Art Deco
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Bring beautiful, Art Deco interior design styles into your home. Information on the best colors, fabrics, patterns, furniture and accessories. Learn more...
The term Art Deco actually refers to a style from the 1920's and 1930's - which was seen as a very bold and modern look at the time.
The style is clean and simple, so it will suit both modern and period homes very well.
Colors are bold and patterns are strong and stylised - the whole feel is modern and fun, but sophisticated and glamorous - with more than a touch of retro Hollywood, and the Jazz age!
Influences
There were quite a few major influences on this style - when you are looking out for bits and pieces to decorate your home, look out for items that show these influences - and you won't go far wrong:
- Egypt - in 1922 the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered - look out for anything involving pyramids, hieroglyphics, scarabs and lotus flowers.
- Travel and the exotic - look out for anything involving:
- Greek imagery
- Aztec and Mayan culture
- Striking, geometric African designs
- Oriental influences
- Peacock feathers
- Ocean liners, aeorplanes, cars
- Hollywood, New York and Jazz - look out for pictures and accessories with skyscapers, chrome and glass, flapper girls, film, jazz.
The architecture of the beautiful Chrysler Building shows typical Art Deco style.
Walls
- The first thing you should know about the art deco interior design style, is it is a very clean, simple style - so get rid of all that fussy, decorative moulding.
- Dado rails were not used - to create a smooth, clean wall - but picture rails did still remain.
- Woodwork was painted in a contrasting color to walls.
- The absolute best color to use to get the art deco interior design look is green. Bright green, jade, turquoise, eau-de-nil, mint or peacock blue or deep blue, are all really gorgeous colors of the time, and contrast nicely with a pale grey.
- If you don't fancy greens or blues, try a deep red, gold, rich browns and deep charcoal greys.
- Black was also a really big color for the Art Deco interior design look - you needn't go overboard - perhaps try a lovely, Art Deco inspired wallpaper in black, with a silver, goemetric design.
Carpets and Curtains
- Art Deco interior design is a simple, uncluttered look - so try to keep your flooring and fabrics simple too.
- You should try to choose a pale flooring - either pale wood, or a simple, cream carpet.
- Choose a rug with a simple, geometric design - or with one of the influences above in mind.
- Curtains can be left neutral and plain as well, or choose a simple geometric pattern. Keep it simple - and don't go for anything which is too fussy or heavily patterned. Choose very luxurious fabrics - that feel nice to the touch - like silk, satin or velvet.
Furniture and Accessories
- In line with the whole concept of the design, the furniture should be kept quite simple too.
- The right look is modern, solid and good quality, but with a slightly stylized look. Brown (or black) leather furniture is a really good way to get the look. Mix this with plenty of mirrored furniture, chrome and glass, for that typical Art Deco interior design feel!
- The Art Deco style has become a very popular look for the modern lifestyle - and rightly so I think - it is easy to achieve, and comfortable to live with. This does mean that as well as the usual hunting ground of eBay, flea markets and antique stalls, there are actually plenty of good, quality made, reproductions around to help you get the look.
- For your accessories - stained glass panels are a great way to get the look, and will give a gorgeous, soft light to your room. Look out especially for fan designs and designs of sun-rays for that typical Art Deco interior design look.
- Choose picture frames in a simple, gloss-black style, and frame up period travel posters and stylised art of cars, skyscrapers, ocean liners and flapper girls.
- Flapper girls look great as bronze figurines, or lamps too!
- Mirrored glass and chrome are a fantastic Art Deco interior design look - choose any accessories, shelves, lamps or lights, in these materials.
- Black and white is a very easy way to get the look too!
- Mirrors themselves are a great Art Deco interior design look - choose mirrors in typical Art Deco sun-burst, fan and chevron designs. These are still quite easy to get hold of in flea markets, antique stalls and on eBay, or go for a modern reproduction.
- Also look out for accessories in bakelite, period pottery (Clarice Cliff is the big name to look out for), 'lalique' glass, steamer trunks, oriental style accessories and decorative room screens.
Take a look at some ideal Art Deco style prints that would really work a treat ....
Just click on an image or link, for a larger picture, further information, or to buy ....  Monte Carlo Art Print Broders, Roger 24 in. x 36 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted Giclee Print Art Print Art Print |
 Port de Nantes Art Print Nathan-Garamond,... 24 in. x 38 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted Art Print Art Print Art Print |
eBay is a fantastic place to get Art Deco bargains, so take a look to see what fascinating finds are up for sale today:
This is a live feed from eBay, and is constantly updated. Just click on a product for information, or to bid or buy ...
- To get the perfect finishing touch to your striking Art Deco room, look out for that typical house plant - a potted palm!
I hope you will have really good fun shopping for Art Deco interior design goodies to perfect the look. I am sure you will find it a great look, easy to live with, and really suitable for a modern lifestyle.
Have fun and Happy shopping!
Return to the main period properties and other 19th Century interior design styles page, to browse lots of other period styles.
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