Bohemian Modern: Creative and Free-Spirited Contemporary Homes

Emily Henson explores the elements that come together to create this eclectic, colorful, and contemporary look and draws inspiration from an array of real-life Bohemian Modern homes.

The Bohemian Modern home is a place where creativity, individuality, and a bold mix of color and pattern meet in a modern environment. Whitewashed walls and polished concrete floors are brought to life by vibrant rugs and wall hangings; a cozy rattan chair suspended from the ceiling, and a jungle of house plants--clustered in pots, hanging from the ceiling, or even growing on the walls. The style gives a nod to 70s chic, with its use of shagpile rugs, Swiss cheese plants, and macramé, but it stands firmly in the present day by boldly contrasting those elements with sleek modern art and polished concrete work surfaces. Emily starts by taking a look at the different facets of the look: pattern and color, textiles, handmade pieces, living with houseplants, and collections and display. She offers up styling tricks to use at home and timely ideas for recycling and reuse. Next, a series of case studies take a closer look at free-spirited and creative homes and the people who live in them. From a restored barn in Morocco to a converted parking garage in the Netherlands, Emily shows that any home can have Bohemian Modern style.

Emily Henson is an art director and designer known for her creative and approachable style. She began her career with her own line of children’s clothing and worked as a visual merchandiser for Anthropologie before venturing into interior styling for photography and film. After 20 years in the US, Emily returned home to the UK where she oversees styling and shoot creative direction for a variety of brands including Habitat, IKEA, Depop, eBay, Versace, and Anthropologie. She writes a popular blog, Life Unstyled, and hosts talks and workshops on styling and interiors in the UK and overseas. Emily is the author of Create, Modern Rustic, Life Unstyled, and Be Bold. She lives in Kent, UK.