Art Deco Encore

There’s a hot new interior design trend in the 2020s, and it hearkens back to the 1920s! Those Roaring Twenties were the decade of jazz, flappers with bobbed hair, elegant automobiles and speakeasies, and the style that epitomized the era was art deco.

Glamour was everything, and art deco was the height of glamor! As an example of the style, look no further than New York’s Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. The stylized geometry was as modern as modern can be! Today art deco is historic, but the glamor is just as real in 2023 as it was a century earlier!

The Rise of Art Deco

Art Deco got its start in France before WWI, and it was a reaction to softer design as well as a celebration of the industrialized age. It leapt across the pond to the U.S. in the twenties, where it expressed itself in bold colors, intricate and even decadent patterns, and aggressive geometric shapes.

Mass production was becoming the standard in American industry, and designers and architects wanted to add some personality to mass-produced objects. And what a vigorous personality it turned out to be! Art deco asserted itself in colors such as black, gold, shocking blue and emerald green. Sleek lines and streamlined forms predominated.

Art deco furniture, however, often consisted of one-of-a-kind pieces. They tended to feature luxurious woods such as mahogany, often set off with velvet and metallics. Gilded mirrors were an iconic style. Patterns included not only geometric shapes but also zig-zags and chevrons.

Art Deco continued to thrive throughout the thirties and forties, but it lost ground after World War II. Though art deco was the root of contemporary design, the fifties took a different direction, and the more understated look of mid-century modern began to lead the way.

Art Deco Makes a Comeback

Nowadays, designers are discovering a new take on art deco that’s innovative, eye-catching and also a tremendous amount of fun! It celebrates the past but without looking dated! Often a bit of art deco is married with modern design to produce a look that incorporates the best of the 2020s and the 1920s.

After all, art deco and modern design have a lot in common! Both feature sleek and streamlined forms. They have an interest in geometrics and metallics. Their color schemes mesh well.

Not too many of today’s art deco rooms are art deco wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling! Today’s art deco aims more to take some elements from the style’s original era and modernize them. The colors are bold art deco with a bit of a twist, for example, cobalt, emerald and purple jewel tones, or moody, more saturated hues.

Gold and steel are in the mix along with burl, marble, black onyx and natural stones. Large mirrors add light and accentuate the colors and metallics! Traditional art deco geometrics find a modern place in metallic furniture and light fixtures. Bold patterns in upholstery, rugs and even wall art bring a taste of the Jazz Age to life!

Today’s art deco is anything but minimalist! Art deco home decor is for people who frankly declare not “less is more” but “more is more.” In a word, it’s maximalist!

How Can I Incorporate Art Deco into My Home Design?

You don’t need to swap out your entire room for an art deco feel! Just a few well-chosen items can make art deco the star of the space. Here are some ideas:

• Contrast brights and darks. Black and white is an art deco classic, but you can also use deep greens and blues. Additionally, you can balance those assertive colors with neutrals.
• Use mirrors and metallics to make the room dance with vibrant color. It promotes the maximalist look that art deco aficionados crave!
• Embrace patterns. Bold geometrics and zig-zags work on wallpaper, upholstery and rugs.
• Juxtapose the old with the new. For example, set a detailed art deco lamp on a contemporary table.
• Contrast linear and curved. You might pull rounded chairs up to a straight table with 90-degree corners.
• Think about starting with coffee tables and accent chairs. Art deco examples are circular chairs and geometric tables featuring metal and glass.
• Scatter in some items of art deco decor. Consider glass and metal vases, geometric table sculptures, brightly colored curios and artwork with daring contrasts. Especially look for trapezoidal shapes or curved forms.

It really only takes two or three items to tilt the ambiance of a room toward art deco. Try it out, and you may find a connection with the Roaring Twenties that you never expected to have!