ART DECO DESIGN STYLE AND DECORATION GUIDE 

Luxury, glamorous, aesthetic, fascinating... Welcome to discover the Art Deco style, where the aesthetics of the 1920s moved from architecture to decoration, from fashion to plastic arts. What was the reason for this gaud that came just after the First World War? What are the characteristic features of Art Deco style? Is Modern Art Deco still among us as the "polished" representative of luxury today?

Art Deco, named after the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes exhibition in 1925; visual arts, architecture and design style.The flow from Paris turned into the most effective decorative style in Western Europe and the USA in the first half of the 20th century.

Combining the Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau’s design understanding with the currents embracing all kinds of art and design branches such as Bauhaus, Cubism, Futurism, Art Deco still continues its influence as a modern representative of elegance and elegance.

Art Nouveau is a trend that emerged between about 1890-1910, that is, before the war. Art Deco, on the other hand, was a flower that was born right after the war, ended in the late 1930s, and opened in difficult times after the war.

Art Nouveau rejects classicism. He advocates that happiness and beauty appear with manual labor, opposes mechanization. It takes its inspiration from nature. While Art Nouveau has a philosophical foundation, Art Deco is completely decorative. One of the things that can be said in the comparison of Art Deco vs Art Nouveau is that the Art Deco movement absolutely embraces technology, trade and mechanization.

While Art Nouveau uses more organic forms and colors, Art Deco produces products in a more polished style.

Art Deco prefers thicker, vibrant colors and stylish geometry. Art Nouveau accepts soft lines, flowers, insects, naive nature. Although Art Deco does not exclude Art Nouveau’s principle that praises nature-inspired craftsmanship in material and style, it embraces the possibilities of industry, technology and mass production.

Art Deco is more contrast and sharp, Art Nouveau is more soft and naive.

Art Deco elements combines forms of civilizations such as Greco-Roman Classicism, Assyria, Ancient Egypt, Babylon and Aztec with movements such as Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Kubism. It is one of the characteristic elements of luxury, expensive, exotic and geometric Art Deco. No raw and natural elements can be found in Art Deco. Polished, shiny, carved, carved furniture and decors are the determining elements of Art Deco.

If we say Art Deco design style, symmetry and order are embellished with luxury, we will not be exaggerated. Art Deco geometric patterns are the most iconic patterns of this style. The main Art Deco shapes and motifs are as follows:

Simple shapes with aerodynamic style

Repetitive geometric shapes, 

Zigzags

Triangles

Chevron patterned forms

Trapezoidal pattern

Conical shapes

Parallel lines

Thick, strong and curved Art Deco lines

Stepped forms, pyramids

Characteristic Art Deco figures like naked women and animals

Geometric lilies, leaves, feathers, exotic tropical Art Deco flowers

Sunburst motifs

Apart from expensive materials, exotic materials and man-made materials are used, as in Art Nouveau. Top Art Deco style materials:

Polished inlaid wood (rosewood, ebony, walnut, oak, maple, birch, sycamore)

Glass

Ivory

Silver

Chrome plated

Bronze

Stainless steel

Silk

Zebra skin

Shark skin

Mirrors

Lacquer

Marble

Bakelite

Horn

Leather

Art Deco is famous for its use of contrast, neutral and striking colors. There is no room for soft, pastel and romantic tones in Art Deco. Colors are used with sharp and contrasting shades. Imagine all of these colors on bright, sharp and large surfaces.

Black White

Bright yellow

Gold

Black

Dark brown

Vibrant red

Emerald

Chromium

Ink blue

Gypsy pink

Dark purple

“High-end” is an appropriate expression to describe Art Deco furniture. Let's take a quick look at the history of Art Deco furniture, and then move on to the details:

Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann's Influence

Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann attracted attention as a designer producing furniture in neoclassic style. Furniture designs in Art Nouveau style; producing with exotic materials such as rosewood, ivory and ebony, Ruhlmann later went on to remove the decorations. It produced luxurious and expensive furniture that everyone could not reach. Ruhlmann is one of the first names to combine Art Nouveau with Art Deco in furniture.

French Art Deco Furniture Designers

French Art Deco furniture designer Jules Leleu is one of the names that combines traditional style with Art Deco.

Then we see Le Corbusier on the stage. Le Corbusier has produced chairs that are simpler, can be mass-produced, and create a wide market.

Period of the wood Art Deco furnitures

Art Deco wood furniture was produced as iconic furniture of 1920s and 1930s. Inlaid wood furniture manifested itself in tables, consoles, side cabinets, dining room and bedroom furniture. Art Deco furniture characteristics; We can say that it consists of luxurious details such as carved woods, shiny surfaces, mother of pearl and silver.

Vintage and Retro Art Deco

The chairs, tables, cupboards called vintage Art Deco furniture today are really ancient ones, that is, antiques. Art Deco inspired furnitures are among the most popular styles of interior design as furniture that contains the characteristic elements of the style but is new to make. Oh, by the way, vintage Art Deco is mostly associated with jewelry, let’s say that.

Contemporary Art Deco Furniture

Contemporary Art Deco furniture, on the other hand, is the general expression of the products that are produced today, containing many of the Art Deco elements and combine different styles.

Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann

Tamara de Lempicka – nicknamed “The Baroness with a Brush”

Le Corbusier

Erté 

A.M. Cassandre 

Léon Bakst 

Jose Maria Sert

René Lalique

Jean Dunand 

Sonia Delaunay

Georges Lepape

Louis Lozowick

Art Deco design is one of the most popular styles in home decoration today. We have very stylish suggestions for a modern Art Deco style home decoration.

Art Deco Style Lighting

Art Deco style lamps and chandeliers are usually made of chrome and glass. White glass can be preferred as much as transparent glass.

Art Deco Windows Style

Geometric patterns are the most prominent feature of Art Deco style windows.

It is generally blocky and grid patterned.

It can be round or long rectangular.

Stained glass pattern is often used.

Motifs using special textures, colors or patterns can also be preferred.

Art Deco design is one of the most popular styles in home decoration today. We have very stylish suggestions for a modern Art Deco style home decoration.

Characteristic Elements of an Art Deco Living Room

Monochrome or black and white colors

Marble on the floor and walls

Black and white geometric marble floor

Black, white, emerald green, ink blue, gray glossy tiles

Chrome or brass fittings

White subway tiles

Eyptian mosaic tiles

Stained glass

Sunburst mirror

Marble sink

Gold or silver plated basin legs

Metal, brass or gold patina bathroom cabinets

Tortoise shell wall covering

Crystal chandelier with metal construction

Moisture-proof geometric or exotic pattern wallpapers

• Antique Art Deco bedroom furnitures (Like carved wooden bedroom sets)
• Contrast color palette (such as black-white, cream-dark brown, blue-black)
• Large mirror with gold leaf
• If you like wood, varnished black wood
• Gold brass or metal headboard
• Geometric pattern curtains, pillows
• Leadlight window
• Decorated cornices
• Stepped nightstands
• Lacquered wall panel
• Art Deco mirrored furnitures
• Large size Art Deco painting tables
• Decorative products with symmetrical accents
• Artificial fur carpet
• French Art Deco styled geometric cushions
• Art Deco style lamps
• Metallic-framed velvet headboard
• Striking shades of bright blue, red, yellow, etc.

Art Deco design is one of the most popular styles in home decoration today. We have very stylish suggestions for a modern Art Deco style home decoration.

Characteristic Elements of an Art Deco Bedroom

Contrast color palette

Black and white geometric Art Deco wallpaper

Wood panels

Wooden carved furniture

Brass framed furniture

Art Deco waterfall furnitures

Chrome detailed furniture

Polished parquets, varnished surfaces

Large carpets with geometric pattern

Velvet dresser

Velvet curtain

Bold metal coffee tables

Art Deco style crystal chandelier

Symmetrical line furniture

Gold decorative ornaments

Huge mirrors

Glass vases

Chrome decor products

Tiles dominated by pattern games

Ancient Egypt, Babylonian cultures’ patterns interpreted with contrast colors and geometric understanding, paintings

Art Deco prints

• Dark and light cabinet mixes
• Metal, brass kitchen cabinet handles
• Gilded frames
• Gold, brass or bronze sink
• Brass or gold drawer
• Geometric wallpaper or floor tiles
• Marble kitchen island with brass and chrome border
• Open metal shelves
• Big mirror
• Glossy glass tiles / mirror tiles
• Luxury big light fixtures
• Art Deco inspired cutting boards

Art Deco design is one of the most popular styles in home decoration today. We have very stylish suggestions for a modern Art Deco style home decoration.

Characteristic elements of an Art Deco Office

• Leather sofa and chair sets
• Dark varnished wooden furniture
• Art Deco paintings and prints
• Geometric wallpapers or floor tiles
• Art Deco style luminous chandelier, wall light or table lamps
• Polished metal coffee tables
• Metal or gold decorative ornaments, vases

Egyptian art, consisting of decorative motifs and patterns, is one of Art Deco's greatest sources of inspiration. Cats, pharaoh representations, pyramids, and intensive use of yellow and gold are just a few of Egypt's effects on Art Deco. The feminine style is also evident in Egypt and Art Deco. The image and perception of women, identified with elegance and elegance, are the strongest common aspects of both.

In fact, Egyptian civilization is not only visually; it was also effective on Art Deco. Egypt had a design understanding that embraces the combination of old and new, using function and decorative elements together. Art Deco is a product of an understanding that melts many cultures and art movements both geographically and style in one pot.

Manhattan, famous for its skyscrapers, is iconic as examples of Art Deco architecture in America. Art Deco made its name famous with the architectural works in America. Some of the most famous American Art Deco architectural examples:

Rego Park Jewish Center

Civic Opera Building

The Hecht Company Warehouse

Eastern Columbia Lofts

The Union Terminal

Paramount Theater

The Chrysler Building

Hotel Breakwater South Beach

Rockefeller Center