Living with Bohemian Style is like wearing your heart on your sleeve. All your personal passions are out in the open for everyone to see. Your living space can be small or large, but it feels especially right in lofts and attic rooms. It may appear jumbled, but every item has a story to tell, and this is the enchantment.
The underlying philosophy behind Bohemian Style is to gather around you cherished objects that have been collected on travels around the world. So you will discover a mix of styles and cultures that happily keep each other company.
If you love the look, but are more an armchair traveller, hunt down items in vintage shops and bazaars. Pieces seen in this vignette are available at select stores through homesense.ca.
Here are some guidelines for creating this carefree, unconventional style.
It’s no surprise that earthy tones such as terra cottas, wood browns and greys would be prominent. Whitewashed and aged wood have a well-used, weathered appearance that is prevalent around the world.
The dark metals — bronze and gilt — are popular in frames and fixtures. Wrought iron stands alone or doubles up with wood. The console table shown here has drawers and stands on metal triangles, a captivating shape. The rustic A-frame wall unit is a unique showcase for anything from crockery to plants and books. Pieces are chosen for their character, and are also easily moved around to suit the homeowner’s changeable moods, and to make room for the next fabulous acquisition.
In contrast to the neutrals, jewel-tone colours appear in fabrics and carpets. Again, mix it up. Carpets overlap freely, and have contrasting materials and patterns. Rough and ready sisal shares space with soft, brightly patterned rugs.
Heirloom Persians, brilliant saris and tapestries have a rich history, and display perfectly hung as art on the walls. A silk footstool next to a burlap or chenille chair is intriguing. And don’t forget the fringes, found on everything from blankets to upholstered furniture to lampshades. Furniture is comfy but not shabby; fabrics have an aged appearance, not shiny and new.
Perhaps the accessories accumulated for this eclectic style are the most telling as they are the easiest to ship home or pack in your suitcase, and you can add as your adventures continue.
There’s an underlying Victorian sensibility to some of these items. A birdcage, a few iron lanterns, pottery and baskets make decorative as well as practical pieces. A peacock or tiger or elephant could show up in fabric patterns or paintings, or on their own as curios. Jewelry can be displayed hanging from lamps and vases. This casual clutter is all fuel for happy memories. Terrariums are popular once again, and their tiny world offers an interesting set for anything from small plants to rock collections.
I travel a great deal, and love what I discover wherever I am. I find this Bohemian Style most compelling, always imaginative, full of whimsy and special memories, full of the magic of adventure.
It may not work for an entire home or apartment, but wouldn’t it be fun to have one room that tells your stories?
Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s new website, www.debbietravis.com.
