Modern Boho Living Room Ideas

If we could only use one word to describe bohemian interior design, it would be down-to-earth. As shown in this living room, the decor theme is unfussy yet cozy and welcoming, with a casual ambiance that invites you and your guests to cuddle up and stay a while.

Speaking of cozy, you might also appreciate the on-trend cottagecore design style. Read our blog to learn how to ​​Create Your Cottagecore Dream Home.

A Mix of Materials

Modern boho decor incorporates a mix of materials. We're talking leather furniture, tufted or braided rugs, textured pillows with tassels or embroidery, knitted throws, fur accents, velvet, wood, marble, macramé, rope, jute, rattan, cane, bouclé — you name it. As long as the colors complement one another, you're golden.

Baskets and Blankets

When it comes to modern bohemian interior design, you can never have too many throw blankets — or baskets to store them in. The two accent pieces are simultaneously functional and decorative, helping you implement textural interest into your space while incorporating flexible storage.

Explore these 23 Basket Decor and Storage Ideas for more tips.

Tassels and Textures

Tassels are a great way to add a subtle hint of boho to a space, whether on a pillow, a storage basket, rug fringe, or macramé wall art. On that note, you can never really have too much texture, so play around with different materials to create dimension while entertaining the eye.

Throw blankets are an easy way to incorporate more texture into your living room. These are the Best Throws and Throw Blanket Ideas for the Home.

Eclectic Medley

Eclectic interior design incorporates a medley of decor elements from different places, cultures, and periods throughout history. If you like a more vibrant, eye-catching look, opt for a few bright pops of color to liven things up.

Want more tips and guidance on decorating your space? See our Guide to Design and Decor Ideas for Your Home.

Minimalist Boho Living Room

Of course, not all bohemian design is eclectic. If you'd like to avoid an overly busy look, take this pared-down living room's lead and go with a minimalist modern boho decor theme. This means using fewer pieces overall and a relatively neutral color palette.

Learn How to Design a Minimalist Bedroom in our blog.

Layered Rugs

One of the best modern boho living room ideas is to layer your area rugs. You can place a smaller rectangular rug on top of a slightly larger rectangle or a round or asymmetrical design over a rectangle.

Here are 18 more Living Room Rug Ideas to get your creative wheels turning.

Distressed Wood Furniture

Distressed wood furniture offers a time-worn appeal to a bohemian living room. It doesn't have to be all the same finish, either, like how this living room features fir plank flooring and darker wood for the coffee table and accent chair.

Read our article to learn How to Clean Wood Furniture the Right Way.

Warm and Welcoming

When you're stumped on modern living room boho ideas, think about what would make your space feel warm and welcoming. Maybe it's a soft, textured rug, cozy throw blankets, plush decorative pillows, ambient lighting or all of the above.

These are the Best Living Room Lighting Ideas to explore.

Subtle Contrast

Contemporary boho living rooms often use contrast in their color schemes. But instead of going with stark opposites like black and white, you can be slightly more subtle with navy and ivory, for instance.

Check out these 35 Stylish Living Room Color Schemes for more inspiration.

Make "Space" With Mirrors

If you're working with a small living room, you can create the illusion of more space with mirrors. Place them across from or adjacent to your largest window to reflect the natural light into the room.

Read our article to learn How to Decorate With Mirrors Across Your Home.

Pillows and Poufs

Modern boho decor is all about pillows and floor poufs. Decorative pillows add plushness and depth to your furniture, while poufs provide extra seating and footrests when you need them.

See our guide for tips on How to Style Throw Pillows Like a Designer.

Hanging Plants

Hanging plants offer a splash of natural color and an organic feel without taking up any floor or table space. Plus, they have an undeniably whimsy flair that’s perfect for boho living rooms.

These are the Top 16 Indoor Plants for Clean Air in Your Home.

Pops of Color

If you're drawn to bolder hues, by all means, incorporate a few pops of color into your space. This living room features a statement blue couch, calling back the color with a vibrant rug. As you can see, the rug also features pinks and reds, which are called back in the sofa pillows.

Naturally Neutral

You don't have to use bright colors when decorating your space. A neutral boho design scheme can be quite lovely. Think ivory, beige, grey, taupe, charcoal, and natural brown and golden hues of wood, rattan, and wicker.

Feng shui is big on natural elements. Explore these Feng Shui Interior Design Ideas for more tips and inspiration.

Velvet and Rattan

The juxtaposition of glamorous velvet and laid-back rattan accents is just the thing for a boho living room. These design elements offer interest in the form of varied textures while balancing each aesthetic with a contrasting material.

Jute has a similar vibe as rattan, and it's a top choice for area rugs. What Is a Jute Rug? Read our article for details.

Soft, Subtle Accents

When in doubt, look for soft accents to decorate your living room. This might be a high-pile shag rug, velvet pillows, a cloud cotton throw blanket, or a fabric-upholstered ottoman.

Don't overlook your end tables. Here are 33 Side Table Decor Ideas to explore.

Industrial Boho Living Room

For a moodier look, consider an industrial-inspired boho living room. Think metal furniture frames, exposed hardware, and contrasting colors like black and white or charcoal and ivory.

For more modern boho living room ideas, see our guide on How to Create a Modern Industrial Style Look for Your Home.

Laid-Back Yet Sophisticated

The best modern boho living room ideas lend a laid-back yet sophisticated appeal. This home, for example, features comfy seating with plush pillows and tasteful accents, like a gold-framed mirror and circular marble coffee table.

Check out these Living Room Essentials for more stylish and functional necessities.

Hodgepodge Wall Decor

Bohemian home design often embraces an assortment of wall decor collected from different places and inspired by various styles and cultures. This could include hanging macramé, a tapestry, floating shelves with tchotchkes, a series of small mirrors, printed wallpaper, or traditional framed art.

Cohesive Assortment of Accents

Though an assortment of furnishings and decorative pieces is a pillar of modern boho decor, the key is to make everything look cohesive. This means the pieces will complement one another rather than clash, with similar or contrasting tones and furnishings that look unique but not out of place.

Call Back Colors

Creating a cohesive-looking living space is all about calling back colors — especially when you're going for a more eclectic or boho look. For example, your throw pillows might feature a warm terracotta hue that goes with the rich wood of your accent furniture or cream-colored blankets and poufs that match your ivory rug.

The Parachute Color Guide has more tips and insight into this topic.

Full of Character

Your bohemian-inspired living room should represent your personality, where you've been, what you've done and the lifestyle you live. For instance, this space features a guitar and a salvaged sign amid its medley of wall decor, plus a vintage rug and decorative pillows that appear to be collected from around the world.

Want to include more of your unique personality when decorating your space? Here's How to Create an Interior Design Mood Board.

Vintage Rug

You really can't go wrong with a vintage rug when decorating a bohemian living room. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a decades-old design — you can find many vintage-inspired options that look time-worn but perform like a brand-new area rug.

Read our blog to discover the Best Rugs For Every Room.

Layered Textures

Layering different textures is one of the best ways to create a cozy, welcoming boho living space. This includes knitted and gauzy throws, decorative pillows with fringe and tufting, and maybe a fur accent or two for added softness.

Speaking of layers, our blog covers How to Pick the Right Layer for your bed.

Moody But Cozy

You might think of modern boho decor as light and bright, but that's definitely not the only direction you can take. Consider creating a moody vibe with deeper colors, such as black, dark teal, forest green, or maroon.

We're big fans of this L-shaped sectional. Here are 35 more Stylish and Functional Living Room Sofa Ideas.

Round Accents

When you browse modern boho living room ideas, you'll see lots of circular accents. From floor poufs and couch cushions to coffee tables and woven baskets, the round shapes add softness while breaking up the monotony of straight lines.

Read our article for expert tips on How to Style Your Coffee Table.

Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is another excellent way to decorate your bohemian living room. It allows you to incorporate different images, artists, photographers, and art styles while filling a large open wall in the space.

Here are 37 more thoughtful Ideas for Decorating a Blank Wall in Your Home.

Mid-Century Boho Blend

Can you blend 1960s style with bohemian design? You bet! As shown in this home, some of the best mid-century modern boho living room ideas include low-profile furniture with skinny metal or peg legs, distressed wood accents, retro-inspired Sputnik light fixtures, floor poufs, woven baskets, layered area rugs and textured pillows galore.

Parachute has everything you need to create Your Perfect Living Room. Read our blog for details.

Potpourri of Prints

While some interior designers may advise against including too many patterns in your living room, modern boho style often includes several. The key, as seen here, is to select prints that aren't too loud. Opt for complementing colors or go with a relatively neutral color scheme to avoid an overly busy look.

Want to learn How to Style the Classic Checkerboard Print at Home? Read our blog for guidance.

Playful Swing Chair

It doesn't get much more boho than a swing chair. Offering comfy seating and a unique decorative flair, this playful interior design accent is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Want more tips and inspiration? We rounded up 31 of the best Living Room Accent Chair Ideas in our article.

Breezy Window Sheers

For an easy-breezy, whimsy effect that exudes bohemian design, opt for window sheers in your living room. The semi-transparent material will add privacy and allow you to filter natural light throughout the day without darkening the space too much.

Read our blog for the Best Curtain Colors, Sizes, Materials, and Decor Ideas.

Wicker, Rattan, Jute, and Cane

There are many natural materials other than wood you can use when designing a boho home, including jute, rattan, sisal, bamboo, and cane. This living room features a mid-century wooden credenza with cane doors for a casual elegance that enhances the rest of the decor.

For additional tips, see our step-by-step guide to Updating Your Living Room.

Small Boho Living Room

Short on square footage? With the right pieces, you can still create a lovely boho living room that impresses your guests and makes you love spending time at home. This space features a compact L-shaped sofa to maximize seating, a floor pouf that can be placed anywhere, a small accent table, and a mini gallery wall.

For more guidance, consider these 25 Tips to Upgrade Your Apartment.

Think Outside the Box

To nail the casual, worldly appeal of bohemian interior design, select rounded shapes rather than squares, rectangles, and clean lines. For instance, this living room has an oblong coffee table, accent chairs with bowed armrests, a leather sofa with curved backrests, and multiple circular light fixtures.

Modern Boho Great Room

What about open floor plans? If you're working with a great room rather than a traditional living room, you'll want to create designated zones for dining, gathering and hanging out while still making the overall space look cohesive with boho decor accents and a complementing color scheme.

For tips on designing bohemian-inspired sleeping quarters, see our article, The Art of Thrifting: The Boho Bedroom.