What is the art deco style?
Art deco is an interior style from the 1920s and 1930s in which geometry, symmetry, sheen and finely worked materials come together. The style is recognised by its carefully balanced contrasts, graphic forms and decorative details such as metal, mirrored glass, stone and rich textiles. In a modern home, art deco works best when a few distinct elements carry the expression rather than every surface competing.
Which art deco products are most typical?
Typical choices are lighting with sculptural form, geometric wallpapers, dark woods and furniture with pronounced silhouettes. Avant Wall Light Large, Delaunay sideboard and Apex Grand Wallpaper show three different routes into the style: light, furniture and pattern. Together they create a distinct yet balanced art deco setting. Also consider how the object meets the room's existing architecture, since doors, mouldings, ceiling height and daylight affect how strongly the expression is felt.
Where do art deco interiors work best?
Art deco works particularly well in living rooms, dining rooms, hallways and bedrooms where lighting, textiles and materials are allowed to shine. In smaller rooms, a mirror, wall light or patterned wallpaper may be enough. In larger rooms you can work in several layers: rug, sideboard, ceiling light and decorative objects. The key is to let the materials recur without everything matching exactly.
How do you choose the right art deco furnishings?
Start with the room's proportions and then choose a main idea: a geometric pattern, sculptural lighting or a piece of furniture with a distinct silhouette. Then add two or three materials that recur, for example brass, dark wood and velvet. Always compare scale and light in the room before deciding, especially for larger lamps, rugs and wallpapers.
What separates well-made art deco furnishings from decoration?
Well-made art deco furnishings are built on material, proportion and function, not just on motifs such as fans or gold details. A good piece of furniture has a well-considered construction, a lamp provides both usable light and form, and a wallpaper has a repeat that works across the whole wall. When the quality sits in the object itself, the expression becomes calmer and more enduring over time.
Can I get help choosing art deco furnishings?
Yes. Start with the visualisation on the product page when logged in to assess scale and colour. You can then visit the showroom at Sturegatan 20 in Stockholm, bringing measurements, photos and material samples. There you can compare lighting, furniture, wallpapers and rugs and get help building a cohesive setting.
Art deco as a modern interior style
Art deco emerged at a time when craftsmanship, industry and international influences met. The design language could be strictly geometric or more exotic, but almost always with a feel for rhythm and precision. In today's home there is no need to recreate an entire 1920s room. It is often enough to let a few objects carry the style and then surround them with calmer surfaces.
A good first step is to choose a category. The art deco lighting page holds the largest cohesive sub-selection. There you can compare wall lights, ceiling lights and smaller fittings. For furniture and textiles, continue to furniture, fabrics and rugs.
Lighting shapes the room
Art deco lighting often works with metal, glass and sharp or softly rounded forms. Avant Ceiling Light Large provides a clear centrepiece, while Utopia Wall Light Small and Halcyon Wall Light build a more understated layer along the walls. A combination of ceiling and wall light means the sheen and texture of the materials remain visible in the evening, too.
In a living room, a table lamp such as Ring Table Lamp Small can be the smaller detail that ties together side table, textile and art. In a dining room, Liaison Ceiling Light Double Tier or Melange Flush Mount Large can lend a stronger architectural presence. See more options under lighting.
Patterns, wallpapers and textiles
Geometric wallpapers are a natural part of the style. Apex Grand Wallpaper has a clear graphic rhythm, while Delano Wallpaper and Deco Palm Wallpaper show softer and more decorative routes. On Cole & Son wallpapers you will find more wallpaper patterns that can be combined with art deco furniture and lighting.
The textiles should add depth rather than repeat every form. Velvet, silk-like finishes and dense weaves work beautifully against metal and wood. Use a larger rug to gather the furniture; Brittfurn Persian Rug Art Deco shows how ornament and colour can give the room weight without feeling overloaded.
Furniture and details with a distinct silhouette
An art deco piece need not be large, but it should have a clear form. Delaunay sideboard works as both storage and visual anchor. Stratus Dining Chair offers a slimmer direction, while Archer Bookends can bring the style into the bookcase without changing the whole room. Also explore Jonathan Charles, Kelly Wearstler and Aerin for different interpretations of material and proportion.
In the hallway, a mirror, console and wall light can create a complete composition in a small space. In the bedroom, a smaller lamp, a graphic pattern and soft textiles often work better than many decorative objects. See separate selections for hallway, bedroom, dining room and living room.
How to make the whole hold together
Let a form or a material recur two or three times. A round mirror can be supported by a circular ceiling light and a table with softly rounded corners. A brass detail can reappear in a lamp base and hardware, but need not be everywhere. Contrasts make the style more alive: glossy against matt, light against dark and geometric against soft.
For a more personal solution, read about bespoke and get help with measurements, textiles or furnishing. On the brands page you can also compare designers and makers before deciding which direction suits your home best.
Materials that add depth without becoming showy
Art deco is often associated with sheen, but a well-balanced room also needs matt surfaces. Let polished metal meet wool, dark wood meet a silk-like finish and a glossy lamp stand against a wallpaper with a drier print, for example. When the materials vary in lustre, the room becomes more nuanced and the objects easier to read.
A larger piece of furniture or rug should serve as the visual foundation, while smaller objects can carry the same design language further. This lets you develop the style over time without replacing the whole interior. Start with the category the room lacks most and let the next choice respond to it.
Measuring and placement before ordering
Mark out the dimensions of larger furniture and rugs on the floor with tape. For ceiling lights, check both the height of the fitting and the distance to tables, walkways or furniture. Wall lights need to be positioned in relation to eye level, mirrors and doors. This practical planning allows the decorative forms to work without disrupting everyday life.
