The birth of the style 20-30. 20th century.

How many laurels have appropriated this style. In my practice, there was not a single customer who did not even mention Art Deco a little. Any interior begins with: "Or it is possible in the Art Deco style!" After a thorough analysis of my knowledge of style, as a rule, the interior sounds with different notes.

Let's figure it out!

Art Deco is a bourgeois style, but not philistine. Classic, but not antique. He combined the traditions of Rome (Empire), Greece, China and Japan. Art Deco partly continued the traditions of Art Nouveau, at the same time it was influenced by the manner in which the cubists treated planes and their technique of using color, as well as the American folk art and design of the rapidly developing machine and aircraft construction at that time.

A characteristic feature of the art deco interior layout is the absence of a single composition, but its replacement by the sum of individual components, a grouping of "stylish things". It is no coincidence that many of these interiors were called "collector's pavilion", "artist's studio", they were created with the glamor of the 1920s. The style of expensive hotels, restaurants, and therefore sometimes this style is called the "Ritz style".

Art Deco is a song of luxury and showiness. Elements of asceticism and minimalism are inappropriate here. Fantasy, exotic, theatricality, excitement - these are the key nouns to describe the atmosphere that such an interior creates.

The color scheme of the interior should not be too bright. The color of the material used should not be changed, as the naturalness of its color will once again emphasize the naturalness of the entire environment. This means that the colors should be as follows: brown, black, red, yellow, white, ivory. Although at the present time there are other options for colors. For example, as a rule, more than 3 colors are used, which, despite the traditional design rules, looks surprisingly organic and effective.

1. The most successful color scheme is a combination of ivory, various brown tones and all shades of gold.
2. Against the background of a checkerboard contrast of black and white - expressive blotches of red and gold, chrome interior items.
3. There are variations on the theme: purple (indigo), white, black.
Art Deco interior designers skillfully use the possibilities and texture of different materials, ranging from wood (solid maple, ash, rosewood), plastic, concrete, glass and steel, aluminum and ending with the most expensive and exotic materials: ivory, bronze, silver, marble, ceramics, porcelain, crystals, mirror glass, mother of pearl, enamel; natural fabrics (wool, silk); expensive leather (snake, crocodile, shagreen leather, as well as lizards and even sharks); exotic wood (palm, amaranth, mahogany, black-ebony, rosewood, coconut, bamboo, sequoia).

Chrome plating of parts (handles, legs, armrests, etc.) is also appropriate for all types of household equipment.

Art Deco is easily recognizable by its whimsical combination of winding lines and geometric shapes: smooth, rounded corners and clear vertical lines, by "receding" shapes, an abundance of circles and semicircles, as well as zigzags and triangles.

The style involves the use of oriental motifs in the interior, as well as a mixture of elements of Egyptian, African and Chinese culture, antiques and paintings of the early 20th century, giving particular preference to cubism and the works of post-impressionist masters.

In such an interior, images of huge bright flowers (dahlias, daisies, zinnias, especially roses), infinitely far from natural (real), various fantastic dragons, peacocks, shells, dark women are appropriate.
Art Deco is based on geometry and symmetry - this also applies to the forms of furniture and decor.
The walls can be covered with wallpaper or decorated with Venetian plaster, as well as painted. The pattern on the wallpaper should be geometrically clear, you can choose an abundance of broken lines or vertical stripes, cubic patterns or zigzags, floral ornament (bouquets are heavy and dense, blooming with climbing plants decorated with morocco).

The floor can be covered with a laminate or parquet board, both light and dark shades, and parquet with an unusual ornament of geometric shapes or straight lines with a circle and a triangle between them, as well as elements in the form of a sun and zigzags, can also be used. revetted with natural stone or marble, covered with wicker carpets in the style of cubists of the early 20th century.
The ceiling can be stretched silk or painted. Doors are usually dark (mahogany) wood with chrome handles.


Window frames can be wooden and metal, they are often left open or covered with translucent draperies made of lightweight fabric. Art Deco is characterized by large windows and an abundance of sunlight. Lighting in Art Deco plays an important role. It is soft, most often with the use of frosted glass, sometimes stained glass. All kinds of lamps and lamps, floor lamps and chandeliers in the form of a bowl with a large number of horns shine into the ceiling, from which the lighting is never direct, but diffused. Light sources are arranged symmetrically around the room and, more often, in pairs.
The furniture is characterized by a combination of several geometric shapes in one object (circle, oval, rectangle). A mixture of different materials is used for the manufacture of furniture: aluminum, stainless steel, glass, ivory, leather, enamel, plastic, natural wood (preferably light). The wooden parts are covered with carvings in the Empire style or oriental ornaments with floral elements.

Velvet is used as an upholstery material, but leather is more often used: it is used to trim not only soft, but also cabinet furniture.

One of the paradoxes of the Art Deco style is the combination of chrome details (handles, legs, armrests) with bamboo, coconut and other natural materials. Also, Art Deco furniture is characterized by an abundance of glass surfaces, leather, metal and forged fences.

It is desirable that the decorative pattern on the furniture be in harmony with the patterns of the walls of the room. The main highlight lies in the silhouette - the curved backs of the chairs are combined with the graceful contours of tables and cabinets, the smooth curves of the sofas are enlivened by shiny chrome coverings. It was to this style that the first streamlined chairs and armchairs from steel tubes were created. The bar, lined with mirrors, looks very impressive - the bohemian style of Art Deco.

Art Deco accessories are expensive and luxurious: ceramic vases, porcelain, stone and glass figurines, crystal chandeliers, Bohemian crystal sets, bamboo fans, forged candlesticks, forged lattices and furniture parts, heavy frames for mirrors and paintings, bronze and glass accessories, fountains, podiums. Match perfectly with marble countertops and rich velvet drapes. Also, the interior is decorated with chic tablecloths, carpets and a great variety of pillows on sofas and armchairs, various lampshades and panels on the walls.

A bathroom in the Art Deco style presupposes an abundance of steel, marble, glass in it.

The walls are preferably glossy, ivory with ethnic black or brown zigzags, leopard patterns or snakeskin imitation - ceramics are the most suitable material for this. It can be embossed and depict abstract but repetitive patterns. Geometric mosaic will fit perfectly into this style.

The floor should amaze with its monumentality and originality: large black and white marble tiles, rectangular and freeform, are laid with intricate geometric patterns. Checkerboard floor in a room made of ceramic black and white tiles.

The ceiling in the bathroom should not be burdened with dramatic black patterns: embossed tiles with geometric patterns, light but not glossy, are a worthy solution.

The painted light ceiling can be taken into the original frame - a ceiling cornice with an ornament that matches the pattern on the walls. Even a simple painted ceiling can be effectively decorated with a chandelier in stainless or chrome-plated steel.

Of course, an Art Deco bathroom should be equipped with special fixtures and the main requirement for it is convenience and modern innovations.

A massive, streamlined steel or acrylic bathtub with curved lines is the best option.
A matching bathroom sink with comfortable rounded corners.

The octagonal shape of a bidet or toilet is a symbolic distinction of the style.
Faucets, taps, shower hose should ideally be made of stainless or chrome-plated steel.
A real Art Deco bathroom presupposes the presence of monumental furniture in it, but graceful due to the abundance of glass and metal.

Shiny steel shelves are a sophisticated decoration for the bathroom.

A solid wardrobe, striking in its width or height - this is already as the size of the room will allow. Its color is dark or the same ivory: it all depends on the wishes of the owner. For example, a table. Bordeaux, cream or gold are also Art Deco favorites.

Few but impressive accessories set the style well.

A small abstract sculpture looks spectacular in such a bathroom.

Luxurious, but proportionate to the room, a sparkling chandelier in metal will decorate the ceiling.
Geometric wall lamps are arranged symmetrically.

Art Deco style is not for everyone, wealthy people choose it, because interior decoration in this style is a pleasure that requires significant financial investments. But if you want to live in luxury that does not immediately open to the viewer, but through the means of subtle but precise hints and accents, then Art Deco is exactly your style of interior.

The continuation of the review on interior styles follows ...

Certificate of publication No. 29354
When reprinting and citing an article, an indication of the author and an active link to the page are required!

The continuation of the review on interior styles follows ...


Thanks to me and the sources for the information.
Sincerely yours, Tatiana Antonchenko