How to Decorate in Art Deco Style

Art deco is the style of the 1920s - bold jewel tones, geometric patterns, and ornate accessories define this iconic taste. Modern art deco style is slightly more downplayed, but it still incorporates sleek and shiny elements that scream...

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Colors and Patterns

  1. Picture 1 of How to Decorate in Art Deco Style
    Choose stainless steel and metallic appliances. Art deco combines gold and silver with its other jewel tones. To incorporate your entire home, pick out shiny, metal appliances, like your fridge, oven, and dishwasher.[1]
    1. If you don't have the option to change out your appliances, just work with what you've got already by adding in metallic decorations and accents.
  2. Gravitate toward bold, jewel tones. The other half of art deco is the deep purples, blues, greens, and reds. Pick out furniture and art that mix these colors together for deep, rich tones and hues.[2]
    1. Velvet furniture makes these jewel tones stand out well.
  3. Add geometric shapes into your home with rugs and wall hangings. Triangles, squares, and half-moon circles all make art deco design interesting to look at. Pick out rugs, tapestries, wall art, and photographs that have these geometric shapes to tie your art deco style together.[3]
    1. Using rugs is especially helpful if you don't have dark wood flooring or deco tiles.
  4. Include animal print in any room that you can. Although animal print doesn't play a huge role in art deco style, it does fit in well with the metallic and jewel tones of the rest of your decorations. Try putting in a leopard-print rug or a zebra tapestry to add a fun accent and tie your room together.[4]
    1. Animal print goes well with deep green and blue colors.
  5. Cover your furniture in bold patterns and gold colors. If you already have chairs or couches in your home that don't quite match the art deco style, take them to an upholstery store to get them covered in new fabric. Choose gold or silver metallic colors, or use geometric patterns to make them stand out.[5]

    Tip: Reupholstering your furniture rather than buying new pieces is a great way to save money.

Method 2 of 3:

Finding Furniture

  1. Picture 2 of How to Decorate in Art Deco Style
    Pick out furniture in streamlined shapes. Angular armchairs, headboards with curved sides, and circular statues all fit in well with an art deco theme. Pick out furniture without any harsh angles to make your room flow well together.[6]
    1. Many french armchairs from the 1930s hold up well in modern art deco style.
  2. Place large tables in the center of the room to catch attention. In art deco style, many furniture pieces are made at a large scale. Choose coffee tables and side tables that are slightly too big for the room so that they stand out.[7]
    1. Choose tables where the base is made of wood and the top is glass for the classiest look.
  3. Add pieces made of dark wood, like ebony, to your home. Wooden furniture complements art deco style very well. Pick out tables and chairs made of cherry or ebony wood to stick with the deep, rich colors of the rest of your home.[8]

    Tip: Try looking around at second hand stores for cheap pieces of furniture you can add to your home.

  4. Decorate with a few small chairs and couches rather than 1 big piece. Art deco is all about the details. Instead of taking up space with 1 large couch, consider adding a loveseat and 2 small armchairs instead. You can match these pieces to each other or use contrasting colors or materials to make them stand out.[9]
    1. See if you can buy your furniture in sets so that it all goes together instead of trying to match separate pieces.
Method 3 of 3:

Adding Decorative Elements

  1. Picture 3 of How to Decorate in Art Deco Style
    Use dark wood flooring or polished deco tiles to complete your room. If you can, pick out flooring like ornate deco tiles for your kitchen and rich, dark wood flooring for the rest of your home. These flooring options help to complete the art deco look, but they aren't totally necessary.[10]
    1. You can also cover up your existing flooring with rugs if you don't have the option to replace it.
  2. Put mirrors on your walls for a touch of class. Pick out a few mirrors with gold or silver ornate frames and hang them in conspicuous areas around your home. Mirrors add an element of chic design to your home without being too expensive.[11]
    1. You can look for cheap, vintage mirrors at a thrift store.
    2. Use 1 large mirror as the focal point of your room, especially in a small space like your bathroom.
  3. Add ornate light fixtures and door handles for subtle touches. In art deco style, it's all about the details. Pick out chandelier lighting and metal door handles with decorations on them for some small pieces that work to tie your whole home together.[12]
    1. Stick with gold or silver metal to match the art deco theme.
    2. You can also choose sunburst-shaped light fixtures for added flair.

    Tip: Match the light fixtures of your kitchen to your appliances for a cohesive look.

  4. Picture 4 of How to Decorate in Art Deco Style
    Use small accents, like vases and sculptures, to tie your room together. Add a tall vase with flowers in it or a few small statues of animals to make your room pop. Set these on a side table in your living room or add them as decorations to your kitchen for some subtle details.[13]
    1. Art deco sculptures are usually small and not very detailed.
Update 24 March 2020
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