Bohemian Interior

Painting, Arbre sacré, Anand Shyam

Arbre sacré

Anand Shyam

Painting - 90 x 81 x 4 cm

$847

Painting, Untitled 19, Abdullah Murad

Untitled 19

Abdullah Murad

Painting - 65 x 54 cm

$3,300

Print, Golden Flowers 2, Julien Colombier

Golden Flowers 2

Julien Colombier

Print - 130 x 90 x 1 cm

$644

Painting, Leaphora, Sumit Mehndiratta

Leaphora

Sumit Mehndiratta

Painting - 119.4 x 248.9 x 5.1 cm

$1,355

Print, Aurova, Sumit Mehndiratta

Aurova

Sumit Mehndiratta

Print - 84 x 117 x 3 cm

$903

Painting, Composition AN, Aude Herlédan

Composition AN

Aude Herlédan

Painting - 110 x 80 x 3 cm

$28,233

Photography, At the edge of the Jade Sea, John Kenny

At the edge of the Jade Sea

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm

$1,251

Painting, Déclinaison 1, Camille Piaton

Déclinaison 1

Camille Piaton

Painting - 90 x 90 x 4 cm

$2,936

Painting, The flying lyon, Subhash Vyam

The flying lyon

Subhash Vyam

Painting - 28 x 38 x 2 cm

$361

Photography, Faceless - Hidden Identities, Ebuka Michael

Faceless - Hidden Identities

Ebuka Michael

Photography - 90 x 60 cm

$3,840

Bohemian Interior

Timeless and cocooning, the ethnic chic style remains ever popular amongst fans of interior design, and with good reason -  it brings back all the best holiday memories and transports you to faraway places, without even needing to leave the house. With ethnic chic décor you can fly away to exotic countries, where local expertise and ancestral crafts are still held in highest regard. If you're keen to get into ethnic chic décor, look no further than this guide: Artsper is going back to the basics of this super cool style to suggest a range of artworks that will complement it best.

If we had to describe ethnic chic in one word, there's no doubt what that word would be: warm.  

Colour is high on the agenda with this style of interior, but as much as possible try to stick to earthy tones like ochres, oranges, browns, beiges, reds, or any colour that makes you think of places bathed in sunlight all year round. As a general rule it's best to emphasise warm colours, with brighter highlights to bring striking touches of boldness to the final look. Avoid greens where possible, as this tends to create a tropical effect, which is not what you're after.


For your materials, focus on natural substances to align with the authenticity of ethnic chic: raw wood, plenty of light coloured wood, wicker, macramé…

Don't hesitate to give each room its own character using original furnishings you may have found on your travels. Perhaps a big wooden table where you can host all your friends and family; or a rocking chair that gives the living room or the entrance hall a soulful feel; maybe a sculpted wooden bed head with a touch of mystery, that brings good dreams…

Smaller decorative objects are also a must: mirrors, candlesticks, lanterns, an African mask, a Buddha statue for a touch of zen, wall hangings…

On the ground, there must be at least a sheepskin or geometric paintings rug in the Berber style, for an instant exotic touch. Floor cushions are also a great way to introduce some colour into the living room.

Don't forget that within ethnic chic, there is, crucially, the word 'chic'. And what is 'chic' is often also 'stripped back', so resist the urge to do too much. To avoid falling into the trap of clutter and bad taste, use a few well designed touches – like works of art. Decorate your walls with Rafiy Okefolahan's canvases, whose natural pigments will sit in perfect harmony with the style.

Interested in aboriginal tribes? Discover the works of their descendants, like Helen Reed Nungarrayi or Adam Gibbs Tjapaltjarri. If you prefer South America, embark on a sensory voyage with the tapestries of Eustacia Antonio Mendoza and the works of Manuel Cruz Prudencio.

To fill the space, why not opt for an original sculpture with exotic curves and themes? Marianne Cresson's use of tapestry is pioneering in the art world; she creates works with found objects that she repurposes and covers in coloured fabrics, with magnificent results.

You now know all the key ideas of ethnic chic, so what are you waiting for? Get designing…

Read more