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Art Deco Interior Design: A Guide to Help You Master This Ever-Popular Style

Living room interior in art deco decor

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

Art Deco interior design was born in France and became a leading trend in Europe and the U.S. in the early 20th century. While it faded out with the rise of the midcentury modern movement, Art Deco style has had a resurgence in recent years as interior designers and home decorators find ways to reinterpret its signature elements—such as geometric shapes, lush materials, and bold colors and metallics—in modern ways. 

If you'd like to add a bit of Art Deco flair to your bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, or any other space in the house, here is a short guide to everything you need to know about the motifs, materials, elements, and history of this enduring style.

What Is Art Deco Interior Design?

Art Deco interior design is a major 20th-century aesthetic movement that is marked by the use of geometric shapes, stylized curves, atmospheric lighting, luxe materials like marble, velvet, brass, and chrome, and bold colors and metallic finishes. 

Today's revisited Art Deco style uses the original aesthetic as point of departure and muse, adding a contemporary spin on the opulent style that makes it look fresh for current lifestyles.

History of Art Deco Interior Design 

The origin story of Art Deco interior design and architecture begins in Paris in 1925, at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. This design show was held to highlight the work of several promising young designers working in what was then called the modern style, and the movement was eventually named after this event. 

Art Deco blossomed into a leading trend in Europe and the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s. It was a stark contrast to the more minimalist, nature-inspired Art Nouveau that preceded it. Like Art Nouveau, Art Deco affected all areas of the decorative arts, from interior design to fashion and car design. It emphasized modernity and machines, and was considered both elegant and functional.

Art Deco survived through the roar of the '20s, the Depression of the '30s, and the global conflict that engulfed the '40s. It finally fell out of favor during the '50s, giving way to the streamlined look of midcentury modern style. Art Deco is now experiencing a resurgence with period pieces and reproductions in this iconic style highly sought after.

Common Motifs of Art Deco Style

The bold, fluid, and symmetrical motifs, patterns, and themes of Art Deco symbolized technological progress in various industries from transportation to architecture that transformed the country. Geometric, linear, and angular forms characterize Art Deco design. The look is strong and bold with no fussiness or romance in sight. When you're seeking Art Deco-inspired furniture or accessories, look for several regularly occurring motifs, including:

  • Trapezoidal shapes
  • Zigzag patterns
  • Chevron patterns
  • Stepped forms
  • Sweeping curves
  • Sunburst shapes
  • Triangular shapes
  • Stylized wildlife
  • Sensuous, sometimes abstract, nude females
  • Jagged, pointed edges inspired by skyscrapers (such as the Chrysler building)
Front view of living room featuring Art Deco decor elements

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

Tourism's Influence on Art Deco

Traveling overseas to participate in safaris or to visit ancient pyramids became popular during the 1930s. These trips greatly inspired the use of animal patterns (such as zebra) and hieroglyphic symbols which are commonly found in Art Deco decor.

Common Materials of Art Deco Style

Certain materials define Art Deco design. For example, the generous use of gold and steel in Art Deco architecture, furniture, and accessories paid homage to the wealth that new industries created at the time. The categories of materials used in the Art Deco period include:

  • Upscale upholstery fabrics for seating and headboards like shark, velvet, and zebra skin
  • Stainless steel, mirror and chrome, glass, and lacquer as materials for furnishings and accessories
  • Expensive materials for high-end furnishings and accessories such as ebony, zebrawood, and marble
Closeup image showing materials used in art deco decor

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

Elements of Art Deco Style

The Art Deco style was all about making a big statement in interior decorating and architecture. If you love Art Deco and want to surround yourself with a piece or two from the period, it's possible to combine Art Deco with other styles. For instance, mixing a few Art Deco-inspired curvilinear or mirrored pieces into a room with otherwise traditional furnishings adds visual interest.

Here are some key elements of Art Deco design to look for to help you incorporate the style at home.

Colors

The colors of the Art Deco period are striking and bold. Colors are often paired or punctuated with shiny silver, chrome, or black accents.

  • Bright and deep yellows, reds, greens, blues, and pinks
  • Creams and beiges, mostly in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms
  • Neutral colors mixed with polished wood and lacquered furniture common to the period

Furniture

Art Deco furnishings are large in scale, streamlined in silhouette, but lack frills or intricate detailing.

  • Big sideboards, armoires, and generously sized chairs
  • Elegant mother-of-pearl or tortoiseshell inlays, inspired by the popularity of safari vacations at the time

Fabrics

  • Shark skin, zebra skin, velvets, and leathers
  • Solid colors or textiles with geometric designs. Avoid florals and plaids.
  • Upholstered furniture with solid, contrasting blocks of color

Flooring

  • Wood flooring in herringbone or parquet patterns
  • Wood flooring with inlays that create a sunburst shape
  • Black-and-white checked or cube-patterned linoleum or tile
  • Large rugs in equally loud geometric patterns overlaying the floors

Lighting

Perhaps one of the easiest and most eye-catching ways to bring Art Deco into your home is with light fixtures that characterize the period. Lighting fixtures of the era are known for their geometric and symmetrical patterns, and they feature three common design elements:

  • Clean aerodynamic modern lines and silhouettes with minimal detailing
  • Shades made of etched glass or chrome with stepped or elongated shapes that depict skyscrapers
  • Shades with fanned-out shapes obscuring the bulbs

Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau Design Style

Art Nouveau is a late 19th- and early 20th-century aesthetic movement that is influenced by the natural world and defined by organic shapes and sinuous lines. This highly expressive style defined the realms of interior design, architecture, furniture, decor, glasswork, jewelry, and the visual arts. The curvy Paris Metro entrances designed by Hector Guimard are icons of Art Nouveau style.

Art Deco, which replaced Art Nouveau in the early 20th century to become the prevailing style, focused on sharp lines, geometric shapes, bold colors, luxurious materials, and the promise of technology. Skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York City epitomize Art Deco style.

View of an Art Deco living room interior

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin