How to Decorate in Art Deco Style: 6 Ways for a Great Gatsby House

Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

You’ve got to love Gatsby. Gatsby is a man who believes in love, who knows how to love unconditionally to the point of remain detached. You’ve got to love Gatsby as well as you’ve got to love his home: an impressive and airy 1920s villa that leaves breathless.

Personally, I’m mad about the style of those years, from dresses to furnishes, I love everything, but just about everything. Of course, I understand that a fully furnished Art Déco style house may be overwhelming and opulent, but some elements, if correctly placed, can create pleasant contrasts and giving sparkle to the interior.

But what is Art Deco?

Art Deco is a style of visual art born in Paris between the two World Wars and subsequently developed in America, particularly in the United States. It influenced all fields of art: design, painting, architecture and fashion, reforming them aesthetically. Its main features? Marked geometric lines, zigzag or chessboard shapes and the use of materials such as aluminum, wood or stainless steel.
Strongly and deliberately excessive, this style was born to counteract the austerity imposed in the years of World War I.
If you can not imagine it, think about Vivienne Westwood (she loves it and often get inspired by Art Deco, so much that even her house is designed in this style).

So how do you put some elements of this artistic movement into your house to give it a glam and nonconformist touch, without making it at the same time tacky?

Here are some tips to decorate your home in Art Deco style:

o1. Use Mirrors

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Mirrors, mirrors and mirrors. It’s good for those who are part of a console, and those that hang on the wall. Better if equipped with special or fan shapes. Placed in the right places will light up your house, making it look wider.

o2. Focus on black and white

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The contrast between black and white is a must of Art Déco style. Classic, sophisticated and timeless it fits perfectly in any space, even in the most modern one.

o3. Furnish with wood

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Choose soft shapes and sinuous wooden lines. Whether it’s a chair, armchair or closet, it does not matter: choose this material. Better if it’s ebony or teak. Tip: Do not overdo, focus on one element ,or two, to give a vintage and sophisticated touch to your house.

o4. Use geometric patterns

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Decorate your walls, pillows, or any of your textiles with geometric patterns like lines, circles, rays or zigzag shapes.

o5. Brush the surfaces

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Art Deco is light. For this reason the surfaces must shine. As finishes choose gloss wood, lacquered and laminated, smooth marble or brilliant resins. Everything has to shine, glitter, dazzle (everything but not everything at all… use always the rule of parsimony).

o6. Use the ethnic style

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Traveling became very popular between the 1920s and the 30s of the last century. To demonstrate their peregrinations, the owners returned home, usually from Africa or Egypt, with furnishings or souvenirs from the places they had visited. If you’ve always wanted to put some element in ethnic style, but you have never had the courage, know that it fully respects the Art Deco style.

Even though I was not aware until now, I have some Art Deco elements in my house. And you?