The Interior Design Institute Vs New York Art Institute

Linda is a seasoned writer and bedrooms authority. She loves sharing design trends, decor ideas, and useful tips with her readers.

Read this article to get your Art Deco inspirations up and running.

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Art Deco

Art Deco was a wide-ranging style encompassing fashion, art, jewelry design, fabrics, furniture, and architecture. This design movement originated in Paris during the 1920s. It rapidly gained popularity in the rest of Europe and the U.S. Its design influences were prevalent well into the 1930s and even into the 1940s.

You can immediately identify Art Deco style by its sleek lines, curves, geometric shapes, and brilliant combinations of metal, mirror, lacquered surfaces, wood inlays, and sumptuous color. Stair-stepped profiles that mimic skyscrapers are the embodiment of Art Deco design. These shapes can be found everywhere, from picture frames to vases to lighting.

Other signature shapes include starbursts, lightning bolts, and chevrons. If you are thinking about creating an Art Deco room in your home, think about Hollywood of the 1930s. Rent a few classic movies from that time (or movies set in the era) as your inspiration! Here are a few of my personal favorites.

The Chrysler Building in Manhattan is the ultimate in Art Deco Style architecture.

ahisgett, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Art Deco Movie Inspiration

Year	Title	Starring
1932	Grand Hotel	Greta Garbo, John Barrymore
1932	Trouble in Paradise	Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis
1933	Dinner at Eight	Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery
1934	The Thin Man	Myrna Loy, William Powell
1936	Swing Time	Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
1936	My Man Godfrey	Carole Lombard, William Powell
1939	The Women	Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell
2011	The Artist	Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo

This staircase includes some of the most popular Art Deco colors and finishes.

TANAKA Juuyoh, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Art Deco Colors

When speaking of color palettes, Art Deco style is surprisingly versatile.

• Black and White

This combination is the signature color foundation of Art Deco style. For most of the period, color schemes included graphic contrasts of black and white combined with an accent color.

• Metallics

Art Deco was born in the excesses of the Roaring Twenties, so it is no wonder that metallic colors and finishes would play a huge part in its interior design. Silver, gold, copper, and metallic blue added a luxurious feel to Art Deco design.

• Neutrals

Art Deco was based on modern, streamlined architecture and furnishings. To give this style an understated and classic look, think about using a monochromatic color palette to highlight, and not overshadow, your period furniture and accessories. Taupes, beiges, creams, and browns were particularly popular in Moderne and Parisian Art Deco interiors.

• Bright Colors

Another sign of the booming economy was the use of vivid color. Energetic colors were a symbol of prosperity. Using vivid pops of color like yellow, emerald green, peacock blue, purple, and red became increasingly acceptable.

Curved and plump, this chair exemplifies furniture from the art deco era.

tukanuk, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Deco Furniture

Art Deco furniture is an eclectic collection of pieces within a singular style. The diversity of materials used is a testament to that statement. Highly polished lacquer sideboards, tubular steel chairs, exquisite inlaid wood veneer armoires, and chrome and glass tables all fit into this iconic style.

The best way to describe Art Deco furniture is streamlined, curvilinear, modern, and comfortable. Confused? Well, imagine a club chair that is geometric in form with arched, skinny arms and, at the same time, pleasingly plump! The strong lines of Art Deco furniture often echo those found in period buildings, automobiles, and trains.

Read More From Dengarden

Lighting

Lighting would encompass floor lamps, uplights, wall sconces, chandeliers, and table lamps. As with furniture, your lighting choices should be along the same streamlined vein. Hunt for metallic and glass fixtures that incorporate female forms, flowers, and repetitive geometric shapes.

Floor lamps should be quite spectacular—like towering torchiere in chrome with sandblasted glass shades. Most lamps were made from metals or ceramics and typically had clear etched glass rather than fabric shades.

Deco-style linoleum checkerboard floor.

Kevin Lawver, CC BY-SA 2.0 via flickr

Flooring

Tile flooring was trendy, as was wood parquet. Black and white linoleum or marble tile placed in a checkerboard pattern is probably most closely associated with Art Deco interiors.

Rugs were widely used at this time. Geometric patterned and animal skin rugs would have been layered over tile floors to warm up living areas. Period rugs are hard to come by, but wool rugs have many choices that have patterns reminiscent of Deco designs. Flokati rugs can also add a luxurious feel to your Art Deco-themed room.

Fabrics

Fabrics were used to enhance the over-the-top elegance of the furniture. With all of the smooth surfaces and modern forms in an Art Deco room, upholstery should be a soft and sumptuous compliment. Leather, velvet, and satin were traditional choices.

Look for upholstery and curtain fabrics in solid colors, keeping period patterns (geometrics, animal prints, and graphic florals) to a minimum. Many upholstered pieces and pillows featured beautiful examples of passementerie, or trimmings, such as tassels, fringe, and gimp.

Accessories from the 1930s featuring what is known as 'depression glass' green.

Artdecodude

Accessories

Keep in mind the importance of form when selecting accessories. There are still many examples of Art Deco glass figurines, sculptures, and vases out there to choose from. If you can't afford the real deal, opt for reproductions or modern pieces with that "Deco" look.

There are several wonderful reproduction posters and prints from the era. Just keep artwork to a minimum—it's better to use a couple of large-scale prints or posters versus several smaller pieces of wall art. And be sure to incorporate wall mirrors into your Art Deco interior.

Example of deco art and a collection of chrome accessories.

Artdecodude, CC BY 2.0 via flickr

Art Deco Design Tips

• Use a stylized scalloped mirror in your design scheme.

• Incorporate streamlined furniture—with curves!

• Find tables or storage pieces made with inlaid wood veneers.

• Use chrome and mirrored furniture liberally.

• Make an animal skin rug (faux only!) a focal point for your floor.

• Find a decorative chinoiserie screen to divide spaces or add privacy.

• Use curvaceous accessories.

• Be eclectic, but selective. Don't introduce furnishings from too many periods. Art Deco truly shines when it can take center stage and is deftly edited.

Have fun bringing a bit of glamour and glitz of the past into your home by creating an Art Deco inspired room!

© 2012 Linda Chechar

Start a Conversation!

Robert Sacchi on November 25, 2018:

Thank you for posting and answering my query.

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on November 25, 2018:

Robert Sacchi, both movies incorporate incredible Art Deco design and architecture. Thanks for reading.

Robert Sacchi on November 24, 2018:

Thank you for posting. I appreciate the explanation of Art Deco. Would the cityscapes of the movies Metropolis and The Fountainhead fall under the classification of Art Deco?

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on October 10, 2012:

Please steal away, mjkearn! And it's really not stealing -- it's simply adapting. We all do it and it's perfectly kosher! I am so pleased you like my Hubs. Stop by any time for inspiration. :)

mjkearn on October 10, 2012:

Hi Linda

Love the Art Deco period but I'm useless at the interior design. I can build the rooms but decorating with imagination I've got to leave to others.

Love your array of hubs. I'll be back to read more soon and steal your ideas if that's allowed.

Thanks for writing and sharing. Voted up and ticked.

MJ.

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on October 07, 2012:

Natasha, we are lucky to still have examples of Art Deco architecture worldwide. It is so impressive. I'm so happy you enjoyed this Hub! :)

Natasha from Hawaii on October 07, 2012:

There are so many cool art deco buildings still in use! I love visiting them. Thanks for the great collection of pictures - that spherical lamp is really neat.

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on October 05, 2012:

Every little bit counts, watergeek! I have spent years informally studying decorating and interior design. It is my passion and I'm happy to share what I've learned. Thanks for your thoughtful feedback -- it is greatly appreciated! :)

Susette Horspool from Pasadena CA on October 04, 2012:

I have a tiny sheepskin rug next to my bed. Does that count? ;P

I love the curves of art deco, but I'm not sure I could live in such a bright house. This article was really well written. Between this and others of your hubs, I'm amazed at how much you know about decorating.

Linda Chechar (author) from Arizona on October 04, 2012:

Leah, I also admire this iconic style. I guess a penthouse apartment in Manhattan would be the perfect place for an Art Deco interior -- my cookie cutter apartment in the desert isn't exactly the right setting either! ;)

Leah Lefler from Western New York on October 04, 2012:

I love art deco furniture - the curves are so appealing to me! Our house isn't really suited to an art deco theme (split level 1970s house), but I do love the style!

The Interior Design Institute Vs New York Art Institute

Source: https://dengarden.com/interior-design/How-to-Create-an-Art-Deco-Interior

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