Beginners guide to Art Deco!

3 min read

We're going backwards. We spent so long fixating on mid-century interiors that it only makes sense to take a few more steps back in time. Now we're entering the Modern Art Deco era. If you haven't noticed, then you probably haven't been paying attention. Easy to miss, but Art Deco is all around us! Paris now has some of the most exciting Art Deco boutique hotels like the Bachaumont and Hotel Vernet (read about them here) and the style extends to fabrics, wallpaper and accessories for your home launched by virtually everyone on the high street and online.

Even if you don't necessarily like art-deco as a style, I feel that once you see how you can incorporate it in your home, with the photos below, you will start warming to it! So let's find out how to nail the Art-deco trend, in 5 easy steps, this is totally for beginners - LIKE ME!

1/ The Wallpaper

By far the easiest way to add some 30s glamour in our home is to incorporate art-deco motifs with wallpaper. Here are my favourite prints and surprise surprise, they're all colourful because #SeasonsinColour. This year Osborne & Little have produced some amazing patterns, followed by Farrow & Ball and of course Liberty.

Photo left; Photo right

Clockwise: Osborne and Little Chrysler; Harlequin, Deco; Ianthe Flower by Liberty, Osborne & Little Astoria; Osborne & Little Fantasque, Voysey by Graham & Brown in Turquoise.

2/ Colours

Art deco colours are intense, almost jewel like (but not always! Sometimes they are pale or moody). The style is meant to be decadent, glamorous. Think Gatsby and Hollywood stars - would they go for plain black and white? Not unless there was gold involved too! So, ruby red, emerald green and sapphire blue all help nail the vibe of that era. Black and gold is a winner combination.

3/ Furniture

Art deco first emerged in France after WWI and shows influence from French, Egyptian and Mediterranean cultures with strong reference to bold geometrical patterns. When it comes to furniture, there's a particular appeal to shiny sculpted surfaces. Glossy lacquer sideboards, colourful club chairs, they're all relevant but they also need to tell a story of cosmopolitan lifestyle. So team up your cocktail chairs with a round drinks trolley, where you can store objects from your trips alongside your glassware.

Cocktail chairs covered in KORLA fabric, Notonthehighstreet.com; Round drinks trolley in faux bamboo, Oliver Bonas.

1 Art Deco Chair, 1stDibs| 2 and 3 Christiane Lemieux plate and vase for House of Fraser | 4 Milo Baughman chairs 1stDibs |5 Sideboard with geometric pattern Christiane Lemieux for House of Fraser.

4/ Mirrors

Seriously, is there something more recognisable than art deco mirrors? They come in all sizes and shapes and can be bevelled or with frame. Place them on your vanity table or over your bed.

Caesar's round mirror and Imperial Antera mirror both Achica | Diamond silver mirror Amara | Art deco mirror Wayfair | Oliver Bonas mirror in marble stand | Precious wall mirror in gold via John Lewis

5/ Accessories

Bedding? Check. Crockery? Check. Lighting? Check. The list could go on. This year all the top names have launched art deco lines, including fashion brand H&M (see below)! And, some more exciting news? Amara are also launching a range of home accessories with an art-deco feel. They will be available in Autumn '16 so watch this space!