Art Deco Interiors: How to Bring Opulence into Your Home

Art Deco remains one of the most striking and elegant design styles to grace interiors. It’s synonymous with luxury, elegance, and bold design, and its distinctive style brings a sense of drama and sophistication to interiors. If you’re looking to introduce a touch of opulence into your home, Art Deco offers the perfect inspiration.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through how to bring this glamorous style to life, focusing on key elements that create a balanced and striking look.

What defines Art Deco style?

Art Deco is a decorative style that emerged in the early 20th century and reached its height during the 1920s and 1930s. It was born out of a desire to embrace modernity while celebrating craftsmanship and luxury, a reaction to both the austerity of World War I and the fluid, organic forms of Art Nouveau. The style was first showcased internationally at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris - hence the name ‘Art Deco’.

It drew on a wide range of influences, including the geometry of Cubism, the elegance of classical architecture, the grandeur of ancient Egypt, and the streamlined efficiency of industrial design. As a result, Art Deco became a global phenomenon, shaping the design of buildings, furniture, jewellery, transport, and interiors across the world.

In terms of interior design, Art Deco is defined by bold geometry, symmetry, and a love of rich materials and finishes. The aesthetic is unapologetically lavish - glossy wood veneers, chrome, brass, lacquer, marble, and mirrored surfaces are all typical in this style. Furnishings often feature strong silhouettes with stepped forms, sweeping curves or sharp angles. Ornamentation is stylised and deliberate, often featuring motifs such as chevrons, sunbursts, zigzags, and stylised florals. Colour palettes can be either high-contrast - think black and gold, or ivory and navy - or more muted and moody, with deep greens, burgundies, and inky blues paired with metallic accents.

How to incorporate Art Deco into your home

Art Deco design is meticulously composed, with an emphasis on balance and proportion. While the overall look is decorative and glamorous, it should never feel excessive or cluttered. Every piece has purpose, and every detail contributes to the sense of drama and sophistication that defines the style.

Incorporating this approach into your home is all about thoughtful choices, such as introducing luxurious materials, clean lines, and considered detailing that nod to the era’s bold aesthetic while complementing modern living.

Statement furniture

Statement furniture is at the heart of an Art Deco interior. Pieces are designed to stand out, often featuring bold silhouettes, rich materials, and decorative detailing. Think sweeping curves, stepped edges, and strong geometric forms, all hallmarks of the style. Lacquered finishes, glossy woods, and inlays of metal or glass will add visual interest and a sense of luxury.

Rather than filling a room with lots of pieces, Art Deco interior design favours fewer, well-chosen items that anchor the space. For example, you could opt for a curved velvet sofa, a high-gloss sideboard with chrome detailing, or perhaps a cocktail cabinet with mirrored panels to serve as a focal point. The key is to balance drama with elegance, choosing furniture that feels sculptural yet functional and that contributes to the overall harmony of the room.

Luxurious materials and finishes

The materials and finishes you choose should reflect the glamour of the era. Surfaces should feel rich and tactile - glossy wood veneers, lacquered cabinetry, marble, polished metal, mirrored glass, and high-quality upholstery fabrics like velvet or leather will all help set the tone. These materials work best when used with intent, to create contrast and layering that feel deliberate rather than overwhelming.

You can incorporate these finishes into everyday elements to elevate the space. For example, you could opt for a sideboard in high-gloss walnut, a coffee table with a marble top and brass legs, or bespoke joinery with chrome inlays. Even small touches, such as mirrored panels in alcoves or velvet upholstery on dining chairs, can lend a subtle sense of opulence.

Symmetery and geometry

Symmetry and geometry are essential to achieving an authentic Art Deco look, and they can be introduced into the home in subtle yet effective ways. Art Deco interiors are known for their balanced compositions - furniture and architectural elements will be arranged in harmonious, often mirrored layouts. This can be as simple as placing matching armchairs on either side of a fireplace, using twin bedside tables and lamps, or aligning cabinetry and shelving to create visual order.

Geometric forms also play a central role. Look for shapes like zigzags, chevrons, stepped patterns, and sunbursts to incorporate around the space. These can be introduced through flooring, wall panelling, or joinery detailing, as well as in smaller touches such as cushions, rugs, or decorative accessories. Bespoke fitted furniture with angular profiles or patterned inlays is a particularly effective way to weave Art Deco geometry into the fabric of your home, adding clean lines and a bold, structured aesthetic.

Elegant decorative elements

Elegant decorative elements will bring warmth and personality to an Art Deco-inspired home. While the style is rooted in structure and symmetry, it also embraces refined ornamentation that adds texture and visual interest. These details should feel curated and considered, rather than purely decorative.

You can incorporate stylised motifs such as fans, feathers, sunbursts or stepped forms through lighting, mirrors, and metalwork. For example, a sculptural brass light fitting, a mirror with a bold geometric frame, or door handles with intricate detailing can all nod to the era without overpowering the space. Materials like chrome, crystal, and smoked glass can enhance the overall sense of glamour, whilst keeping the aesthetic clean and polished. These elements work best when they echo the geometry and materials already in the space, as this will help to create cohesion.

Glamourous colour palettes

Glamorous colour palettes are a defining feature of Art Deco interiors and an effective way to bring the style into your home. The key is to combine rich, sophisticated tones with high-contrast accents that add drama and depth. Classic Art Deco combinations include black and gold, cream and navy, or deep green paired with polished brass or warm walnut. These colours evoke a sense of luxury without feeling overbearing.

To introduce this into your space, you could consider anchoring a room with a bold, dark shade on the walls or cabinetry, such as charcoal, bottle green or aubergine, and then balancing it with lighter tones or reflective surfaces. Upholstery in jewel tones such as sapphire, emerald or ruby can add richness, whilst metallic finishes in gold, chrome or bronze will bring that signature Art Deco gleam.

For a softer take, you could opt for muted blush, soft ivory or warm taupe, layered with mirrored or lacquered finishes to maintain that polished feel. Whatever palette you choose, aim for contrast and cohesion, using colour to highlight architectural features, accentuate symmetry, and draw the eye to key focal points in the room.

Bring Art Deco elegance to your home

If you’re ready to introduce the timeless glamour of Art Deco into your living space, Kingswood can help you create bespoke furniture and joinery that perfectly captures the style’s bold geometry and luxurious finishes. Our handcrafted creations are designed to bring balance, sophistication, and a sense of theatre to your interiors, and are tailored precisely to your home.

Contact us to start your journey towards an opulent Art Deco-inspired interior.