Interior Design | Aspiring Socialite

What is it that makes a person boho chic? It’s the clothing, the attitude and the funky aura that offers that unique bohemian charm. Whether your looking for a new apartment or want to remodel your current one, explore your inner boho child and get earthy.

How to Find Your Ideal Space

If looking for a non-traditional apartment layout, you may have to skip the typical local broker that will more than likely show you cookie-cutter layouts. Look to online advertisements on Craigslist, visit specialty apartment websites like www.ForRent.com. ask friends and family to keep an eye out for potential rentals and snap a picture of every “For Rent” sign you see to get the number.

Before you look at a property, search online for renter reviews. Try sites dedicated to apartment feedback such as DoNotRent.com or plug the address into a search engine to see what pops up.

Go online to learn more about the community you will call home, too. City guides are a starting point to find basic mass transit options or mobile service providers. Look up crime information at Neighborhoodscout.com too, so you know what to expect.

Fitting in Your Old Stuff

Now that you’ve signed the lease, it is time to fill up your space, because a true bohemian has treasures. You want to create the illusion that you spend your off hours trotting around the globe.

Evaluate what you already own first and distress any furniture that looks too good. For example, maybe mom pawned off her perfectly good dresser and sofa on you as an excuse to buy new ones. The paint should be peeling and each piece must have a proper amount of wear and tear. HGTV offers a practical guide on distressing furniture.

Raid your parent’s and grandparent’s attics. Free stuff is always a plus. Take pictures of the room before you leave to catalog what you don’t use just in case you need something later.

Learn to Upcycle

Upcycling means you take one thing and make it something different. This is how you make use of old lampshades, wine bottles, pallets and old tires. Design site S.A.S. Interiors calls this “shopping your home.” It is a zero budget approach to filling up your bohemian space. Pinterest offers inspirational ways to put old stuff to good use. Just enter upcycle or repurpose into the search box.

Shop Second Hand

Any person worthy of the label boho chic lives for second-hand finds. Keep your eye out for some shabby essentials:

Textiles, such as rugs, pillows, blankets and curtains can translate into wall hangings, floor coverings and room accessories. Anything Moroccan is a bonus find.
Velvet furniture. You need at least one piece of low-pile velvet in your living room.
Crates are multi-functional tools for any room.
Lanterns, especially ones with colored glass to create ambiance.
Over-sized mirrors — the shabbier the better.
Anything wrought iron. From beds to tables, wrought iron is simple yet ornate, and the obvious choice for the boho enthusiast.

Use thethriftshopper.com to locate secondhand stores and consignment shops in your area. You will be amazed at home many vintage shops there are just around the corner.

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Eames Lounge Chair — Sitting Room

Engulf yourself in timeless, modern style while sitting in the classic Eames lounge chair and ottoman. The iconic Herman Miller leather furniture pieces are crafted with molded plywood and are luxuriously comfortable for reading “Atlas Shrugged” or taking a disco nap after a long day of work.

Hästens Vividus — Bedroom

Retreat to the Hästens Vividus hand-crafted masterpiece — a world-class bed designed for dreams of faraway places and optimal rest. Among floor-to-ceiling drapery and custom window treatments, Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring, and stately crystal lighting, the Hästens Vividus complements the epicurean space with its grandeur and comfort excellence.

The Brass Bateau — Bathroom

Adorn your master bathroom with the indulgent Catchpole & Rye brass bathtub that makes anyone feel like grand royalty. The 100 percent brass bathtub stands as more of a statuesque art piece with its breathtaking, hand-beaten finish and flawlessly polished look. Propped up against the tub, pamper yourself with a natural sea sponge, organic sugar scrub and REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil.

CAVICCHI Billiard Tables — Game Room

Entertain fabulous guests by drinking Scotch on the rocks and catching up on current events during a game of pool. For the pool aficionado, customize your billiard by hand-selecting details such as dimensions, pocket shapes and wooden features. Following a gourmet dinner, invite guests to play a round of pool. Not only can you impress your guests with your top-notch gaming skills but with your polished aesthetic taste as well.

Italian Etagère — Kitchen

Accent your kitchen space by installing a vintage Italian étagère for eye-catching vertical dimension. To mimic affluent designer Darryl Carter’s townhouse in D.C., install oyster-colored cabinetry and granite countertops as well as a Sub-Zero wine refrigerator, describes ElleDecor.com. The antique étagère serves as your eatery focal point and can also aesthetically store dishware.

Holloways of Ludlow Lamp — Office

Illuminate the office study or your home library with the sensuous glow of a Bernard-Albin GRAS-designed industrial lamp. HGTV host, designer and stylist, Emily Henderson, adores the lighting feature for its cast-iron pedestal and oak table base. Turn the lamp onto your desk as you study maps for your next overseas adventure or while managing your finances.

Serene Collection — Poolside

Escape poolside on a Serene collection furniture piece by Henry Hall Designs — a high-end company that specializes in innovative and timeless outdoor products for relaxation and socializing. By accessorizing your pool and landscape with a Henry Hall day bed or lounge chairs with a coffee table, you’ll transform your backyard into a first-class oasis for tranquility and afternoon napping in the sunshine.

Superodinate Antler Pendant — Dining Room

Create a rustic and eclectic ambience in your dining room by making a statement with an antler chandelier installation. The Jason Miller-designed light fixture is described as nature made better and a collision between high-end contemporary design and hunting-lodge decor. Even more exciting, the ceramic antlers cast shadows onto the walls. Dim the lights and cozy up underneath antler lighting with a Moscow Mule in a copper mug and Interior Design Magazine.