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Embracing both quality craftsmanship and machine-age innovation, the glamorous and sleek Art Deco style is as popular as ever. Here's how to create the look.
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Art Deco (a term not in fact coined until 1966) comes from an abbreviation of the title "Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes."
This exhibition, held in Paris in 1925, attracted 16 million visitors. The style it launched—referred to at the time as "Moderne"—proved to be a design turning point throughout the Western world.
Sumptuous yet streamlined, Art Deco has had an enormous impact on fine art, sculpture, architecture, photography, industrial and product design, clothing, fabrics, jewelry, graphics, furniture and home design.
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Popularized then and now by Hollywood movies, the Art Deco look is glamorous and luxurious, dramatic and optimistic.
 Its
clean, flowing lines were inspired by the emerging
science of aerodynamics, the streamlined designs
seen on ocean liners, trains and skyscrapers,
and industrial machinery.
The decorative look was also influenced by Cubism and other art movements, as well as contemporary events, notably the discovery in 1922 of the spectacular treasures of Tutankhamen.
Art Deco employs an eclectic mixture of classical and contemporary elements, blending exotic materials and forms from Egypt, the Mayan and Aztec cultures, the Far East and Africa.
What unifies the style is its use of simple, geometric and abstract forms, combined with contrasting colors to create a look that is simple, stylized, and very sleek.
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Cooler colors rule the Art Deco palette.
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Interiors - Designers of the '20s and '30s loved unusual materials such as ebony, steel, and marble, often contrasting these black, metallic and gray hues against crisp pastels and jazz-era blues.
The result is a feeling of sensuous counterpoint, as color highlights the simple forms of the pieces displayed within the room.
Pale main colors serve as subtle backdrops to vibrant and theatrical accent colors. Walls are painted with soft creams, beiges, ivories and grays, while accents of chrome, cobalt, black, teal, aqua, green, coral, orange and red offer dramatic contrasts.
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Farmhouse Red |
170D-7 |
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Caribbean Green |
500D-7 |
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Caribbean Coral |
210D-6 |
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Billiard Room |
480D-6 |
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Florida Mango |
250D-5 |
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Garden Spot |
430D-4 |
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Antique Cameo |
220C-3 |
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Balmy Seas |
490C-3 |
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Degas Pink |
100D-4 |
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Valley Mist |
460E-2 |
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French Taupe |
120E-2 |
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Evening Hush |
770F-6 |
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Bright Star |
S-G-360 |
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Quietude |
770E-1 |
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Cracked Wheat |
320E-2 |
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Babbling Brook |
600D-5 |
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Informal Ivory |
330E-1 |
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Jazz Blue |
S-G-560 |
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Divine Pleasure |
W-B-210 |
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Beluga |
770F-7 |
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Exteriors - Neutrals are most often used, such as taupe, cream, butter yellow, peach, rose beige or shell pink, with accents of cool aqua, black, charcoal, and gray.
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Cool Pink |
100C-2 |
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Eurolinen |
250E-1 |
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Vintage Taupe |
750A-3 |
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Embellished Blue |
510D-4 |
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Jovial |
210C-3 |
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Garden Room |
450D-4 |
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Chamois Cloth |
W-F-110 |
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Aqua Smoke |
470E-3 |
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Creme Angels |
760A-1 |
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Deep Space |
750F-7 |
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Moon Dance |
380C-3 |
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Dark Granite |
780F-6 |
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Cream Silk |
370E-2 |
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Sparrow |
780F-4 |
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Vanilla Custard |
W-D-220 |
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Particularly in the early years, many Art Deco furnishings weren't mass-produced, but were custom-made using rare and expensive woods and veneers, making them affordable only to the wealthy.
The new mass-produced plastics—such as Bakelite, Lucite and Catalin—became favored materials in the 1930s, replacing the natural materials and making this style more accessible to the general public.
There was a craze for lacquer and it was used extensively in Art Deco furnishings and screens, appearing even on leather and textiles. The uncommon was also in vogue—sharkskin, snakeskin, forged iron, and chrome-plated steel.
Furniture - Simple but highly stylized, Art Deco pieces usually sit low to the ground.
Fabrics - The key words are luxurious and sensuous—silks, satins, velvets and fine leathers. Upholstery is usually tailored and neutral to provide balance for colorful accessories. Patterns on fabrics may range from stylized Egyptian motifs—such as scarabs, sunbursts and lotus blossoms—to chevrons, zigzags and bold zebra prints.
Flooring - The Art Deco look is streamlined. Pale wood parquet floors are perfect, as well as wall-to-wall carpeting in light shades of cream and taupe. Colorful inlaid linoleum or marble floors in bold and striking Art Deco patterns can also be used.
Accessories - These are the true highlights of Art Deco style. Plentiful and prominent, accessories can be either vibrant and colorful, or shiny and sleek. Angular-shaped pottery vases, pitchers and bowls painted with bold and bright colors are often seen. Also popular are glassware pieces made from Lalique crystal, opaque pressed glass, Oriental lacquered screens and wall-mounted mirrors cut into interesting shapes such as fans, circles, and chevrons.
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Here are a few simple ideas to help you give modern rooms an Art Deco look.
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Furniture. Keep furnishings simple and stylized, without ruffles, trim, or ornamentation.
Tip: Paint wood furniture with high-gloss black or Luminoso silver paint to give it a sleek and stylish Art Deco look.
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Accessories. Accessories are key. Display period accessories such as vintage pottery, glassware, or sculpture in a place that showcases the unique color, shape and form of each piece.
Tip: Simple pedestals with glossy, metallic or mirrored surfaces are often used to display interesting accessories.
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Plants. Like the furniture, keep plants simple and stylish in form.
Tip: Potted palms work well with the Art Deco style. Plant a palm in an Oriental black lacquer box or in a pot with an exotic Egyptian or Mayan motif.
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Try the ColorSmart™ by BEHR interactive program to experiment with thousands of different color combinations and see how they look in actual room settings.
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