Art Deco furniture 101: How to add glitz and glamor to your home

If you’re a fan of exuberant design with bold colors, geometry, and intricate detailing, you might be familiar with Art Deco interior design. Art Deco is sophisticated and glamorous, which makes it perfect for a variety of spaces — from homes and offices to businesses and hotels. And Art Deco furniture makes capturing this timeless design style easy (without breaking the bank).

This guide features ideas and tips for adding Art Deco furniture and home decor to your space. We’ve also included a brief introduction to the Art Deco style, plus some furniture recommendations to make redecorating easier.

All about Art Deco

Art Deco is a 20th-century art movement that emerged in France in the 1920s and became popular worldwide in the 1930s. Art Deco is considered part of the Modernist movement, as are other design styles that emerged around this time (e.g., Bauhaus). And its influence spread to art, interior design, furniture, and architecture.

Here are some defining elements of the Art Deco style:

• Luxurious materials (e.g., marble, exotic woods, and metals like stainless steel and chrome)
• Eye-catching colors (e.g., white, black, silver, gold, and jewel tones)
• Geometric shapes and patterns (e.g., sunbursts, zigzags, and chevrons)
• Plastic resins
• Exotic wood inlays and finishes (e.g., Macassar ebony inlays or lacquered zebrawood)

French Art Deco design initially drew inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement and ancient African and Egyptian artwork. As the style evolved and spread worldwide, Art Deco interior design grew into its own entity and eventually mixed these inspirations with a more modern and contemporary look.

Tip: Consider watching the cinematic version of The Great Gatsby for classic Art Deco design inspiration!

About Art Deco furniture

Art Deco furniture design emerged alongside the Art Deco movement. It’s often adorned with animal motifs or geometric patterns and is popular among collectors and interior design enthusiasts. And you can find it displayed in hotel and business lobbies, homes, and offices worldwide.

In today’s homes, Art Deco furniture is often displayed alongside vintage art and retro design styles like mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency.

Art Deco furniture ideas

Adding Art Deco furniture to your home makes it easy to capture this classic look. You’ll find Art Deco furniture in various shapes, sizes, colors, and craftsmanship styles, so there’s something for every home. Each piece of Art Deco furniture will add Art Deco style to your space. 

Check out these room-by-room ideas and furniture recommendations to get started.

Living room

Here are some ideas for using Art Deco furniture in the living room:

• Coffee table: Use a mirrored coffee table with a geometric design — try the Breena Rectangular Coffee Table (shown above).
• Sofa: A sofa and loveseat with geometric styling, bold colors, and plush velvet upholstery — try the Sophia Camel Back Living Room Set.
• Lighting: Brighten things up with a table lamp sporting a vintage finish and white drum shade — try the Mineta Drum Shade Table Lamp.
• Club chairs: Use plush lounge chairs with eye-catching upholstery and metal accents — try the Sophia Upholstered Vertical Tufted Chair.

Dining room

Here are some ideas for using Art Deco furniture in the dining room:

• Dining chairs: Use Art Deco chairs for the dining room with velvet upholstery and metallic legs — try the Cisco Tufted Back Side Chairs.
• Dining set: Decorate the whole dining room with a glass-top dining table with chrome finished legs and matching chairs — try the Beaufort 6-Piece Dining Set (shown above).
• Storage: Add extra storage with a white and gold sideboard, credenza, or console table with carved wood detailing — try the Voula Rectangular 4-Door Accent Cabinet.

Bedroom

Here are some ideas for using Art Deco furniture in the bedroom:

• Bed: Add an instant focal point with a metallic panel bed with a mirrored finish and plush headboard — try the Salford Queen Panel Bed (shown above).
• Storage: Keep it functional with a sleek dresser and nightstand set featuring metallic accents and geometric styling — try the Salford 5-Drawer Chest and the Salford 2-Drawer Nightstand.
• Lounging: Add a pair of swivel chairs or a chaise to your bedroom for a boudoir look — try the Channeled Tufted Swivel Chair or the Lydia Tufted Cushion Chaise. You might even add a bar cart for late-night luxury!

Styling Art Deco furniture

Placing Art Deco furniture in your home is a good start, but you’ll want to style it for maximum effect. Here are some Art Deco furniture styling tips to help you create a look you’ll love:

• Focal point: Use groups of Art Deco furniture (e.g., a 7-piece dining room set) to create a focal point.
• Central placement: If you only have a few pieces of furniture, place them in a central location to draw attention to them, giving your home more of an Art Deco look and feel.
• Complementing colors, prints, and patterns: Complement the furniture pieces you select with other bright colors, animal prints, and geometric shapes to make them shine. 
• Table decor: Add plants or flowers to bring life and a splash of color to your design.
• Mix and match: Combine different Art Deco furniture colors and styles instead of matching everything. For example, you might mix and match different dining chairs to create an eclectic set.
• Blended styles: Add elements from other styles you enjoy, like mid-century modern, to give your space contrast and depth.

More Art Deco design tips

Incorporating Art Deco elements in your home can give it a timeless sense of style and opulence that is perfect for fans of this style. Here are some general tips for incorporating Art Deco design in your home:

• Wall decor: Hang Art Deco-inspired wall art and decor (e.g., sunburst mirrors or fine art prints from the 1920s). Consider mixing new pieces with unique finds from flea markets, antique stores, consignment shops, and garage sales to create contrast.
• Geometric styling: Choose decor, textiles, and furniture with geometric patterns and shapes. You can create a professional look by mixing large, medium, and small-scale geometric patterns and shapes in one space.
• Color palette: Incorporate eye-catching colors and jewel tones in your color palette. Most color palettes have four to six colors, including neutrals. For example, you might use white and black as neutral colors, gold and silver to add sparkle, and bold jewel tones like sapphire blue and emerald green.
• Materials: Use marble, exotic woods, stainless steel, and other luxurious materials in your home. For example, a stainless steel and mirrored side table or a Partridge Rectangular 2-Door Server with natural Sheesham wood with geometric doors.
• Lighting: Light your home with Art Deco-inspired light fixtures like chandeliers, sconces, table lamps, and floor lamps. Ideally, you’ll want multiple layers of lighting in every room to keep things bright and comfortable.
• Scale: Pick furniture that suits the scale of your home. Many Art Deco furniture pieces are large-scale, but smaller-scale pieces can help create a more intimate atmosphere if you have a small space.

Have fun with your decor!

Adding Art Deco furniture to your home is a simple and fun way to make your home feel more luxurious and sophisticated. And with so many finishes, styles, and colors, it allows you to express your personality and taste through your decor. So have fun and experiment with different looks until you find one you love!

And if you’re still looking for the perfect Art Deco furniture pieces, check out Coaster Furniture’s selection for hundreds of options. You can also use our store locator to find a convenient retailer near you for pickup or delivery.

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