Art Deco Design: Art Deco Decor and Design Elements

Art deco is a style of decor and architecture that peaked in international popularity in the 1920s and 1930s and includes modern design elements combined with sophisticated craftsmanship. The design movement is further characterized by geometric shapes and a bold color palette; the use of metals or metallic details; glam fabrics with patterns; and figures from Greek and Roman mythology.

Depending on the geography and time period referenced, art deco design can vary widely. While early styles were bursting with often clashing colors, the Great Depression ushered in a more minimalist approach and muted some of the excesses of the initial art deco designers. The deco era has experienced a resurgence in recent times, thanks in part to Hollywood films that heavily feature the aesthetic, such as Chicago (2002) and The Great Gatsby (2013).

Art deco decor and architecture first emerged early in the 20th century, but the style is still popular today.

• Emergence in France: Art deco (arts décoratif in French) first appeared in France around the time of World War I, which began in 1914. Art deco was a reaction to the preceding art nouveau period (characterized by intricate, swirling designs)—an effort to bring back elements of traditional art and combine them with modern materials and craftsmanship. The style reached its peak at the 1925 Decorative Arts Exposition in Paris and dominated architecture and interior design ideas around the world.
• Divergence of styles: By the late 1920s, the art deco look had split into two different schools of thought and style. The traditionalists wanted to pair the modern forms of home decor and architecture with traditional craftsmanship; the modernists embraced new materials, new technology, and mass production in favor of a more streamlined approach to design.
• Emergence in New York: Art deco architecture and visual arts is closely associated with the city of New York, one of the cities where the style first appeared in the United States during the ’20s and flourishing into the 1930s. New York still has many skyscrapers and other examples of art deco architecture, such as Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building.
• Embrace around the world: Major international cities welcomed art deco design elements into their own decor, art, and architecture, and you can see examples of this style in mosaics, sculptures, and buildings in Brussels, Bucharest, Chicago, London, Mexico City, Miami, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and other cities.

Art deco decor and architecture can vary, but here are some of the characteristics practically synonymous with the style of the deco period, today considered to be somewhat retro in style.

• Geometric shapes: Key art deco elements include geometric designs such as sunbursts, which are sometimes deconstructed into circles and triangles; zigzag patterns, which may vary from stacked chevrons to houndstooth patterns; and scalloped patterns, which combine aspects of both sunburst and zigzag shapes. For example, a screen meant to divide a dining room from a living room may feature rounded, scalloped curves at the top instead of flat edges.
• Bold colors: Bright colors are characteristic of the art deco style, sometimes appearing in clashing combinations but always in vivid, gemstone hues, such as in colored glass in a sconce or chandelier, or in color-saturated wall decor that draws the eye.
• Mythological figures: Figures from Greek and Roman mythology, or heavily mythologized modern stand-ins, feature prominently in art deco interior design, such as posters, light fixtures, and other objects. Art deco artists also flourished in the medium of sculpture, and some of the most enduring symbols of the style are found in sculptures in major cities around the world.
• Various metals: Exterior art deco architecture and designs favor the use of chrome and stainless steel, especially in combination with concrete. Smaller works, such as a table lamp, may feature intricate inlays of more precious metals. In the absence of actual metal, art deco styles may include materials or visual elements intended to appear metallic in nature.
• Luxurious, patterned fabrics: Art deco furniture upholstery usually features expensive or expensive-looking fabrics and brightly colored geometric patterns to further indicate opulence.
• Lacquers and inlays: Finishing touches like a glossy lacquer on a counter or an exquisite, patterned inlay—made of expensive materials like gold or ivory—are representative of art deco in that they are at once sleek and modern while also showcasing a high degree of craftsmanship. Lacquered elements can appear on stools, side tables, coffee tables, or any surface where they will be admired and enjoyed.

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