A Bohemian Christmas Carol

Calling all travelers, artists and free spirits: this holiday season, express your truest, boldest self with boho Christmas décor! Whether you're looking for tips on how to add Christmas décor to the boho-chic style or vice versa, follow these decorating ideas for an eclectic, global-inspired space – at its most jolly!

Christmas Around the World

Eclectic decor means mixing global-inspired materials, colors and patterns. In this living room, a Persian rug sets the scene for pops of tribal patterns, coastal rattan and forest greens.

Give your boho-chic sofa and table arrangement an extra soft, winter charm with comfy throw pillows and warm woodsy decor. Holiday decor is all about creating a cozy, inviting space for family and friends to gather, so look for ways to incorporate plush fabrics and calming colors wherever you can!

If boho style is anything, it's all about the unconventional. First, go against the grain with an arrangement of lamps and lanterns in wintry, woodsy colors, and don't hold back when it comes to texture. The trio of decorative floor lanterns pictured above is made from a true 'treasure trove' of eclectic materials – including beaded wood, rope, metal and even bamboo! Secondly, show off a collection of souvenirs with a global style bookcase or curio cabinet – and adorn it with holiday garland and pops of red or green for a traditional Christmas touch. Finally, when decorating boho-chic at Christmas, remember: the trick to making festive accents pop is to keep the majority of pieces in calmer colors. Notice, above, how the rich red of the area rug stands out against a palette of cool neutrals.

In this boho Christmas living room, a Persian-inspired area rug warms a 'snowy' white space with a rich red glow. Meanwhile, traditional holiday accents – like the Christmas tree and garland – act as background décor, allowing the more vintage, eclectic pieces to take center stage.

Boho by the Beach

Boho gets beachy when you keep a strict color scheme of blue, white and sandy driftwood neutrals.

Rule #1 when it comes to breezy holiday style? ‘Understated’ makes a statement. (We can’t overstate that enough!) Pick two or three colors, and stick to them. If you want to create a laidback beachy vibe tinted with holiday elegance, then resist the urge to incorporate pops of colorful accents. Instead, think natural.

In this boho-by-the-beach living room, a bough of the season’s forest greens adorns the back wall, adding a subtle holiday ambiance to the entire space. (This is especially thanks to the three stocking hanging just underneath it – take a closer look!)

Pictured above: Holiday gift-wrapping, the boho way, includes twine, small branches, and recycled paper in colors like sandy beige and ocean blue.

The thing that sets this space apart from others – holiday-decorated or not – is its relaxed vibe. Every surface, every color, every pattern is chosen with care to bring a refreshing calm reminiscent of coastal breeze. Note, for example, the wood detail on wood table, over a calming rug pattern. The rug creates ‘movement,’ and the wood table is left almost bare to keep attention focused below.

This space also proves that you don’t need to go the traditional route to invite the holiday spirit. (You also don’t need loud colors that will feel overplayed the second January 1st rolls around.) All you need, really, is a soothing palette of two or three of your favorite colors – and textural accents to bring them to life!