via SF Girl
Do you have to use muted and dark colors? No, let it sparkle, if you love bright colors. Mix the colors as you would mix the styles and the print. If you are new to mixing colors you could start by selecting three colors, choose some stripes, flowers and graphical ornaments and mix them. Slowly you will see you get more confidence.
image on the left via Keltainen Talo Rannalla - Wrap bench CB2 - Chinese cabinet Colours of the Orient - bathroom in Palazzo Daniele via Artemest - Giant Sputnik chandelier 1stDibs
Give your bathroom a bohemian touch; add a color, a branch of a tree in a tall vase and more mirrors. Antique mirrors are a perfect choice. When choosing the bathroom taps go for antique brass instead of chrome as it will add a warmer touch to the room. And why not a big modern chandelier.
flowers on mantel via Deco Vrir - Rococco engraved wine glass Scottish Antiques - cutlery via Flickr - decorated table via Hem Trender - embroidery via Miss Mustard Seed
This bohemian style is not you but you like the feeling; set up your dining table in this style. Take a look in your cupboard and mix the plates, glasses and cutlery. A simple linen table cloth, no need for ironing. This is still a bit to much for you, than you set the table as you would normally do it and add some vases and bottles, all in different sizes and shapes with flowers to style your table in an unusual way.
So how do you create this bohemian style
mix it all up
decorate in time not all at once, let it grow
it will never be to much
make choices with confidence
start integrating this style by creating special corners in a room
Often people ask me what is my style, as they know my interior design projects which are most of the time a relaxed classical style. This is me, I love the bohemian style!
Can you see yourself living in this style?