Summertime and the livin’ is easy….. As temperatures ramp up, we instinctively seek to slow down, relax, and let the pressure off. Summer is the season for putting worries
aside and revelling in long, lazy days. What better way to invite laid-back living than by adding a touch of bohemian style to your garden or pool deck?

Popularised by the hippie movement of the late 1960s, boho style is free-spirited and unconventional. There’s nothing regimented or minimalist about it. On the contrary, it’s eclectic and mismatched, with natural and ethnic accents and plenty of character that add up to carefree, colourful scenes you can’t help but want to be part of.

The only rule with Bohemian design is that there are no rules. It’s easy-breezy, fun, funky, and, best of all, budget-friendly. Recreate the spirit of the ‘Summer of Love’ around your pool or garden with the following tips and tricks.

MIX AND MATCH

Ditch the matching sets and flawless finishes, and embrace the eclectic and quirky instead. Bohemian design gives you a licence to have fun by mixing styles, materials and fabrics, but avoid what your counter-culture forefathers would have eschewed, like plastic, shiny metal and gleaming glass surfaces. Don’t be afraid of one-off items: this is the perfect opportunity to revisit your junk room or browse on-or off-line marketplaces for vintage, reclaimed or pre-loved pieces.

HANG LOOSE

We naturally gravitate to the outdoors when the weather is fine, so make it a place to wind down. Nothing invites lounging quite as much as the languid movement of hanging furniture. Think woven hammocks or shaded swing seats set up under shade trees If you lack natural shade, consider a deeply cushioned canopied day bed – the ideal spot to sneak in an afternoon nap.

HAVE FUN WITH FABRICS

Use fabrics and lots of cushions to create a richly layered and textured palette. From ethnic prints to geometric patterns and exotic florals, colourful textiles are key to that mishmash, devil-may-care aesthetic. Use them to cover pillows in various shapes and sizes and enrich the scene with fabric throws and tablecloths.

GET DOWN LOW

Echoing the flower children of the 60s bohemian style emphasises a down-to-earth approach with seating at floor level. Use colourful area rugs or patterned kilims, oversized floor cushions and pouffes to encourage low-level lounging and an easy-going ambience.

GO AU NATUREL

Bohemian is about a love of nature, so incorporate organic materials, plants and foliage wherever possible. Select rustic wood, wicker and rattan furniture to bring in life and fresh vibes with potted plants, dried flowers or, for something really retro, vines trailing from macramé plant hangers.

SHAPELY SHADES

Sun protection is a must, but forget square, simple umbrellas in fifty shades of grey. Instead, opt for something a little fussier, such as a colourful parasol embellished with beads and tassels. Why not put up a sail shade or canopy that creates a tent-like effect and provides a fun, private little nook?

TABLE TREATMENT

Meals by the pool or in the garden are usually casual, so your tableware can be too. Rather than white plates, clear glasses and stainless steel cutlery inject some character and texture with hand-crafted ceramics, coloured tumblers and chunky wooden salad bowls and cheese boards.

MAKE IT MAGICAL

Finally, sprinkle on some fairy dust with creative lighting. Use what you have to your advantage: place floating candles in the pool, string fairy lights overhead, and hang lanterns from trees or pergolas. Use lots of lights at different levels for a layered effect: tea lights in paper bags arranged around the edge of a deck, Edison bulbs to light a table, tube lights wrapped around tree trunks, or garlands of miniature Chinese lanterns. Go over the top with lights so that as night falls and a multitude of twinkling lights appear, and you’ll be transported to a magical wonderland.