Wish you could add some Great Gatsby glam to your restaurant, bar, or event space? Inspired by the exuberance, glamour, and eclectic style of the Roaring ‘20s, Art Deco is the epitome of luxury! Glossy woods, slick metal finishes, lush leathers, jewel tones, exotic embellishments, and geometric patterns are only a few of the features that define Art Deco decor (short for Arts Décoratifs).
Essential Elements
To keep things simple, we’ve highlighted the most iconic Art Deco design elements.
Geometric Glam
Geometric patterns are everywhere in Art Deco design from the sculptural lines of dining chairs to marquetry patterns. Zig-zags, sunbursts, chevrons, and other iconic marketry patterns can be easily spotted in wood flooring, wallpaper, furniture, and more.
Mirrored Furniture
Let your furniture shine! Mirrored surfaces give deco glam to dining tables, bar cabinets, and other furniture essentials.
Cheerful Color
The Roaring ‘20s were a time of prosperity and happiness—and the Art Deco color scheme reflects this cheerful spirit. Think bright hues like sunny yellow, cherry red, and tangerine orange mixed with luxurious shades of black, chrome, gold, and rich brown wood.
Fabulous Fabrics
Favorite fabrics of the era included bold animal prints and materials that showcased repeating geometric patterns like chevrons.
Modern Materials
Often called the “Machine Age”, the 1920s-inspired furniture pieces with futuristic metal finishes like these sleek barstools. These metal accents were often contrasted with buttery-soft rich leather chairs, sofas, and ottomans in organic brown shades or bold, dyed colors.
Rich Woods
When it comes to wood, the richer the better. Art Deco designers coveted exotic woods like violetwood, mahogany, and ebony. Carved wood inlays were also added as artful accents to armchairs and sofas made of less-expensive materials.
Luxe Lacquer
You can also add a touch of Art Deco luxury to less expensive woods and materials with a high-gloss lacquer finish. Sleek, rich black-laquered furniture was an Art Deco favorite.
Exotic Accents
The 1920s were also a time of adventure and global travel. This theme is echoed in Art Deco design’s use of exotic elements like Egyptian pyramids, sphinx sculptures, and African-inspired zebra print rugs.
Gorgeous Gems
Another way Art Deco designers added luxury to a space was by incorporating gems. They used jewels, onyx, jade, ivory and murano glass to accent lamps, chandeliers, wall clocks, and more.
3 Thrifty Art Deco Tips
Ready to dive into Art Deco decor? We have a few quick tips to help you create a glam space without breaking the bank.
- A glimmer of gold: Add glam to traditional decor with gold paint and hardware accents like gold cabinet handles.
- Mix and match: Purchase a few key quality Art Deco pieces. Then pair them with less-expensive modern, vintage or Art-Deco-inspired items like a bold modern painting.
- Wallpaper hack: Mimic the style of high-end marquetry with inexpensive Art Deco wallpaper. Use the same wallpaper to accent cabinet doors and other furniture surfaces.
Don’t Forget the Art Deco Hostess Stand!
First impressions count. Wow guests with your Art Deco style the moment they enter your space. Add your Art Deco designs to a Compact, Deluxe, or Team hostess stand.
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