10 ways to capture the spirit of a bohemian artist's home

A home filled with artistic touches and bold, confident colour is undeniably captivating and it's easier than you think to channel the spirit of that bohemian interior you've long admired and yearned to emulate. It’s mostly about relaxing the 'rules' and going with your heart. From painting a mural to adding an artsy flourish with colourful ceramics and glassware, here are 10 ways to tap into that artistic, free-spirited approach to colour when decorating your own home...

Graphic design

Don’t shy away from bold or unlikely colour combos: the azure blue used on this staircase makes a strong graphic statement, while toasty terracotta adds contrast and helps to ground the scheme.

Get the look:

• Walls in Castell Pink, intelligent matt emulsion, Little Greene

• Stairs’ sides in Lazuli elite emulsion, Zoffany

• Lavinia sofa, Barker and Stonehouse

• Sonali coffee table, Anthropologie (similar)
  

Colours of nature

Map your favourite colour pairings on a moodboard – and try experimenting with a few unexpected ones, too. Artists often take cues from the natural world, where the most unlikely hues happily co-exist. Whether it’s the mix of soft red, pinks and yellow wildflowers that spring up by a roadside or a watercolour-blue sky against green grass after the rain, inspiration is everywhere.

Get the look:

• Evelina Kroon jute rug, Layered
  

Artist in residence

A characterful hallway sets the tone for your home. For a relaxed yet curated look, a candlestick and a chair in the same bright colour add vibrancy amid a diverse selection of interesting finds.

Get the look:

• Yasmin console table, Graham & Green

• Yuta Segawa vase, Heal’s

• Nine skinny chair, TwentyTwentyOne

• Hilaire lamp, Kinkatou Studio

Home gallery

Create a corner in your home to show off personal treasures, from favourite artworks to quirky ceramics. Be intentional with your colour choices: everything doesn't have to match, but two or three predominant shades in the same or similar tones will create a harmonious look.

Artisinal touches

Colourful ceramics and glassware offer an easy way to add an artsy flourish to your table. Juxtapose rustic earthenware and terracotta with more delicate pieces such as textured glass, and introduce nature in the form of fresh foliage or flowers. Imposing artwork brings additional impact.

Get the look:

• Ray blue dinner plates, Heal’s

• Urchin jug, Graham & Green

• Terracotta jug vase, M&S (similar)

A painterly approach

Tempted to try your hand at painting a mural? Choose a loose contemporary design with colours inspired by a favourite artist, then go for abstract forms using big, confident brushstrokes. Keep it playful and abandon all thoughts that your masterpiece has to be perfect.

Get the look:

• Carter dining table, Graham & Green

• Splatterware bowls from Jackson stoneware dinner set, Habitat

• Stella ribbed stool, Next Home

• Pedestal, H&M Home

Studio style

Bright ideas to steal from a gallery or exhibition include resting painted canvases up against the wall and creating artful displays with an eclectic mix of pottery, plants and other objects of interest. Add pops of colour using contemporary furniture with simple lines. An abstract rug can act as a piece of art in itself.

Get the look:

• Shapes Carpe Diem rug, Barker and Stonehouse
  

Curated collection

Don’t overfill shelves – allow the eye to admire the shape, size, colour and detail of each piece.

Transform a blank canvas

There's no reason for a bedroom to be plain or unimaginative. Introduce colour with layered textiles and, for a unique touch, create a stylish headboard using patterned tiles that catch the eye.

Get the look:

• Robyn platform bed, Made.com at Next Home

• Traditional mattress, Dreams

• Curtains in Tulips of Belgravia, Ottoline

• Peyton chandelier, Soho Home

• Bedhead made using Copes Livid tiles, Bert & May; with trim painted in Venetian Red acrylic eggshell, Zoffany Paints

Colourful composition

Snuggle up in a calming space filled with visual pleasures. Carefully curated treasures and cocooning bedlinen in soothing shades help to create a relaxing room you’ll never want to leave.

Get the look:

• Jaipur Ridhi cotton jacquard duvet set, M&Sx Fired Earth

• Rodin side table, Barker and Stonehouse

• Floral inlay box, Graham & Green

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