Boho style seems to be all the rage right now, and rightly so, it can bring a lovely coziness to your room or outdoor space. It has an un-made, relaxed feel that looks almost thrown together, however it’s actually quite a difficult style to get right. Making sure that the colors, patterns and textures work together in a cohesive way. And the layers upon layers of fabrics, lights and plants don’t look too much.
And there’s the financial aspect of keeping up with all the latest trends, it can be expensive. Boho may be on trend this year, but next year could be something completely different! So how do you stay on trend whilst staying on budget? With these 5 tips I’ll show you how to create a beautiful Boho outdoor space on a budget.
1: Vintage Furniture
Boho style shouldn’t look new and squeaky clean, it’s meant to look well-worn, lived in and most importantly comfortable. Which is actually a great thing for the bank balance! Places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay or your local charity shop are fantastic places to find second-hand treasures. Look for things made of wicker, cane, leather and wood that are well-loved, not only will they look instantly vintage, but they’ll also save you some precious pennies. I found this vintage wicker bar cart for less than £30. I also bought two of the Papasan chairs off Facebook Marketplace for less than £50 each, saving me about £150 per chair!
2: Colour and Pattern
True Bohemian style embraces colour, lots of it, usually on the richer side of the colour wheel. Lots of reds, pinks, jewel toned teals, clashing patterns, clashing colours, an array of tassels and embroidery. However if all that colour and pattern overwhelms you, you can get the look with a more muted colour palette. Try using lots of natural wood, off-white, black and accent it with green. Make sure to vary the textures so it doesn’t look too flat though. Try adding smaller accents of pattern in things like cushions or rugs. Mudcloth cushions are a great way to add texture and Boho style without adding too much colour, places like Home Sense are a great place to find one-off treasures for those smaller accents.
3: Fabrics
You’ll see a lot of fabric used in Boho style outdoor spaces. Draped over furniture, hanging as curtains, layer upon layer of cushions - this can get expensive. Try shopping around for affordable net curtains, patterned throws and cushions. I used Lill net curtains from IKEA costing just £5 per pair, and the cushions I bought off Amazon, which is another great place to find bargain homewares.
If you do mix patterns, make sure to vary it up in terms of scale. Don’t have all of the patterns in a similar scale, try some large scale patterns with some smaller scale patterns. This will help to balance out the design and not make it feel too busy.
4: Tropical Plants
Boho style tends to incorporate lots of greenery from plants, large and small. Again, use lots of them! Opt for tropical plants like Split Philodendron, Birds of Paradise, Banana Leaf or Palms. They probably won’t survive the cold winters outdoors, but you can just bring them indoors for the season, or you could buy artificial plants. Again IKEA is a great place to get plants - living and artificial. However I’ve found Facebook Marketplace to be a great resource for this. I bought these Ficus trees for around £10-15 each off Facebook Marketplace. And an added bonus - you don’t have to water them!
If you have a pergola, try hanging plants in macrame plants hangers. They’re on trend, and don’t cost a fortune to really add that Boho feel to your outdoor space. You can find various options on Amazon.co.uk at affordable prices.
5: Lighting
To make an outdoor space feel cozy and inviting after dark, think about lighting. Candles, lanterns, festoon lights and fairy lights add a cozy warm vibe to an outdoor space. I’d recommend using them all, layered on top of each other it will create the Boho look. Less is never more with Boho style! Make sure they’re suitable for outdoor use though, as not all string lights are weatherproof. They’d look great hung over a pergola, or even in some of the trees.
I hope this article shows you that you can have an on trend space without breaking the budget. Even following just one or two of the tips, you will instantly make your patio space feel more on trend and Boho chic. Make sure to shop around, and repurpose things you already have or can buy second hand. The Boho look is meant to be lived in and relaxed so is the perfect budget friendly style to try. Happy styling!
About Jo Hanson
Originally from the UK, Joanne has renovated many properties starting with a small terraced house in Leicestershire, to a number of properties in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. She now lives in Minnesota, USA where she’s renovating a 1960’s Prairie style home. She’s a full time Marketing Manager in the construction industry and has a passion for interior design.
Her blog www.rusticcountrychic.com shares budget friendly tips to help you make your house a home by creating stylish and cozy living spaces. She believes strongly that you don’t need deep pockets to furnish your home and make it feel special. You just need a bit of care, patience, style and a knack for bargain hunting to make it look a million Pounds!
