How to Create a Bohemian Modern Garden

Featuring the magical garden of Victoria Smith

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I love being outdoors this time of year, don’t you? There’s nothing I enjoy more than to connect with nature and feel the sunlight on my face. I thought that we could travel to southern California today to visit the garden of Stylist and Writer Victoria Smith (from @sfgirlbybay fame) for instant vacay vibes.

Nestled atop a hill overlooking the sea, her bungalow garden isn't just beautiful, it's downright magical. It’s a place where red geraniums spill from terracotta pots, vintage chairs call to you to relax with a book, and every corner feels like a love letter to a calmer, softer way of living.

How does she do it?! It all looks so effortless. But it’s not - ask any stylist - there is a method to everything! That’s why I studied her images closely to pull out some styling secrets for you, so you can bring this kind of magic to your own outdoor space.

Go Wild with Potted Plants
First up, if you don’t want a garden, if you don’t have grass, if you don’t want to commit to growing things that need the earth under your feet then do the other best thing - pot your plants, herbs, and flowers! Layer pots in all shapes and sizes like Victoria has… She’s used mostly terra cotta, even weathered vintage finds - but by staying with a theme (She uses mostly terracotta or black or charcoal) it works beautifully and looks natural. The key is to keep them as earthy as possible so they blend with the natural surroundings and to make them harmonious in materials and colors. Mix herbs, flowers, and trailing greens. Another key it group them together in clusters rather than spacing them out; this creates that lush, lived-in feeling and looks more put together than if you have one pot on a table, one pot on the ground, two pots on a ledge, one pot near the stairs, etc.

Choose Plants That Thrive in Your Climate
Victoria’s garden has a true Mediterranean vibe (even though she lives on the Pacific) because she embraces plants suited to Southern California which also happen to grow in the Mediterranean (her favorite travel destination): geraniums, lavender, succulents, rosemary, and citrus. Ask your local nursery what flourishes naturally in your area and build your palette from there.

Add a Water Feature

If you don’t have cash for a swimming pool, or patience, and you don’t want a fountain or something with a lot of maintenance, then opt for what Victoria has created - a ceramic bathtub to sink into. She simply fills it up whenever she wants to cool off and plop! In she goes… Relaxing under sunny skies…

Add Personal Touches
A vintage statue (near her bathtub), old garden tools, rustic furniture, even chipped planters…all these details tell a story. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for personality.

Create a Cozy Nook
See this cozy corner with the rattan chair and striped cushion? It’s on her front porch and it’s not just cute, it’s intentional. It’s a place to pause, sip tea, journal, or take an afternoon nap. Give yourself a tucked-away nook to unwind. I love that she opted for warm rattan in this space.

Harmonious Furniture

Victoria goes with mostly black or rattan for her furniture in the backyard. Her umbrellas are all white with the same trim scalloped trim with white fringe. There is a reason for that. It looks curated and classy, versus random and chaotic. Her space feels put together, not like a collection of finds that don’t work together - and she definitely stays away from plastic anything! I see so many yards turn into plastic graveyards, it’s sad - plastic kills the vibe completely. She also has throw pillows, but not tons and not in various shapes, sizes and patterns. Instead, her pillows are barely noticeable, the focus is on the green plants and the natural environment.

Create Different Zones

Most likely, you will do different things in different parts of the yard. Maybe you need a round table for casual dining with your family, a larger rectangular table with more chairs for grill parties and entertaining, a water feature/bath/pool for cooling down, an area for potting and planting, space for the tool shed, a spot for the garden hose and compost bins, etc.

Let It Feel Collected Over Time
This isn’t a bought in one weekend garden. It’s layered and has grown over the years. Be patient. Let your garden evolve and surprise you. The magic often happens slowly.

Victoria’s garden is proof that soul and style can coexist, where bohemian spirit meets botanical charm, and nothing feels forced. It’s not just a garden. It’s a sanctuary.

What’s your favorite detail from her space?

Thank you Victoria for taking these photos for me, it’s been a delight to “tour” your property and see how you’ve put it all together so beautifully. You have such a magical eye, V!!!

Hugs,

Holly

(Photography/Styling: Victoria Smith)