Art Deco Living Room: Achieve the Look With These 7 Things

Are you captivated by the sleek and slightly exotic look of Art Deco style? Does the glamour and mystique of the 1920’s inspire you? Do you love the layered facade and captivating arched forms of the architecture? Are you fascinated by the jeweled forms of ancient Egyptian artifacts or the symbolism of the sun and its rays? If so, you are probably an aficionado of this dynamic style that was first introduced to Paris society at the 1925 World’s Fair. It surged to new heights worldwide over the succeeding two decades. Art Deco flourished as a favored architectural design motif until the 1930’s and then fell into disfavor during the second world war.

Today, however, many great examples of Art Deco style still exist, and there is a renewed effort in some cities to restore and maintain iconic buildings that are fine examples of this type of architecture.

Translating Art Deco to home decor

Much existing Art Deco embellishment is found on large buildings and national monuments. Stunning examples of the style are the buildings at Dallas Fair Park, the original site of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exhibition, the National World War I Monument and Museum in Kansas City, which features two massive stone sphinx sculptures with their eyes covered by their wings, and New York City’s Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. Chicago also has fine examples of Beaux Arts and Art Deco style. The Art Deco District of Miami Beach is testament to the various forms of Art Deco, with buildings from grand hotels of the time to the U.S. Post Office constructed in the style. It can be playful and whimsical or stately and imposing, and the historic district boasts numerous examples of all the varied forms.

In the home, Art Deco will necessarily be less statuesque, but if you want to add touches of the style to your living room, here are seven easy ways:

1. Be dramatic. There is little that is more dramatic than a classic black and white scheme. You can go all white with black accessories for a sophisticated look, add moody appeal with black walls, or adopt a modern spirit with graphic stripes or geometrics. Just be bold in your execution. If you are daring, paper one wall with a dramatic silver and black design. Either keep drapery panels sleek and simple, or consider hanging white linen drapes embellished with black borders. Or leave windows completely bare.
2. Use mirrors to reflect light. Large wall mirrors, mirrored bookcases, mirrored furniture, mirrored panels — the more shine and sparkle, the better. Art Deco is not shy and retiring. Large forms are better than many small pieces. See-through acrylic furniture is also appropriate, but balance it with a lot of background interest. Then, light up the scene with bold chandeliers or dramatic wall sconces in interesting shapes and materials. Let the forms make a statement.
3. Add circles and curves. One of the hallmarks of the style is the round form. Portholes and round openings, arched doorways and arched embellishments on walls and furniture, curved backs on chairs and sofas, cascading layers of arch-top designs, small circular occasional tables — these are the basics of the decor. A second theme is straight-line geometry, layer upon layer of it.
4. Accessorize with Egyptian motifs. Pyramids, geometric forms, symbols such as the ankh or the round sun with rays,  reproductions of artifacts from King Tut’s tomb, boxes or containers with gold, polished stone or bejeweled surfaces or inlays, and stylized animals are all key elements of an Art Deco setting.
5. Give a nod to travel. Whether you include artifacts and mementos from your own travels, add glamorous French or exotic African touches, or hang posters of popular ’20’s and ’30’s planes, trains, automobiles and ocean liners, the great age of travel is a favored Art Deco theme. If you’re daring, recreate the look of a real ocean liner stateroom in your living space, and settle in for adventurous comfort!
6. Go the to movies for art. Framed movie art is indicative of the times. Whether you use glamour shots of the big stars or colorful posters of some of the great motion pictures, go big and bold with your art. You might also consider oversize oil paintings or graphic neon art.
7. Look to the ceiling and the walls. Establish the theme of your room by creating an Art Deco stepped-back ceiling. As an alternative, add fluted columns to the walls or frame the room’s entrance with a semicircular portal to walk through. Think of your room as a stage setting and of yourself as the actor who adopts a specific persona as you enter the room.

No matter how you complete your Art Deco living room, remember that, in many ways, the style is larger than life. Even if you only add a few touches of Art Deco, you will make a grand impression. Enjoy it!

2 Point Highlight

Whether you include artifacts and mementos from your own travels, add glamorous French or exotic African touches, or hang posters of popular ’20s and ’30s planes, trains, automobiles and ocean liners, the great age of travel is a favored Art Deco theme.

Portholes and round openings, arched doorways and arched embellishments on walls and furniture, curved backs on chairs and sofas, cascading layers of arch-top designs, small circular occasional tables — these are the basics of the decor.