So what does boho really mean? Well, first, it’s shorthand for the French word bohémien, referring to Bohemia, a region in present-day Czech Republic. Bohemia was erroneously believed to be the homeland of the Romani people, the largest ethnic minority group in Europe. Originating in India, the Romani largely led ambulant lifestyles and were known for their creativity, many being skilled artists, musicians, and tradespeople. In 16th century France, the word “bohemian” evolved to include any artist, writer, actor, or musician who led an unconventional lifestyle, traveling quite a bit throughout major European cities with little money. A more recent hotbed for boho culture existed in Greenwich Village in New York City during the 1950s, otherwise known as the beat generation, which eventually gave way to the hippy culture of the 1960s and ’70s. While the Romani people who inspired this style have experienced persecution and discrimination for centuries, after being embraced by middle and upper-class White people, boho design came to be mainly viewed as trendy and fashionable. Today, bohemian is more of an adjective than a noun and indicates an aesthetic that takes its influence from those free spirits of generations past. The modern boho style look is eclectic and emphasizes natural elements and vintage pieces from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. With such a focus on global influences, boho design can be prone to cultural appropriation. To ensure your space celebrates other cultures respectfully, it is essential to educate yourself about the significance of items you choose to incorporate and pay attention to where products are sourced from. Here are eighteen ways to embrace boho design in your home. Even in a living room space—like this one by Dazey Den—you can throw a mix of pillows and throws on a day bed or simple sofa for a layer of extra comfort, style, and eclectic energy. If you’re lucky enough to travel to far-flung locales, look for beautiful souvenirs that can help you achieve a natural-eclectic feel in your home with authentic pieces; but, if you don’t have that luxury, shop thrift stores, flea markets, or use apps like Nextdoor and Mercari to find global accents that are budget-friendly and closer to home. Whenever possible, try to source items directly from the cultures they originate from. Then again, you can also decorate with a vintage globe, a quirky and charming travel-centric addition. If this decorating style appeals to you, you probably already value the arts, so you’re well on your way. A goal of creating a boho style space gives you a license to pile art books on the coffee table, frame album covers as wall art, or hang an eclectic collection of art prints on a gallery wall that stretches floor to ceiling. The results are often dazzling, such as in this example of organized chaos of this blue living room designed by Dazey Den.
