Relaxed, colourful and unconventional – Bohemian interior design is all about expressing yourself. Here’s a guide to bringing some Boho style into your kitchen…
At Naked Kitchens we can build the bespoke kitchen of your dreams: just for you, for the look you love and the way you live. The only limit is your imagination, so our Kitchen Style Inspiration series is designed to get your creative juices flowing and spark some ideas. We start with some Bohemian rhapsodies…
What is Boho style?
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Boho’... low velvet divans, ethnic rugs, the Latitude music festival?
The ‘Bohemian’ style actually has roots in late 19th Century Paris – the term comes from a French word for the travelling Roma people and suggests arty, free-thinking types. However, the poverty-stricken poets and painters in Puccini’s opera La Bohème lived in a spartan garret with virtually no furniture in it…
La Bohème from the Metropolitan Opera April 2014. Image: creative commons
So what we think of as ‘Boho’ now can really be traced from the fashion for luxurious silks, velvets and animal skins in the wealthier intellectual salons of early 1900s Paris, mashed up with the Art Nouveau movement and its adaptations by the 1960s hippy counter-culture.
These days ’Boho chic’ embraces global influences from India and Africa, and has a festival feel. Really, Boho is all about the vibes: free spirited, relaxed, unconventional and art-loving. But even though Bohemians don’t worry too much about rules, there are some common themes…
Boho style: the key elements
Warm, earthy colours – The Boho palette tends to be warm and woody with a hint of the floral. Think deep greens, reds, golds and rich timber colours, plus dashes of pink and purple.
Layers – that Boho feeling of depth and warm, generous luxuriance comes from building up layers of colour and material, texture and pattern. Bohemian interiors have lots of things in them – the very opposite of minimalism, in other words.
Greenery – succulents, spider plants and other houseplants are very Boho, especially in unusual containers and planters.
Vintage pieces and global influences – feel free to mix and match vintage accessories with handcrafted items from around the world.
Bringing some Boho chic into the kitchen
Like a bit of Boho? You don’t have to go all in with a fully Bohemian home, but if you like the style you can take inspiration from the movement and create a unique look that works for you. Here are some ideas for bringing a little bit of Boho chic into your kitchen design…
1) Deep rich colour choices
Boho types have no fear of the deeper, darker corners of the colour palette. Ditch the whites and pastels and explore strong greens and rich dark browns.
2) Mix metallic and natural textures
Build up those layers of texture and colour by mixing natural materials like wood and stone with metals, especially brass and copper and anything that can develop a nice patina. Splashbacks are a good way of introducing a big bit of metal into the kitchen…
3) Try freestanding cabinets
If you have the space, try incorporating a few freestanding cabinets instead of, or in addition to, the built-in units. It creates that more relaxed, improvised feel associated with Boho.
4) Tiles for texture
Tiled splashbacks and walls are a great way to add more layers of texture and tone, as well as colour and pattern.
5) A hint of luxury
Although Boho certainly isn’t blingy, it does do luxury, in a sort of dishevelled, unshowy way. How about a little flash of gold, casually tucked away in the interior of a drinks cabinet?
Inspired? Whatever your style, we can build the dream kitchen uniquely tailored to what you love and the way you live. Get started today.
See also:
Choosing colours for different size kitchens
How to Choose a Colour Scheme for Your Kitchen
