comScore
CASACOR
CASACOR Explains

Art Deco: what it is and how it manifests in decoration

How to incorporate this striking and sophisticated style into your home with noble materials, geometric patterns, and vibrant colors

By CASACOR Publisher

Submitted at Apr 2, 2025, 8:00 AM

08 min de leitura
Art Deco: what it is and how it manifests in decoration
The Art Déco is one of the most striking artistic and architectural movements of the 20th century. This style emerged between the 1920s and 1930s and symbolizes modernity, luxury, and sophistication, reflecting the optimism and cultural effervescence of the period. With influences ranging from futurism to Egyptian art, Art Déco stands out for its geometric lines, stylized forms, and a bold color palette. Even with the passing decades, this style continues to be a reference of refinement in interior decoration. Whether in subtle details or in grand projects, Art Déco has the power to transform projects, creating sophisticated and timeless spaces.

What characterizes the Art Déco style?


The Art Déco is a style that emphasizes elegance and glamour, being characterized by well-defined geometric shapes, straight lines, and stylized curves. Its influence can be seen in various artistic manifestations, including architecture, interior design, fashion, and the visual arts. Some of the main characteristics of this style include: Geometry and symmetry: elements such as zigzags, stripes, chevrons, and trapezoidal shapes are widely used. Sophisticated materials: the use of chrome metals, mirrors, glass, and shiny surfaces is present in furniture and decorative details. Exuberant ornamentation: unlike modern minimalism, Art Déco values richness in details, from golden finishes to artistic engravings on walls and ceilings. Varied influences: the style incorporates elements inspired by Egyptian art, futurism, nature, and industrial mechanization.

How to bring elements to contemporary decoration


Adopting Art Déco in contemporary decoration can be an excellent way to impart refinement and personality to projects, combining the timeless charm of this style with modern trends. With its bold geometric lines, luxurious details, and vibrant colors, the style creates a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere that can transform any space. To efficiently incorporate this style into contemporary decoration, some strategies can be utilized to maintain the balance between the classic and the modern:

Furniture with retro design and geometric lines


Opting for furniture that mixes the elegance of the past with a contemporary touch is essential to ensure the Art Déco style without overdoing it. Pieces with mirrored, metallic finishes, or in noble woods such as ebony or oak help create the desired atmosphere. Sofas and armchairs with geometric shapes, such as straight lines and symmetrical curves, along with details like golden or chrome trims, contribute to the retro-futuristic touch of the style. The colors of the upholstery can vary between sober tones like black, gray, and blue, to luxurious finishes like velvets or textured leathers.

Sophisticated lighting


The lighting is a key element to creating the sense of sophistication characteristic of Art Déco. Crystal chandeliers, pendants with geometric shapes, wall sconces with golden details, and metal lamps with shiny finishes are essential items. An indirect lighting, such as hidden LED strips, can be combined with more dramatic light sources, creating contrasts and highlighting the textures and shapes of furniture and decorative objects. The use of iconic lighting pieces, such as those with colored glass details or finishes in chrome and gold, can bring a touch of luxury to the project.

Wallpapers and textures


Wallpapers and coverings are an excellent way to insert the Art Déco style in an impactful manner into the decoration. Symmetrical geometric patterns, such as chevrons, vertical stripes, and diagonal shapes, along with vibrant colors like gold, black, silver, red, and blue create a bold and luxurious atmosphere. Textures also play an important role, using fabrics with metallic prints, embossed details, and finishes that imitate materials like marble or lacquer. Wallpapers, combined with other textures, help create a visually rich space without losing harmony.

Mirrors and metallic details


Reflective surfaces, such as mirrors with elaborate frames or mirrors with geometric shapes, are classics of Art Déco and serve to visually enlarge the projects, in addition to reinforcing the sense of sophistication and glamour. Mirrors with finishes in gold, silver, or copper, or those with artistic and symmetrical outlines, serve as true works of art. The presence of metallic details, such as accessories in gold, bronze, or chrome, can be incorporated into coffee tables, sideboards, and shelves, creating a subtle contrast between modern and classic.

Combining with contemporary elements


To ensure that the Art Déco style fits perfectly in contemporary decoration, it is important to balance the elements of this style with more minimalist and contemporary pieces. The trick is to avoid exaggeration and maintain harmony. In summary, Art Déco can be an extremely versatile style when adapted to contemporary design, as it offers a great opportunity to explore the mix of materials, colors, and shapes, creating projects that exude luxury and modernity at the same time. The secret is to adopt these elements in a balanced way, ensuring that the space does not feel overloaded but instead elegant and functional.

Materials, colors, and iconic patterns


The materials used in Art Déco are fundamental to defining its visual identity. Luxury and shine are striking characteristics, and the choice of materials should reflect this essence. Materials: Chrome metals, bronze, glass, mirrors, lacquer, leather, and exotic woods are widely used. Colors: The palette includes shades of black, gold, silver, navy blue, emerald green, burgundy, and beige, creating an elegant and dramatic contrast. Patterns: Geometric prints, arabesques, chevrons, sun rays, and shapes inspired by Egyptian and Mayan architecture are among the most common patterns. These combined elements create a striking and harmonious visual effect, characteristic of the Art Déco style.

Inspiration for sophisticated projects


CASACOR Publisher is an exclusive content creator, developed by the CASACOR Technology team based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.