Bring home the glam of The Great Gatsby with the Art Deco style! Read on to know how to identify this style and for ways to include it in your space.

Have you watched The Great Gatsby or Boardwalk Empire and loved the whole look of the place, you are an Art Deco fan! This interior decor style, which is actually short for Arts Décoratifs, is a style that originated in the 1920s, and was popular in Europe and the Americas through the ’30s and ’40s. While the design gradually died down in the ’50s, it has seen a resurgence now, and more and more designers are including art deco elements in their designs.

So are you wondering about what Art Deco is all about? Let’s go explore!

Decor Styles 101: Art Deco

Art Deco is basically all about luxury and opulence, with an abundance of patterns and geometric shapes. Art Deco isn’t just popular in interior design; it’s also found in fashion, jewelry and architecture. In fact, the Chrysler Building and the Rockerfeller Centre in New York are great examples of art deco.

The glamour and luxury of Art Deco is in direct contrast to the preceding trend, that was Art Nouveau, which was more of a minimalist kind. As technology began to make advances in the 1920s, Art Deco is inspired by it, and has a slightly masculine design with lots of geometric shapes and straight lines. Art Deco puts the spotlight on being decorative over being functional, and it is quite a striking form of interior decor style.

Characteristics of the Art Deco Style

There are many identifying features of the Art Deco style, and they all contribute to that opulent look of the ’20s. Here are some of the characteristics of the Art Deco style:

• Rich colors – Art Deco generally has a palette of black, white and metal, but it also features deep jewel tones
• Inlays – Whether its furniture, art work or decor, art deco features inlays using materials like silver, jade or metal
• Metal – Luxury is glam, and glam means lots of metallic accents like brass, chrome, steel and gold
• Patterns – Art deco is big on patterns, particularly zig zag, geometric shapes, chevron, steps and sunbursts
• Nature – You can find some bold nature vibes in art deco, like large leaves, animal prints
• Sheen – There are a lot of shiny surfaces in art deco, in ultra polished surfaces, mirrors and lacquer

8 Ways to get the Art Deco Style in your Space

By now you have a fair idea of the art deco style, and if you’re like me, you love it! It may seem like bringing the art deco style into your home is difficult (not to mention, expensive). Yet, the beauty of the art deco style is that you can easily incorporate it in your home. If you’re hesitant, start small and then build on from there. Here are some tips to help you on your way:

1. Use Geometric Patterns

If you love patterns, you’re in luck! Art Deco doesn’t shy away from patterns, and you can use them everywhere – the walls, the floor, the furnishings and even the ceiling. Even furniture in art deco features patterns using straight lines. Zig zag lines, chevrons and trapezoids are great options for rugs and throws.

In art deco, the trend is to go big, so get a large rug for your floor or wallpaper a big wall. If that scares you, try out patterns in furnishings like cushions. A classic art deco move is to go for the sunburst pattern – you can use it in a mirror or as art work – it’s gorgeous and works well in most spaces.

2. Go Deep and Bright with Color

The classic art deco color theme is black white and silver or chrome, but it also works with deep colors. Think dark red, deep teal and bright pink. Jewel tones are great, and are often seen on walls to create that edgy look. Colors that go with black are perfect to quickly give that luxurious look.

Colors are super easy to include in your decor, especially through furnishings like rugs and cushions. Of course, if you’re daring enough, go paint a full wall! You can also include beiges and creams to neutralize any areas.

3. Add Art Deco Accents

Art deco actually began in jewelry making and then moved on to furniture and interior design. Adding art deco accents is a painless way to test the waters and see if you actually like the style. Get decorative accents that are made of materials like crystal, marble or granite, or go the metallic route by opting for chrome, bronze or brass. Choose accents that have a sculptural effect to them.

If you’re ready to get furniture in the art deco style, go for larger pieces which look strong and like it’ll last a few lifetimes! Art deco doesn’t have too many intricate or ornate detailing, so go for streamlined shapes. Large, luxurious arm chairs, a solid, sturdy dresser are all examples of art deco furniture.

4. Go for Reflective Finishes

In art deco style, mirrors play a very important role. They create an illusion of more space and luxury, while also adding a decorative element. And it’s not just mirrors, furniture is polished to give it a glossy, reflective finish. You’ll also find a lot of lacquered furniture in art deco.

If you dare, you can get a large floor-to-ceiling mirror in a gold or silver frame to add oodles of glam. Else, go for a decorative mirror in a metallic frame in a geometric shape or a sunburst design. Your room will appear larger, more expensive and definitely more beautiful!

5. Include Metallic Accents

Nothing speaks luxury like metallic accents, and when it comes to art deco, you don’t have to shy away from using them! Use them in small ways like drawer pulls or table accents. If you like DIY, try spray painting the ends of chair or table legs. This instantly amps up the space and gives plain furniture a glam look.

You can take it a step further by getting coffee tables or console tables whose entire legs are made of metal. Stick with either chrome or brass finishes – you can think about mixing them later once you’ve got the hang of it.

6. Opt for Richer Woods

Wood furniture plays a big role in art deco, but not any wood. The finish is usually a dark stain, and polished till it shines. Try mahogany, walnut or ebony. Furniture that is almost black gives off a cool, edgy and luxurious look, and is easy to glam up.

Simply polishing your existing wooden furniture will give it a look worthy of art deco style. If you want to take it up to the next level, give it a lacquer finish that’ll shine like the sun. A few metallic touches on the legs or handles and you have a winner!

7. Go with Statement Lighting

To get the true art deco style in your space, you have to focus on something that is often underrated – lighting. No naked bulbs or farmhouse lights here – you need to go all out with a chandelier – the bigger the better!

When choosing lighting for your art deco style, go with glass and chrome, and get symmetrical designs in clean shapes or a stepped style. Wrought iron and other metals are also a great pick, and if they have a certain sculptural feel, they’ll go perfect in the art deco style. Etched glass or translucent glass is also a good idea, so that the bulbs inside aren’t visible.

8. Bring in the Animals

Animal prints is something most of us shy away from, but they’re reminiscent of the art deco era. During the 1930s, people in European and American countries used to travel to other countries to experience their culture and see their animals. This travel brought about an increase in animal prints in decor.

This can be tricky to try if you’ve never done it before, but you can start with an animal print cushion and see how you like it. Zebra and tiger prints are the most popular, as well as faux furs. If that’s too scary, try art work featuring animals or prints of animals on the upholstery.

If you love glamor, luxury and don’t mind having objects purely for decorative purposes, the art deco style is for you. However, if you are a minimalist, prefer only neutrals and functional items or get stimulated by too much stuff, the art deco style could overwhelm you.

Remember, you don’t have to do all these at once – start with something that seems doable and then build on from there. Soon you’ll get an idea of how the art deco style works in your place and what pieces you need. Avoid floral patterns or anything soft and romantic like that. Also, distressed wood or bohemian touches like hammocks have no place in an art deco space.

So what do you think? If you think you’re ready, bring in some cool pendant lights and geometric prints and bring back some old world glam!

This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Blogging Challenge 2021.