Since its debut on fashion in 1920s Art Deco’s elegant and exuberant style has grown into one of the most sought-after interior styles.
While the initial Art Deco period was a temporary one, its impact has been sweeping, and both designers and homeowners have employed the style to add a flair to their homes a glamorous design (Interior Designs Masters actress Siobhan Murphy’s amazing Art Deco home is just one instance!)
If you’re planning to restore your home’s original period features or simply want to bring the glamour of the 1930s in your own home We’ve listed the most important aspects of this iconic design era.
From furniture and fireplaces to wallpaper and other accessories, continue reading to find out the all you need to know about Art Deco style!
What exactly is Art Deco?
Art Deco is a style of architecture, visual art, and design that first emerged in the early 1920s, and continued to reign until the outbreak of Second World War. The extravagant elegant style is recognized for its use of geometric patterns, sleek shapes , and futuristic-looking designs. They also represented the renewed optimism that came with the conclusion of First World War.
What was when was the Art Deco period?
“Art Deco,” as it is known, Art Deco was coined at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. The style quickly became popular throughout the world and reached its peak in popularity in the 1930s and up until the beginning of WWII.
The Art Deco movement is split into two distinct phases – the one prior to it was hit by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the second phase that was a part of The Great Depression.
The first phase utilized costly materials and was influenced by a sense of optimism The second phase saw designs evolve to become more elegant, with more expensive materials being replaced with inexpensive ones like plastic.
After being discarded from fashion, Art Deco style saw an immense rise in popularity in the 60s, and continues to influence fashion in the interior to this day.
Art Deco furniture
The Art Deco era saw furniture design evolve into a flurry of elegance, sophistication and advancement. Designers chose forms and materials that reflected technological advancements. Materials like Bakelite and chrome, as well as stainless glass, and steel became the essential to the style of the day.
Silhouette was also a key element in Art Deco design, and many pieces had the iconic Skyscraper-inspired smooth lines, stepped profiles with flowing, geometric forms.
Due to the boom in the economic system and the influence of Roaring 20s style, the first phase of Art Deco furniture design was heavily influenced by distant destinations. Mother of pearl, ivory tortoiseshell, snakeskin and mother of pearl were some of the exotic materials that were used to decorate everything from coffee tables, dressing table furnishings to bed. The later Art Deco designs were slightly less opulent, but they still had the glamour of earlier designs.
If you’re trying to create the Art Deco look into your home Here are some things you could include:
Mirrored furniture
In the 1920s and 1930s Mirrored furniture was considered the pinnacle of luxurious and a favorite for Art Deco design.
Mirrored console tables became particularly well-liked, and frequently had designs that were influenced by the skyscrapers (think of the Chrysler Building! ) aeroplanes, cruise ships.
Metal furniture
It was the Art Deco era was also described as the ‘Machine age and, influenced by the technological innovations which were happening within them, many designers used boldly shaped metal accents to give them a futuristic style.
If you’re looking to incorporate some of these futuristic-looking furniture pieces into your design, look for pieces that have polished chrome and stainless steel The high-reflective finishes provide you with the most authentic appearance.
Furniture lacquered
The exotic, heavy furniture was the trend in the Art Deco interior scheme, and the more exotic the wood, the more desirable. The wealthy were able to afford costly mahogany, ebony, and violetwood. However, the maple, oak as well as ash furniture were quite widespread.
To enhance the feeling of elegance, the majority of wooden furniture was coated with coats of lacquer with high gloss to give them a glossy appearance. Even armchairs and other textile furniture had lacquered inlays therefore if you’re in the market for Art Deco furniture, you will not be disappointed by high-gloss wood.
Leather seats
In the time when Art Deco design was all about displaying the wealth and elegance of the time and elegance, leather was usually the material of choice for couches, chairs, and ottomans.
Tan, brown, and black-colored leathers were the most sought-after however, some were dyed in more vibrant Art Deco shades, like the cherry red and Tangerine.
To get a more up-to-date view of this aspect of the Art Deco trend, why not look into the cost-free alternatives available?
Art Deco fireplace
Since it was the case that Art Deco movement was all about celebrating technological advancement Most fireplaces of the period were built by machines, and specifically those that were novel and innovative during the 1930s. Mirror, chrome and steel designs were in style as were polished wood and tile designs. Many of them had colored glass accents, or strikingly-shaped cast iron designs.
In terms of shape, a lot of Art Deco fireplaces featured the iconic “skyscraper” shape that had sharp edges and straight lines. The bold chevron and zigzag patterns were also very popular, and certain fireplaces featured ornamental metalwork and tile mosaics.
Art Deco accessories
The vast majority of Art Deco furniture sported muted colors, designers frequently called on accessories to provide the additional layer of luxury, visual appeal and texture. Cushions with animal prints along with those that featured geometric patterns or a large block of vibrant hue, were among the most sought-after designs and were often utilized to dress up leather armchairs with no style.
Nature-inspired designs were also prominent throughout Art Deco design, so be sure to look for items with designs of sunrises, shells or Oriental floral designs to get an authentic look. Satin and fur were also important to the traditional Art Deco style – they were frequently paired with glossy lacquered items to make a dramatic contrast.
Art Deco rugs
Rugs were a crucial element in The Art Deco aesthetic, and huge, luxurious, hand-crafted rug were typically laid on high-quality polished parquet flooring or white and black chequerboard tiles.
Certain rugs had strikingly strong geometric designs, while others featured delicate, Oriental floral prints. Rugs with animal prints were highly sought-after and could be utilized to create texture in rooms, particularly bedrooms.
Are you looking for an Art Deco sideboard? Head on over to The Furniture Rooms…
Art Deco mirrors
Mirrors were a crucial element in every Art Deco scheme, and were frequently utilized in every space of the house to increase sensations of luxury and grandeur.
Art Deco colours
A large portion of the colour designs utilized to create Art Deco design can be traced back to the social environment that was prevalent at the time. Metallics, specifically extravagant blues, greys, silvers, and golds, were frequently chosen as they represented the prosperity of the time as well as energetic, bright colors like canary yellow bright peacock blue, bright red, the emerald and purple became popular due to their optimistic vibe.
In the same way some interior designers chose subtler tones and various shades of cream, brown and taupe were utilized to give create a modern minimalist look.
The most well-known colour combination that was popular at the time it was simple black and white. for those who want to create the instant Art Deco feel into your home, you cannot choose a better monochrome option.