Get Some Great Gatsby Glamour with Art Deco Living Room Styling
Be inspired by the glamorous jazz age to create a plush and opulent living space
The 1920s and 1930s were optimistic years, when mass production took off, exotic materials became more commonplace and decadent design flourished. And the Art Deco period – born in the mid-1920s and characterised by strong geometric lines and dramatic juxtapositions of reflective surfaces with luxurious textures – is possibly one of the most influential in interior design. Get a snapshot of the era in Baz Luhrmann’s take on classic 1925 novel The Great Gatsby, or plunder MGM Studios’ 1930s output for some of the black and white originals starring the likes of Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo.
Whether you want to cherry-pick elements of Art Deco style or jump in headfirst to re-create the era, be inspired by these stunning living rooms and start planning your own makeover.
Explore the rest of this Art Deco series: So Your Style Is: Art Deco; 10 Steps to Creating a Heavenly Art Deco Sleep Space; 10 Steps to Getting the Art Deco Look in Your Bathroom
Whether you want to cherry-pick elements of Art Deco style or jump in headfirst to re-create the era, be inspired by these stunning living rooms and start planning your own makeover.
Explore the rest of this Art Deco series: So Your Style Is: Art Deco; 10 Steps to Creating a Heavenly Art Deco Sleep Space; 10 Steps to Getting the Art Deco Look in Your Bathroom
Celebrate cocktail hour
With Prohibition in force between 1920 and 1933 in America, it’s no wonder the Art Deco age is often associated with clandestine imbibing, as the ban on alcohol drove people to underground parties and speakeasies, and to drink bootlegged spirits at home.
So add a touch of The Great Gatsby with a chrome drinks trolley or curved walnut cocktail cabinet adorned with a mirrored tray. Top it with angular crystal decanters, chrome cocktail shakers and stylish coupette glasses.
With Prohibition in force between 1920 and 1933 in America, it’s no wonder the Art Deco age is often associated with clandestine imbibing, as the ban on alcohol drove people to underground parties and speakeasies, and to drink bootlegged spirits at home.
So add a touch of The Great Gatsby with a chrome drinks trolley or curved walnut cocktail cabinet adorned with a mirrored tray. Top it with angular crystal decanters, chrome cocktail shakers and stylish coupette glasses.
Weave in glass and mirrors
The sunburst mirror is a classic Art Deco nature motif and radiates elegance and optimism. Make sure you echo this with reflective surfaces elsewhere, too, such as mirrored alcoves and a glass-topped coffee table.
Discover more ways to work mirrors into a scheme
The sunburst mirror is a classic Art Deco nature motif and radiates elegance and optimism. Make sure you echo this with reflective surfaces elsewhere, too, such as mirrored alcoves and a glass-topped coffee table.
Discover more ways to work mirrors into a scheme
Buy pairs
Precision and symmetry were key elements to Art Deco design, so if you fall in love with a beautiful lamp, mirror or occasional table, consider buying two to keep your room scheme feeling well balanced.
This room also showcases a wide range of different materials – typical of the Art Deco era – and yet keeps a sense of cohesion by using a neutral palette of taupe and oyster.
Precision and symmetry were key elements to Art Deco design, so if you fall in love with a beautiful lamp, mirror or occasional table, consider buying two to keep your room scheme feeling well balanced.
This room also showcases a wide range of different materials – typical of the Art Deco era – and yet keeps a sense of cohesion by using a neutral palette of taupe and oyster.
Take a seat
The quintessential Art Deco chair will have clean lines, curved arms and sometimes a shell-shaped back or piping detail. Leather was considered a new material for upholstery and some examples feature elements of chrome on the frame, too.
Many contemporary sofas sit well together with Art Deco chairs, so don’t be afraid to mix up eras. If you want to add a bit more quirkiness, be inspired by the golden age of Hollywood and look out for reclaimed cinema seats.
The quintessential Art Deco chair will have clean lines, curved arms and sometimes a shell-shaped back or piping detail. Leather was considered a new material for upholstery and some examples feature elements of chrome on the frame, too.
Many contemporary sofas sit well together with Art Deco chairs, so don’t be afraid to mix up eras. If you want to add a bit more quirkiness, be inspired by the golden age of Hollywood and look out for reclaimed cinema seats.
Create a fireplace focal point
Not many Art Deco fireplaces survive today, yet their influence can be seen in many modern designs. Most were made from concrete and often featured beige or green tiling. If you love the Deco look, go for a bold, rectangular design in highly polished chrome or marble and consider a stepped top with a central motif at the apex.
Explore how to integrate a fireplace into your living space
Not many Art Deco fireplaces survive today, yet their influence can be seen in many modern designs. Most were made from concrete and often featured beige or green tiling. If you love the Deco look, go for a bold, rectangular design in highly polished chrome or marble and consider a stepped top with a central motif at the apex.
Explore how to integrate a fireplace into your living space
Choose a classic coffee table
In contrast to the ornate coffee tables of the Victorian era, Art Deco designs tended to be sleeker, with strong, geometrical shapes and clean lines. The machine age heralded a huge increase in the types of materials available, from chrome and nickel to hardwoods such as rosewood and ebony, metals such as bronze and wrought iron, and even Bakelite, marble, glass and enamel.
As well as rectangular coffee tables, circular and hexagonal tables with mirrored or etched glass tops also became popular. Some designs mixed materials, such as wrought iron legs with a marble top, and emerging Art Deco designers including Norman Bel Geddes, Eileen Gray and Pavel Janek became highly sought-after.
In contrast to the ornate coffee tables of the Victorian era, Art Deco designs tended to be sleeker, with strong, geometrical shapes and clean lines. The machine age heralded a huge increase in the types of materials available, from chrome and nickel to hardwoods such as rosewood and ebony, metals such as bronze and wrought iron, and even Bakelite, marble, glass and enamel.
As well as rectangular coffee tables, circular and hexagonal tables with mirrored or etched glass tops also became popular. Some designs mixed materials, such as wrought iron legs with a marble top, and emerging Art Deco designers including Norman Bel Geddes, Eileen Gray and Pavel Janek became highly sought-after.
Pick a fail-safe colour scheme
While many colours were used throughout the 1920s and 1930s, a smoky colour palette featuring silver, metallic blues and charcoal perhaps best typifies the Deco style. Highly lacquered finishes – mimicking the deep shine of ebony but at a much lower cost – combine so well with these smoky hues and create an ultra-luxurious look that echoes the aspiration for affluence in post-Depression America.
While many colours were used throughout the 1920s and 1930s, a smoky colour palette featuring silver, metallic blues and charcoal perhaps best typifies the Deco style. Highly lacquered finishes – mimicking the deep shine of ebony but at a much lower cost – combine so well with these smoky hues and create an ultra-luxurious look that echoes the aspiration for affluence in post-Depression America.
Light up your alcoves
While more decorative lighting, such as the Tiffany lamp, epitomised the earlier Art Nouveau period, the age of Art Deco saw geometric, angular shapes in chrome and glass rise to prominence. These stunning lamps, for instance, with their skyscraper-like design, have a strong Deco feel.
By the late 1920s and early 1930s, the glamour of the silver screen began to exert its influence, too, and the flapper table lamp, inspired by Josephine Baker, was born, spawning many designs featuring the female form holding aloft a globe.
Take a look at more ideas for styling fireside alcoves
While more decorative lighting, such as the Tiffany lamp, epitomised the earlier Art Nouveau period, the age of Art Deco saw geometric, angular shapes in chrome and glass rise to prominence. These stunning lamps, for instance, with their skyscraper-like design, have a strong Deco feel.
By the late 1920s and early 1930s, the glamour of the silver screen began to exert its influence, too, and the flapper table lamp, inspired by Josephine Baker, was born, spawning many designs featuring the female form holding aloft a globe.
Take a look at more ideas for styling fireside alcoves
Introduce exotic sculptures
As travel started to become more and more accessible – at least to those with money – exotic pieces became highly covetable. Trinkets made from mother-of-pearl, animal skins and tortoiseshell became all the rage and started to appear in society homes, alongside African tribal art and sculptures inspired by recent Egyptian discoveries.
TELL US…
Do you love Art Deco style? Share your ideas for incorporating the look at home in the Comments below.
As travel started to become more and more accessible – at least to those with money – exotic pieces became highly covetable. Trinkets made from mother-of-pearl, animal skins and tortoiseshell became all the rage and started to appear in society homes, alongside African tribal art and sculptures inspired by recent Egyptian discoveries.
TELL US…
Do you love Art Deco style? Share your ideas for incorporating the look at home in the Comments below.
The 1920s and 1930s were the start of Hollywood’s golden age, so bring in some cinematic touches with your very own wall of fame featuring black and white prints of your favourite film stars. These curved, polished, hardwood chairs are pure Deco decadence, and contrast so well with the plush buttoned sofa.
See how to add glamour with classic Hollywood prints