In short: boho home decor is relaxed, layered and full of natural textures: rattan, linen, timber, plants and, above all, dried flowers and grasses. Mix earthy tones, travel finds and loose dried arrangements, and there are no strict rules.
What Is Boho Decor?
“Take your time in making your home your haven. Your soul deserves it!” We’re not sure whose quote this is, but it sums up boho style perfectly: a space that is comfortable, uniquely you, and wraps around you like a warm blanket.
Bohemian style began in 19th-century Paris, in an arts scene that put creativity before money, long before everyone was trying to copy Sienna Miller’s boho fashion. Painters, writers and travelling performers refused to follow the accepted rules, and their homes were warm, colourful, a little quirky and full of things collected on their travels.
Modern boho interiors feel the same way: warm, relaxed and charmingly haphazard. They mix patterns, colours, textures and natural materials, chosen for comfort and meaning rather than to impress.
That’s also why boho suits Australian homes so well. Our light, our native plants and our love of indoor–outdoor living all fit the look, and it doesn’t need to cost much: a few good textures, some plants and a dried arrangement go a long way.
Boho Colours and Textures
There’s no single boho palette, but most boho rooms start with earthy, natural tones: cream, sand, terracotta, rust, olive and blush, with the odd pop of mustard or deep teal.
Natural materials: rattan, cane, jute, macramé, linen, timber and stoneware.
Layered textiles: throws, cushions and rugs with woven, tasselled or tribal patterns. You can never have too many cushions.
Pre-loved finds: a market or op-shop piece with a story beats something brand new. Make a day of rummaging through local markets and second-hand furniture shops.
Your own memories: enlarge a favourite travel photo into a print, or use a fabric you brought home from a trip as a wall hanging.
Plants and dried flowers: the easiest way to bring nature in and soften the look.
Whether you lean towards Moroccan-tent richness, with tapestries, lanterns and low tables, or a softer, neutral western boho with leather and timber accents, there’s no right or wrong. For more ideas, the RenoGuide has some great examples of Australian bohemian style.
Boho Flowers: Dried, Pampas and Natives
Dried flowers and grasses are the heart of a boho room. They add texture and colour, never wilt, and suit the relaxed, natural feel. The classic boho stems are fluffy grasses, palm leaves, bunny tails, billy buttons, eucalyptus, cotton and preserved hydrangeas.
What about pampas grass?
Big, creamy pampas plumes became the boho look of the decade. But pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a declared or restricted weed in parts of Australia, including Tasmania, South Australia and many NSW council areas, because it spreads easily, crowds out native plants and adds to fire risk. So don’t plant it. If you love the look, buy dried, treated stems where they’re allowed, or choose a native look-alike. ASPCA lists pampas grass as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Native alternatives to pampas
Dried palm leaves: sculptural spear, suncut and fan palms in soft, sun-bleached tones.
Emu feather fern and bleached ferns: feathery, light and perfect as a filler.
Eucalyptus: a single branch adds colour, shape and a lovely scent. Try our dried eucalyptus gum bunch.
Bunny tails: soft, fluffy and fun. Our orange bunny tails bunch adds a pop of colour.
Billy buttons: bright yellow native pompoms that last for years.
See our full range of native flowers for more ideas.
How to Style Boho Dried Flowers
Boho styling is about loose, airy arrangements, mixed heights and lots of texture. A few ideas to get you started:
Living room
Group a tall arrangement of palm and grasses in a stoneware or rattan vessel on the floor or a sideboard, next to a leafy plant and a woven basket. Odd numbers and different heights look more natural.
Bedroom
Dried flowers suit bedrooms because they have no strong scent and no water to spill. A small posy of cotton or bunny tails on the bedside table keeps things calm.
Shelves and walls
Tuck small bunches between books, ceramics and photos, or hang a dried wreath or macramé hanger. For room-by-room ideas, see our guide to decorating with dried flowers.
Boho wedding flowers
Dried and preserved bouquets, posies and table arrangements are a boho wedding favourite. You can make them well ahead of the day, they won’t wilt in the heat, and the bridal bouquet can come home and become part of your boho decor. Easy Weddings has some lovely preserved wedding flower ideas.
Small spaces and rentals
No room for a peacock chair? Boho works in a studio or rental too. Hang a macramé plant hanger instead of adding furniture, swap cushion covers and throws for an instant change, and use one generous dried arrangement as the focal point rather than lots of small pieces. Dried flowers need no water, so they’re happy on a high shelf, a windowsill out of direct sun, or the top of a bookcase.
Make your own
In true boho style, you don’t have to stick to a ready-made bouquet. Mix single stems to create your own look, or dry flowers from the garden: our guide to drying hydrangeas shows you how.
Boho Bouquets to Shop
Our dried and preserved flowers are made in a soft, muted palette with lots of shape and texture, ready to bring a touch of boho to your home. A few favourites:
Bouquet | Name | What’s in it |
|---|---|---|
 | Preserved misty and dried gum in a bright, earthy palette | |
 | Gum leaves, preserved hydrangea, wheat, suncut palm, ruscus and emu feather fern | |
 | Designer cotton stems with textured dried spinning gum | |
 | Suncut palm, ming fern, misty, bunny tails, billy buttons and ruscus |
Keep It Looking Good
Dried flowers usually last a year or more. Keep them out of direct sun so they don’t fade, away from steam and humidity, and well away from candles and heaters. Dust them now and then with a hairdryer on the cool setting.
For more tips, read how to care for your new dried flowers, our guide to dried flowers, and the difference between dried and preserved flowers.