The Art Deco period was full of decadence – picture the roaring 20s and the scene of The Great Gatsby’s famous house parties where champagne was always flowing. This design style was not only popular in the 1920s and 1930s, but it’s an interior design style that is still heavily utilized by designers today. If you’re looking to incorporate an Art Deco flare into your own home, one of the best places to start is your bedroom or even a guest bedroom. Who doesn’t want to show off their passion for design and wow their guests with an extravagant but surprisingly easy to pull together room? We’ll explore just that in the remainder of this post. By the end of it, you’ll know exactly how to create the Art Deco bedroom of your dreams.
What is Art Deco, and what are Art Deco design elements?
First, it might be helpful to ground ourselves in Art Deco design and its place in history. It became popular after being showcased at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, France where emerging styles were arising as the world looked towards the new, modern century. The style, which encompasses not just interior design but also Art Deco architecture, furniture, glass, jewelry, and other decorative arts, is defined by its bold colors, geometric shapes, and luxe materials including velvet, marble, and brass. You should be warned that this is not a style for the minimalist at heart. The Art Deco aesthetic is a glam and elegant home decor style.
Top Art-Deco-inspired designs for your bedroom and other rooms
While redesigning your bedroom, living room, or really any other area in your home can feel like a major overhaul, these upgrades will make you feel like an interior designer in no time. The best part? Most are relatively easy and will allow you to bring an Art Deco interior into your home with even just one or two simple changes.
Headboard: An easy way to bring the Art Deco style into your bedroom is a dramatic headboard. Headboards — particularly if you opt for a sumptuous upholstery like velvet or animal print — require little design overhaul or installation and can quickly but surely add a luxury hotel feel to your master bedroom. And you won’t even need to consult an interior designer.
Chandelier: An Art Deco chandelier is one that gives off the most glamorous vibes. Picture shiny metals and bold geometric patterns fit for parties in New York City. It immediately creates a sense of opulence. While you can certainly add this design to any room in your house, wouldn’t it be perfect for a dining room – talk about a wow factor when you have guests over for a dinner party!
Sunburst mirror: The sunburst mirror’s history actually predates the Art Deco style but it made a comeback in the mid-to-early 19th century. Today, they are seen as both whimsical and elegant, which is why they’re so easy to use almost anywhere in your home. You can add a sunburst mirror to your entryway, over a bed, or even over a mantel.
Sconces: A pair of sconces on either side of a bed is a sure way to signal you are a design expert. The small light fixtures not only create a cohesive look, but they serve a very functional purpose, especially if you don’t have room for matching table lamps on either side of your bed. Add some traditional art above your bed and sconces on either side to create a tailored look. There are so many options when it comes to sconces that you will have no trouble finding the lights of your dreams. Some sconces certainly require the handiwork of an electrician, but now there are sconces available that simply plug into the wall. DIYer’s dream, right?
Paint or Peel and Stick Wallpaper: Painting your bedroom walls can feel like a job for the professionals only. However, you can easily select a new color palette and spend the weekend making your dream bedroom design come to life through paint colors. If painting your walls doesn’t feel like it’s for you (we get it!). There’s always the option of peel and stick wallpaper, which is less permanent but just as satisfying.
Area rug: Since the Art Deco look is all about patterns and luxury, a black and white area rug is a must-have piece bedroom accessory. While your bed is of course always going to be the focal point of your bedroom, a rug can help elevate your space. Plus, who doesn’t love a design tip that requires zero installation?
Lacquer: lacquered furniture has a shiny look and feel to it. When used on top of a bright color, it suddenly becomes a statement piece. One of our favorite ways to incorporate lacquer into your bedroom is to have two matched lacquered-like bedside tables. Remember the black and white area rug mentioned above? Well, The Inside’s bright red Campaign Chest is the perfect match to pair with those geometric shapes.
Other bedroom and design ideas:
We hope this post has inspired you with new design ideas and shown you how easy it can be to incorporate the iconic Art Deco look into your bedroom furniture and decor. But if you aren’t ready to take this leap just yet, simply add some navy velvet throw pillows to your existing bed or couch or look for an Art Deco-inspired coffee table and fill the top of it with your favorite books. Creating the home you love doesn’t happen overnight, so we encourage you to take the time you need to really find the pieces that bring you joy.
Our list of Art Deco inspired bedroom design ideas could go on and on – if this overview of quick design tips and overhauls doesn’t satisfy your Art Deco craving, be sure to check out our design history post on Art Deco vs. Modernism. It may even inspire you to incorporate some mid-century modern designs into your home!