What is Art Deco Design?

What is Art Deco Design?

Art Deco Interior Design is not for those who thrive in a calming, neutral environment. It’s bold, luxurious, glamorous, and full of geometric design. Art Deco Design is the perfect way to make an impactful statement while showcasing your unique style in your Chicago home. 

Art Deco Interiors Are Upscale

When Art Deco Interior Design appeared in the 1920s, it was a nod to the wealth generated by an industrial surge. New, lavish items were readily available, and fashion-forward people were eager to have them in their homes. Art Deco-inspired homes were a luxurious, elegant status symbol and continue to be today. 

The Motifs of Art Deco Design

Art Deco motifs are exciting and interesting. The movement favors geometric design and clean lines, including:

• Trapezoidal Shapes
• Chevron & Zigzag Patterns
• Stepped Details
• Triangular Shapes
• Sunburst Shapes
• Jagged, Point Edges like Skyscrapers

Characteristics of Art Deco Design

Art Deco interiors feature geometric, angular forms that leave fussiness and romance behind. Symmetry is essential in Art Deco Design. Even abstract motifs are arranged in regularly recurring patterns to create visual rhythm and harmony. The design movement is also known for its use of particular materials, including:

• Stainless Steel
• Mirrors
• Chrome
• Lacquer
• Inlaid Wood
• Exotic Skins – which are faux today, of course!
• Ebony
• Marble
• Rare Woods

Colors of Art Deco Interior Design

Art Deco Design favors bold colors and abundant contrast. Vibrant yellows, reds, blues, or greens pair well with chrome, silver, and black accents in the style. You can also go for a more mellow design by pairing creams and beiges with polished wood and lacquered furniture. The contrast will remain apparent, but the colors will be less vivid. 

Illuminating Art Deco Interiors

Lighting fixtures are an easily recognizable element of Art Deco Interior Design. Art Deco Design lighting features more detail than other aspects of the movement, and most fixtures have a few things in common:

• Clean, modern lines and silhouettes
• Fixtures featuring etched glass or chrome with stepped shapes to mimic skyscrapers
• Fanned-out shades that obscure the bulbs
  

Furnishing an Art Deco Home

Art Deco Design takes a “Go big or go home” stance regarding furniture. Oversized pieces with clean lines and minimal frills are hallmarks of the design. Sideboards and armoires are popular items in Art Deco interiors. Many vintage pieces from the era feature elegant mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell inlays as a nod to safari vacations that were popular at the time. 

Bring Art Deco Design to Your Chicago Home

JC Licht has everything you need to recreate the glamour of Art Deco Design in your home. Farrow & Ball is known for rich pigments that bring color to life, especially when light touches it. Many Art Deco-inspired colors are in our Farrow & Ball collection, like Sudbury Yellow or Vardo. Shop our Farrow & Ball paint today!

We are the Midwest’s premier retailer of Benjamin Moore paint, Hunter Douglas window treatments, and designer wallpaper. Visit us at one of our many showrooms across the Midwest, or book an in-home consultation today.