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

Art Deco interior design was born in France and became a leading trend in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century. While it faded out with the rise of the midcentury modern movement, the 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 marked by 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 a 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 highlighted 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. Designers and artists such as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, René Lalique, Jean Dunand, and Maurice Dufrènen were some of the popular visionaries of the time.

Art Deco blossomed into a leading trend in Europe and the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s. It was a style in 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 sought-after period pieces and reproductions in this iconic style.

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)

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

Elements of Art Deco Style

The Art Deco style makes 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, combine it 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

Furniture

Art Deco furnishings are large in scale, and 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 leather
• Solid colors or textiles with geometric designs (no 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

Lighting

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.

Examples of Art Deco Interior Design

Radio City Music Hall

This New York Institution was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone and interior designer Donald Deskey in a move that exuded elegance over the glitz and glamour that was expected of Art Deco. Completed in 1932, Radio City Music Hall's interior is defined by its massive arches that stretch from one end of the stage to the other, red walls, gold gilding, and carpet and wallpaper patterns in Art Deco-inspired shapes and patterns.

The Chrysler Building

The exterior of the Chrysler Building is instantly recognizable as having been inspired by the Art Deco movement, but the interior of the lobby is perhaps the best example of the design in all of New York. The building was completed in 1930 and features an expansive geographic mural that spans the entire lobby ceiling. From ornate elevator doors and vertical bar lights to marbled walls and metal ornaments that reflect the iconic spire on the exterior, this is an example of Art Deco at its finest.

Cincinnati Union Terminal

This historic landmark was completed in 1933 and is as functional as it is beautiful. A unique design for a train station, the half-dome-shaped building (which is the largest half-dome in the Western hemisphere), houses the terminal's 100-foot tall rotunda. Arched windows, walls, colorful glass, and vibrant mosaics seemingly take over every inch of the interior.

Atlas Bar

Take your cocktail to the next level by having a drink or two at Atlas Bar in Singapore. Named one of the World's Best Bars and located in the Parkview Square tower building, Atlas Bar boasts a gin library tower of more than 1,000 bottles, opulent furnishings, and gilded gold everywhere you look.

How to Incorporate Art Deco Interiors in Your Space

Opt for Vibrant Colors

Jewel tones like lapis lazuli blues, emerald greens, and deep raspberries ooze luxury, and also pair well with the gold and silver metallics that Art Deco is known for. Bring in color through paint, furniture, decor, art, or through accents throughout the space such as a flower vase or coffee table book.

Use Geometric Patterns

You'll notice a lot of zig-zags, octagons, and triangular forms in this style, so feel free to bring it in anywhere. While most people opt for geometric patterns on a rug or in the form of wallpaper to make a statement, you can also use pillows, wall art, or an armchair.

Incorporate Arches

Whether it's a doorway, wall cutout, mirror, or wall art, incorporating arches is a simple way to bring a popular element of Art Deco to your interior. Arches can also give the illusion of height when used correctly.

Add Glamorous Lighting

Art Deco is all about glamour, and there is no easier way to do this than to introduce a great light figure into your room. Whether it's a crystal chandelier or a classic wall sconce, pairing the right amount of light and design can instantly elevate your space.

Utilize Tile Designs

When designing a kitchen or bathroom around Art Deco, be sure to choose your tile wisely. Err on the classic side (octagon or diamond) rather than selecting a trendier, more surface-level design (herringbone). Let the tile speak for itself by choosing the right shape, color, and finish that can inspire other elements of the room to bring in Art Deco as well.

Consider a Monochromatic Approach

A monochromatic interior is anything but boring. It looks quite luxurious and expensive. While it is a commitment to coordinate wallpaper, furniture, and decor in the same color palette, the key is to slightly offset each item in a different shade of the same color family.

Remember More is More

Art Deco exudes opulence. Adorn an entire wall with a patterned wallpaper instead of a small section. Go bold with lighting choices and sunburst accents. Mix patterns and use metallic accents and conversation pieces when you can.