Art Deco Interior Design: The Basics

When America entered the 1920s and the 1930s, a new style of design came over from France. Today, that style is referred to as Art Deco, though during the time it was known as the "modern" style of the day. Today, there are several buildings in the United States that are fantastic examples of the style, including the famous Chrysler Building in New York City, (though Art Deco is not specific to architecture.) If you're interested in learning more about the Art Deco style or you're contemplating designing your home in this style, this guide will help you figure out the basics.

Understanding Art Deco Color Combinations and Style

Art Deco features bold patterns and bold colors, though it is possible to "tone things down" if the colors of that period are too bold for your taste, (but you love the overall style and patterns.) You'll really need to scour the web to find the right items to match a toned-down Art Deco home.

In an Art Deco styled home, you may find colors such as bright red or deeper brick red, deep blue or even black. You can also find cool shades of orange, magenta, gray and teal. The possibilities are really endless, though the colors do tend to lean more toward the cooler end of the color spectrum.

Examples of Art Deco Lighting Fixtures

When being true to the era, it's not out of the question to use a lighting fixture that has bright or bold colors, such as teal. This Art Deco six-light chandelier (from the Savoy House's Skylark Collection,) is a great example of what to look for. This one does feature a bit more retro-styling (for example, the more polished chrome appearance,) so it could also go with a general "retro" theme but all-in-all, is a relatively close example of what to expect with Art Deco.

If you're looking for a more-toned down version of an Art Deco chandelier, then check out this three-light chandelier (from Maxim Lighting's Deco Collection.) It features the same style and lines as well as upward lighting, all of which you would expect with Art Deco. However, it's iron construction with a hand-painted finish (not polished like the previous example,) and glass shades are much more fitting for someone who is looking for something a little out of the ordinary without being too flashy.

Of course, these are just two examples but they should help point you in the right direction in terms of style and appearance.

Good luck and happy Art Deco-rating!