How to Nail the Boho Glam Look
You don’t have to choose between laid-back style and high glamour – simply blend the two to create boho glam
Karen Wilson
24 February 2016
UK based Houzz contributor and freelance property and interiors journalist with experience in both the regional press and national magazines. I've picked up loads of tips from homeowners and experts alike, having visited hundreds of gorgeous real homes across the North of England.
UK based Houzz contributor and freelance property and interiors journalist with experience... More
Are you drawn towards the relaxed vibe of a bohemian retro scheme, with its seemingly ‘thrown together’ ambience? But do you also have a magpie-like urge to include glam metallic accessories, luxe textiles and opulent jewel colours? If so, then boho glam, a striking blend of relaxed style and luxurious glamour, is the look for you. Here’s how to combine two design worlds to create a very happy union.
Pick a peacock chair
If there’s one item that screams 1970s boho, it’s the iconic peacock chair. Although mostly associated with hippy chicks in floaty floral dresses strumming guitars, this attention-grabbing, fan-tailed wicker beauty can trace its origins to Southeast Asia in the 17th century.
Having bobbed in and out of fashion over the years, it’s seeing a resurgence in popularity once more and is the perfect piece if you want to play with scale and add height into a room that has low-slung seating.
If there’s one item that screams 1970s boho, it’s the iconic peacock chair. Although mostly associated with hippy chicks in floaty floral dresses strumming guitars, this attention-grabbing, fan-tailed wicker beauty can trace its origins to Southeast Asia in the 17th century.
Having bobbed in and out of fashion over the years, it’s seeing a resurgence in popularity once more and is the perfect piece if you want to play with scale and add height into a room that has low-slung seating.
Combine wicker and sheepskin
Whether it’s a classic peacock, tub or circular chair with hairpin legs, wicker and rattan have an unmistakably laid-back boho feel that evokes the 1970s like nothing else.
This makes them the perfect bedfellow for sheepskin, with its luxe look and equally retro connotations, providing a fail-safe combo that will ramp up the boho glam factor no end. Why not add some edge with a grey or black sheepskin if the usual white option feels a bit too ordinary?
How to cosy up your home with sheepskin
Whether it’s a classic peacock, tub or circular chair with hairpin legs, wicker and rattan have an unmistakably laid-back boho feel that evokes the 1970s like nothing else.
This makes them the perfect bedfellow for sheepskin, with its luxe look and equally retro connotations, providing a fail-safe combo that will ramp up the boho glam factor no end. Why not add some edge with a grey or black sheepskin if the usual white option feels a bit too ordinary?
How to cosy up your home with sheepskin
Add a drinks trolley
This stylish vintage drinks trolley encapsulates the glam boho look all by itself. Its midcentury styling ticks the boho box, while the choice of material – a glorious gold – ensures the glam factor is also there. Now all that’s left is to style it up with a fabulously OTT cocktail shaker, elegant glasses in jewel colours and beautifully designed spirit bottles that look so good, you’ll be reluctant to empty them!
This stylish vintage drinks trolley encapsulates the glam boho look all by itself. Its midcentury styling ticks the boho box, while the choice of material – a glorious gold – ensures the glam factor is also there. Now all that’s left is to style it up with a fabulously OTT cocktail shaker, elegant glasses in jewel colours and beautifully designed spirit bottles that look so good, you’ll be reluctant to empty them!
Avoid uniformity
If you have two of anything, whether it’s lamps, chairs or rugs, make one glam and one boho. For instance, this open-plan reception room feels so much more informal with an animal print rug (glam) and a geometric rug (boho) to highlight the two different zones.
If you have two of anything, whether it’s lamps, chairs or rugs, make one glam and one boho. For instance, this open-plan reception room feels so much more informal with an animal print rug (glam) and a geometric rug (boho) to highlight the two different zones.
Make room for plants
For an instant boho vibe that will bring your scheme to life, add some plants. Pick a specimen with large leaves, such as a philodendron, to make a big, bold statement or, for an instant hit of 1970s nostalgia, opt for a rubber plant, low-maintenance succulents or a spider plant in a hanging macramé basket.
In this living room, the wildness of the greenery is balanced with a luxe chesterfield, sparkly cushions and a glam, marble-topped coffee table.
Fancy adding some indoor plants? Here’s how to do it
For an instant boho vibe that will bring your scheme to life, add some plants. Pick a specimen with large leaves, such as a philodendron, to make a big, bold statement or, for an instant hit of 1970s nostalgia, opt for a rubber plant, low-maintenance succulents or a spider plant in a hanging macramé basket.
In this living room, the wildness of the greenery is balanced with a luxe chesterfield, sparkly cushions and a glam, marble-topped coffee table.
Fancy adding some indoor plants? Here’s how to do it
Mix in tribal prints
What makes this bedroom so appealing is the introduction of relaxed boho touches into an otherwise Art Deco-style glam scheme. The stylish white headboard, with its piped edging, and the glass-topped bedside table shout glam boudoir, but the elephant cushion and ethnic-print throw bring in a whole new laid-back vibe. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
What makes this bedroom so appealing is the introduction of relaxed boho touches into an otherwise Art Deco-style glam scheme. The stylish white headboard, with its piped edging, and the glass-topped bedside table shout glam boudoir, but the elephant cushion and ethnic-print throw bring in a whole new laid-back vibe. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
Make a feature of lighting
Lighting in a boho glam room should shout ‘look at me’, with as many sources as possible competing for attention.
Mix a floor lamp, a colourful chandelier and table lamps together, but just make sure they don’t match! Ornate embellishments, such as fringing and beading, will maximise those boho credentials, while bases with metallic and shiny surfaces will add the glam factor.
Lighting in a boho glam room should shout ‘look at me’, with as many sources as possible competing for attention.
Mix a floor lamp, a colourful chandelier and table lamps together, but just make sure they don’t match! Ornate embellishments, such as fringing and beading, will maximise those boho credentials, while bases with metallic and shiny surfaces will add the glam factor.
Go to town with metallics
Touches of silver, gold, brass or copper will add instant glamour to your scheme, but they don’t have to be confined to accessories such as lamps, mirrors and picture frames.
Copy this look and use a metallic wall paint to create a stunning backdrop for your scheme. Here, the contrasting bold rug, quirky artwork and Moroccan-style brass frette stools provide the boho vibe.
Embrace the trend for brass and copper
Touches of silver, gold, brass or copper will add instant glamour to your scheme, but they don’t have to be confined to accessories such as lamps, mirrors and picture frames.
Copy this look and use a metallic wall paint to create a stunning backdrop for your scheme. Here, the contrasting bold rug, quirky artwork and Moroccan-style brass frette stools provide the boho vibe.
Embrace the trend for brass and copper
Be daring with dark walls
The moody luxe trend for dark walls is the perfect backdrop for a boho glam scheme.
Here, the mishmash of styles is truly boho (who’d have thought striped and leopard print cushions would work together?) yet it screams opulence thanks to the plush velvet headboard and metallic accessories.
The moody luxe trend for dark walls is the perfect backdrop for a boho glam scheme.
Here, the mishmash of styles is truly boho (who’d have thought striped and leopard print cushions would work together?) yet it screams opulence thanks to the plush velvet headboard and metallic accessories.
Steal some Moroccan style
Still not sure where to begin with creating the boho glam look? Then why not pick an exotic destination to inspire your scheme? Morocco is the obvious choice, as its style tenets – bright, bold colours, an abundance of pattern and gorgeous ornate metallic accessories – overlap with the key hallmarks of boho glam.
Start with a beautiful Moroccan-style rug and build up the colour scheme from there. Don’t forget finishing touches, such as radiator covers or panels featuring fretwork that can be painted to tie in.
TELL US…
How do you make the boho glam look work in your home? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
Still not sure where to begin with creating the boho glam look? Then why not pick an exotic destination to inspire your scheme? Morocco is the obvious choice, as its style tenets – bright, bold colours, an abundance of pattern and gorgeous ornate metallic accessories – overlap with the key hallmarks of boho glam.
Start with a beautiful Moroccan-style rug and build up the colour scheme from there. Don’t forget finishing touches, such as radiator covers or panels featuring fretwork that can be painted to tie in.
TELL US…
How do you make the boho glam look work in your home? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
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I love the bar trolley, is it a one-off, or can I purchase something similar online?
That first photo is amazing. It's kind of like boho glam's evil twin and I am all for it.
Thank you for featuring us. Great article.