Bohemian holiday home décor ideas
June 2026
Bohemian décor never goes out of style! While it may be a bit too much for many homes, it’s a fabulous choice for decorating a holiday rental. Here’s how to transform your rental into an amazing boho bonanza.
What is boho chic décor?
The term boho chic comes from bohemian. It’s a little hard to define — it’s one of those things that you can’t exactly pinpoint, but you’ll know it when you see it. Some of the elements that characterise boho chic include:
- Deliberate mismatches. Matching sets of furniture are decidedly not boho. Instead, there’s a certain element of controlled chaos that comes from pieces that look good together without matching.
- Globally eclectic style. Boho chic often draws inspiration from different corners of the globe. Some of the most characteristic regional styles to look at include the lush geometric designs popular in the Middle East and Near East, the faded rustic woodwork of the French countryside, and the bold prints of the American Southwest.
- Elements of nature. Boho chic celebrates natural materials like wood and rattan. Leafy plants are often incorporated into the designs of rooms.
- Interesting textures. There’s a definite softness to boho chic style décor. Shag rugs, tasselled pillows and thick blankets are common touches.
- A DIY spirit. Relax — this doesn’t necessarily mean actually doing it yourself. It means decorative elements, like macrame and wickerwork, made by local craftsmen rather than mass-produced.
- Upcycled and quirky statement pieces. Boho chic often takes antiques and uses them in new, exciting ways — an old shipping trunk turned into a coffee table, for example.
Is boho chic right for my holiday rental?
Boho chic bohemian-style homes are an excellent choice for holiday rentals because they exude a laid-back spirit. Guests who rent your holiday flat want to feel relaxed during their stay, and boho chic is sure to remind them that they’re on holiday.
In particular, boho chic tends to be associated with warm, sunny days. This makes it especially suitable if you rent out a holiday home by the seaside or in a sunkissed area. The style may come across as slightly artificial in a snowy alpine cottage or a damp Welsh village.
Before you decide to embrace boho chic, think about your brand. How do you advertise your holiday home? Who is your target audience? Boho chic is particularly popular with free-spirited travellers who like to go island-hopping in Thailand or spend time enjoying yoga retreats in Bali. It may be out of place if you’re trying to attract business travellers. Similarly, the eclectic style may not go down so well in a family-focused holiday rental. Boho chic often involves a lot of knick-knacks and decorative pieces, which aren’t always child-safe.
How to create a boho chic holiday home
When done well, a boho chic home style will give you a loveably quirky holiday rental. Guests won’t be able to resist posting pics of your funky furnishings on Instagram. Done wrong, and it could end up an eyeball-searing mess of clashing colours. Here’s how to ensure that your boho chic style looks just fabulous.
Pick a colour palette
Yes, you’ll be mixing and matching different pieces, but you still want something to tie it all together —and that something is your colour palette. Decide which neutrals you’d like to use. Soft white, warm beige and terracotta are all good starting points for a boho look. Then, choose your accent colours, which should be highly saturated and dramatic. Teal, turquoise, deep green, burnt orange and dark red are all suitable.
Remember, not everything needs to match, but they should harmonise. Play around with interior design apps or online tools to test that your colours work together.
Think about your walls
There are two ways to make your walls stand out in your boho chic holiday home. Firstly, you can go for a contrast wall. For example, you could have three white walls in a square living room, while the third is a striking deep orange — or, even more dramatically, a nature-themed mural.
Alternatively, you can paint all the walls in the room the same colour but bring them to life with decorative touches. Don’t focus on paintings. Mirrors with interesting frames, macrame and wicker pieces, cultural masks, hanging tapestries, and decorative plates all make great talking points in a bohemian house. Remember, you want your design to look eclectic, so don’t choose three tapestries with the same dimensions — mix it up.
Go natural
Remember, boho chic celebrates the wonders of nature. That means choosing wood furniture and embracing other natural materials like stone in the kitchen and bathroom wherever possible.
As well as wooden furniture, you can bring natural elements into your home in other ways:
- Pot plants. Plants are so important in any boho chic interior — and this is one case where plastic simply won’t do. Choose varieties with large, striking, glossy leaves and display them in wicker plant pots.
- Wicker and rattan details. You could go for rattan chairs, but you may also opt for wall hangings, decorative baskets, lampshades, and more. Remember, if you’re using wicker or rattan chairs, supply some cushions — they look great, but they’re not always the comfiest option.
- Glass vases and bowls. When filled with decorative pebbles, they make great, natural centrepieces for guests to admire.
- Embrace your surroundings. In a beachside rental, look for decorations made from sea glass and driftwood. In the countryside, consider branches, acorns and pine cones.
Mix it up
Remember that boho chic is all about creating an eclectic style for your home. Take a look at similar properties on holiday rental portals for inspiration, or mix and match decorative elements like these:
- Persian rugs
- Embroidered Suzani tapestries from the Near East
- Berber tapestries and cushions from North Africa
These make great, eye-catching pieces, as they tend to feature dramatic geometric designs in rich colours. Create a layered effect by complementing them with decor, such as:
- Ikat fabrics from Indonesia
- Japanese Shibori fabrics
- Woven South American textiles
These tend to be a little more subtle, so they make great background pieces in a fully layered boho room.
Find the right furniture
To furnish your boho chic home, you have two great sources: newly-made furniture in natural materials or antiques. Take a look at local flea markets and fairs to see what’s on offer. You might want to try upcycling old pieces yourself, or you may prefer leaving it to the pros.
Remember to take fresh pictures of your new chic décor for your holiday rental website. Then, show them to guests so they can see your home in its full bohemian glory before booking.