The boho chic style has a magic in the fact that it can look sophisticated and comfortable at the same time. Your kitchen must be able to foster hour long chatter over morning coffee and savvy enough to host a dinner party. It is the promised land of utility and glamour- and really, the truth is, isn t that just what we all need out of the heart of our homes?
The twelve ideas I learned through the process of assisting dozens of homeowners with taking the sterility cookies out of their cooking areas and replacing them with a gorgeous yet effortless boho ambiance. Prepared to establish a kitchen in which you will never want to work out?
Warm Wood Elements That Set the Foundation
Recycled wood makes all the difference to a boho kitchen. I am not talking about those damn near flawless planks you can find at home improvement stores I am talking about the genuine item with character, weathering, and tales written in each grain line.
Recycled barn wood used to create floating shelves has the ability to bring warmth and (a touch of) authenticity immediately. It is these flaws that give each creation its own personality and that is what bohemian is all about the flawlessly imperfect.
Consider these wood applications:
- Live-edge countertops that showcase natural curves
- Weathered wood ceiling beams for rustic charm
- Vintage butcher block islands with visible wear patterns
- Reclaimed wood backsplash accent walls
Have you ever sat in a kitchen and felt instantly at home and in another you felt cold? Wood designed in its natural form provides a feeling of emotional warmth, which softens the spaces and makes them very comfortable.
Statement Lighting That Steals the Show
Pendant lighting may or may not kill your boho kitchen. I recently hung three of varying sized rattan pendants over the kitchen island of a client and the before and after was nothing short of amazing.
The challenge is to select fixtures that are looked and felt handcrafted over mass-produced. Woven fabrics, natural fabrics and blended metals add and give that visual interest that makes up that much needed bohemian feel.
My favorite boho lighting options include:
- Hand-woven seagrass pendant shades
- Moroccan-inspired brass lanterns with intricate cutouts
- Clustered Edison bulb arrangements
- Vintage-style chandeliers with mixed materials
| Lighting Type | Best Placement |
|---|---|
| Pendant lights | Over islands or breakfast bars |
| Chandeliers | Dining areas or large kitchens |
Textured Backsplashes Beyond Basic
No more plain subway tiles, texture brings out character and depth, something not offered by their flat counterparts. This is a beautiful, collected-over-time look that is done with handmade ceramic tiles that are irregularly glazed.
I love Zellige tiles at the moment. They look different in the light as the day goes by, because of their slight color variations and handmade flaws and those nuances make your backsplash a living art.
Consider these textural options:
- Moroccan cement tiles with geometric patterns
- Natural stone with visible mineral veining
- Pressed tin tiles for vintage industrial charm
- Hand-painted ceramic tiles in earthy tones
Installation Tips for Success
Install the center-pieces in the middle and move towards the outside. It has been done so that the cut tiles are placed in less eye-catching spots instead of open places.
Plants That Actually Thrive in Kitchens
Come on and face it- not all of us are blessed with green fingers but we can all be capable of integrating plants with the right decisions. This is one of the lessons that I have learned after putting several houseplants to rest well beyond what should be, on my part, an embarrassing number 🙂
Kitchens are distinctive places that have fluctuating light, moisture and climatic conditions. Intelligent selection of plants is everything that means a successful vegetation and costly disposal materials.
My foolproof kitchen plant recommendations:
- Snake plants: Tolerate low light and irregular watering
- Pothos: Gorgeous trailing vines that forgive neglect
- ZZ plants: Glossy leaves that handle anything
- Herb gardens: Functional beauty you can cook with
In order to make visual layers, group plants at varying heights. Trailing types look great in hanging planters and floor plants of a larger size anchor corners.
Woven Storage Solutions
Storage rattan and wicker fight clutter while adding must have bohemian texture. Plastic containers can’t hold a candle to the looks and warmth of these organic materials.
I have baskets of all sizes in my personal kitchen to keep root vegetables in as well as dish towels. Their beauty consists in the fact that they help to conceal clutter and yet appear deliberately decorative.
Strategic storage placement includes:
- Counter baskets for fresh fruit displays
- Under-cabinet storage for linens and supplies
- Pantry organization with labeled woven containers
- Open shelving styled with beautiful baskets
Earthy Color Palettes That Feel Natural
Warm, warmer color schemes comprise the basis of a successful boho kitchen. Forget the cliched dark oranges and lighter purples and ponder over the idea of modern bohemian style allowing more mature and subdued colors.
I recently fell in love with the combination of sage green cabinets, cream walls and terracotta accents. The end result, is modern and classic, shoots ever so great and comfortable enough for daily wears.
| Base Colors | Accent Colors |
|---|---|
| Sage, cream, natural wood | Terracotta, mustard, teal |
| Taupe, warm white, brass | Rust, olive, deep blue |
Began with neutrals and add color with accessories, fabrics and objects. It will enable the seasonal up-date without severe renovations.
Mixed Metal Magic
Boho kitchens do not prefer all to go together as it is rather boho to emphasize mismatched metallic finishes. Through this layer system, spaces will not be considered overly coordinated and sterile.
My favorite thing is to mix something warm like brass cabinet hardware with a matte black faucet and copper accent pieces. It has the visual depth brought out by the contrast but it also has that carefree, settled-with-time impression.
Successful metal combinations:
- Brass + matte black for contemporary contrast
- Copper + brushed nickel for warm sophistication
- Oil-rubbed bronze + gold accents for vintage charm
- Mixed antique finishes for authentic patina
Vintage Rugs That Ground Everything
Area rugs in vintage taste take a kitchen floor that is used and turn it into fabulous in a moment. The shapes, patterns, and the eroded textures serve to make the space individualised and functional in open-spaces.
FYI the darker patters conceal the stains more than the light ones. I had this lesson with a splendid cream-colored Persian carpet that did not even live three weeks in my kitchen.
Select area carpets which fit in with your color scheme and also provide a point of optical contrast through pattern and texture. There are the washable alternatives, which are convenient and do not compromise on style.
Open Shelving Done Right
Aesthetically displayed open shelves present your character, and also serve as practical storage. The trick is to mix objects of beauty with the every day necessities in finely considered vignettes.
My proven styling formula works every time:
- One-third functional items (dishes, glassware)
- One-third decorative objects (plants, pottery)
- One-third breathing room (prevents visual clutter)
Arrange your most beautiful dishes, put some small flowers and plants, old cook books with collected pottery. It is not that everything should look exactly the same, but there should be a feeling of naturalness in the arrangement which corresponds to your story.
Handcrafted Pottery and Ceramics
Ceramics are artisan crafts that make a useful contribution to authentic bohemian style. Unique, handmade items embrace the flaws and the art of a craft more than a mass-produced one ever will.
I also buy pottery work that is done by the local craftsmen and place them throughout my kitchen. Every bowl, vase, or serving dish has its story with the main story being the amassed treasures.
Consider incorporating:
- Hand-thrown serving bowls in varying sizes
- Glazed ceramic canisters for storage
- Artisanal dinnerware for daily use
- Decorative vases for fresh flowers or greenery
Macramé and Textile Details
Fabric details bring softness to hard surfaces as well as necessary bohemian texture. The decor includes macram walls hangings, woven cloth place mats and woven cloth dish towels which add to the overall room design but do not take over the space.
The trick is moderation-select a few good quality items as opposed to blanket covering of surfaces. IMO, a single spectacular macram made impression than five modest efforts sprinkled here and there.
Strategic textile placement:
- Macramé plant hangers for vertical greenery
- Woven placemats and table runners
- Textured dish towels as functional art
- Small wall hangings as accent pieces
Personal Collections on Display
Showing off your collections adds real bohemian flair to what might be rather sterile kitchens in the catalog. Those old copper pots, stored pottery or family heritage serving dishes should be displayed prominently.
Let your personality and journeys speak by creating special corner space in which you hang up things. A set of blue and white ceramics can be art when placed at the open shelves in a way of considering.
The most stunning boho kitchens look like they have been put together through the years and not in one shopping spree. It is your knickknacks that make your spaces your own and adds to that desirable lived-in quality.
Bringing Your Boho Vision Together
Designing a cohesive boho kitchen does not mean perfect adherence to all rules, not filling all the blanks. The trick is to use the elements that can talk about your personal taste and sense to remain full of a certain level of warmth and down to earthness.
Begin with an aspect most inspiring to you yourself, perhaps these beautiful pendant lights or that dreamy vintage rug. Start there and proceed to layer and layer and unfold your space without trying to do it all in one round.
Don t forget that the most effective boho kitchens seem to not have to be that way. They make you stay longer around the coffee table but attractive enough to be the spur of the moment dining girl. That best of comfort and style? That is precisely what bohemian design does and frankly, isn the heart of our homes what we may all want?