I’m the type of girl who prefers the winding roads of the country over the bright lights of the city. In fact, on the way home this morning, you MIGHT have been able to spy me with all of the windows down of my SUV blasting out old school Aerosmith, following the secluded road back home. Singing loudly, and badly. The sun was coming through the trees and it was the perfect Michigan summer day. But while I love dusty roads, sunsets over the cornfields, and meandering through small lakefront towns…I also love it when I can dip my toe on the other side. I was thrilled to get to recently design the interiors for THREE downtown Chicago lofts. I always tell my hubby it’s a good thing I get to do this for a living so I’m not constantly redecorating our own house. So for the day I got to play in the Modern Boho style and design for some posh city dwellers.
Love the Boho Modern Look? Then you might want to also check out some past projects I have done in this style for my fabulous clients:
And be on the lookout for my other two Chicago projects I’ll share with you all in the future. But for today let’s see what happens when you combine
Modern + Boho Decor Style in the City
Let me also just say this too, my ENTIRE budget for the whole place was only $4200, so this is style on a budget my friends!
If you are going to spend money on one item, I would almost always suggest putting it towards your sofa. So I grounded this Living Room with the modern but classic lines of this gray mid-century sofa from West Elm. This baby is going to last you forever, and can be paired up with a lot of different design styles. Throw on some boho pillows with african mudcloth designs to incorporate the warmth of the bohemian style. (P.S. Etsy is my go-to for these)
And if you are looking to squeeze pennies in your home, try using a sisal or jute rug. These things are INEXPENSIVE, and work especially well when you need a large size, like this 8’x11. You can even layer on a smaller, more expensive rug on top, like I did with this vintage Persian rug (and YES the Persian cost MORE than the jute rug!)
For a super simple coffee table vignette, try combining four similar objects like from my Mood Board:
Tray + Coffee Table Books + faux plant (like this sassy little cactus)
And hint, everything but the books, including the actual table itself, is from everyone’s fav-Target!
When you are tight on space, look for “open” pieces such as this coffee table with open legs (a bulky table with drawers would look clunky in here) to make your space feel bigger. Same thing goes with these gold wire side tables-they practically disappear into the space. The modern gold floor lamp does the same thing, and adds an industrial edge. Chicago living is small, so I chose a smaller accent chair for extra seating that wouldn’t make the room feel crowded.
And if you ever have an empty corner to fill: the fiddle fig (this one is a fakey mc-fakester BTW) is the perfect boho accent for your Living Room.
This Chicago space has two bedrooms, but as you can probably guess, space is at a premium! When you have a smaller space (or any space for that matter), help rooms feel cohesive and flow into one another by repeating 3-4 colors throughout. I used golds, grays, navys, and wood tones throughout the space. I loved the drama of this navy velvet headboard, and I layered it with lots of pure white bedding for a modern look, but threw in some Boho decor flair with this striped tassel throw (pompoms, tassels, and fringe are always Boho friendly!).
My newest obsession are plug-in sconces (no electrician needed).
And these gold beauties save much needed space on the tops of these Target modern nightstands. The bison print and camera pillow (both from Society 6) add some whimsy to the space.
The Guest Bedroom has the same navy-gold-gray-wood Modern Boho theme but with different fixtures. These fun arrow tables hail from World Market and I’m digging this Universe print from Society 6. If you are tight on a budget, grabbing an upholstered headboard only (and use a simple metal bed frame) saves you oodles but gives a high-end look.
Oh and how much fun did I have with this Dining Room…let me tell you people! Again, I started with a simple wood mid-century Dining Table but added up loads of Boho charm on top. The wishbone chair is a staple of the Modern Boho style, but I switched it up a bit with these fun two toned chairs. A simple gold vase with a (faux) banana leaf is the only centerpiece you will need with this style.
This vintage van desert print seriously makes me want to pack up for a road trip.
I also added in the aztec global look that is key to the Boho style in this table runner. And that gold tassel light from World Market. It’s like a party dress for your Dining Room…and the price is to die for. It’s under $100 people. And with all of the fun elements, I kept it simple with this subtle herringbone style rug from Rugs USA (my #1 place to snag an inexpensive but gorgeous rug)
So when if you love the Modern Boho style and you are tight on space or budget, then it’s a match made in heaven. This style goes for more streamlined pieces and less-is-more approach (i.e. less stuff to buy!). Look for streamlined, “light” pieces to avoid a dark and heavy look. Sticking with a neutral palette is usually a great place to start and then add in pops of color and glam. Places like Etsy have some amazing pillow covers, then buy your own inserts (plus you can swap them out if you get bored with them). And check out places like Target, Wayfair, and World Market where I furnished about 80% of this home from!
If you love this style, I’ll be showcasing a few more recent projects and I don’t want you to miss it! Instead of remembering to check back, just let all of the blog posts get delivered to your inbox once a week. Plus my readers are the first to know about discounts, giveaways, and get 24/7 access to my Free Resource Library. Yah baby. Get in on the part right HERE!
Cheers,
Kristin
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