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How to get a relaxed, boho look both inside and out

By Bunnings magazine /

Outdoor area with plants and rattan chairs.
Look to the tropics for inspiration and fill your home with relaxed, boho elegance using white, natural materials and an abundance of greenery.

Chill factor

Dreaming of the sizzle of bare feet on hot sand, salt spray in our hair and the smell of sunscreen? You don't have to wait until Christmas to get that blissful holiday feeling. Bring the beach to you by giving your backyard a relaxed holiday-style makeover. Embrace an abundance of crisp neutrals – evocative of the white water of breaking waves and blinding white sand – warmed by a boho-style palette of wood, wicker, jute and natural fabrics. Supplement your garden greenery with potted palms and layers of lush foliage to conjure up a carefree, tropical vibe and instantly transport your suburban section to a coastal clime.

Outdoor dining setting near pool area.

Start with the front entrance

Revive an entrance way with small and sweet touches like a door mat and a potted plant. 

Door mat with gumboots on it.

Hide the mess indoors

Rather than the busy appearance of open shelves, store items away in easy-to-access baskets. Bring the beachy look into your storage basket with this wicker style featured below. 

Cube storage unit with woven baskets.

And for the bedroom

For an effortlessly coherent look, dress bedrooms with a mix of textures in the same restrained palette. Add a rug made of natural fibres such as jute to add texture to a neutral scheme.

Bed on top of rug.

Time to plant

Spring is the time to refresh outdoor planting however this can be done all year round. Check with a garden expert at your local Bunnings to find out what to plant at which time of year.

Grassy plant and dirt dug up with pots scattered.

Style up your backyard

A neutral palette accentuates the lush garden surrounds. When styling think of including textures such as timber, wicker, rattan or rope. See how easy it is to make your own sisal rope ottoman with our article; this will be a great addition to your boho styled yard. And for dining, white and wood is a classic combination for a summery styled setting.

Pizza the action

To add to the beachy, outdoor living feel consider investing in a pizza oven. It not only looks fantastic but it allows you to feed a crowd with quick-cooking pizzas! Perfect for entertaining.

Outdoor pizza oven.

Poolside retreat

Create enticing scenes with lightweight outdoor furniture in a graphic design. We've used an Acapulco chair in white, style it up with an outdoor cushion and you'll have a lux feel in no time. When selecting poolside planting, avoid choosing varieties that won't drop leaves into the water.

Chair and towel next to pool.

Make an incense holder to set the scene. Here's how.

What you need

  • Safety equipment 
  • Sculpey oven-bake clay  (we used White, Beige and Tan)
  • Ruler  
  • Sculpey Tool Kit 5 in 1 
  • Baking paper
  • Baking tray
  • Small ovenproof vessels (such as ramekins)
  • Quick-dry epoxy adhesive (we used Parfix Epoxy Adhesive 5 Minute Everyday )
  • Bamboo barbecue skewer 

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 130°C. With clean hands and work area, knead the white clay to be soft and smooth.
  2. Roll the white clay to an even 5mm thick, then measure a rectangle 35mm wide and 250mm long and cut using the blade attachment in the tool kit, with a ruler as a guide. 
  3. With clean hands and work area, knead the tan clay to be soft and smooth. Roll to 2–3mm thick, then cut into a strip 35mm wide, 170mm long.
  4. Position the tan strip on the white rectangle, flush at one end, lightly pressing into place. 
  5. To create a curve shape, place the layered clay sideways on a lined baking tray and gently bend, with the tan clay inside the curve. Prop up the clay with ovenproof vessels. 
  6. With clean hands and work area, knead the beige clay to be soft and smooth, rolling it into a 30mm-diameter ball. Make a hole in the centre with the needle attachment of the tool kit (to ensure it's the right size for your incense stick).
  7. Add the ball to the baking tray and cook in the oven for 18 minutes. Remove and leave to cool.
  8. Wearing gloves, glasses and a mask, use the plastic from the packaging to mix the epoxy adhesive with the wide end of a bamboo skewer, then dab adhesive onto the top of the curve and the base of the ball. Position them together, ensuring the hole in the ball is facing up, and hold until dry. 

Style with boho elegance

Now you know our tips to adding a tropical influence into your space, head into your local Bunnings to pick up everything you need to get started. 

Photo credit: Larnie Nicolson

 

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.