Interior design trends come and go all the time. When you are putting together a new home or giving your current home a refresh, sometimes it can be hard to know what’s currently fashionable and what isn’t.
Trends are cyclical. They will appear and remain popular for a while, fade away, and then come back around again. If you’re painting the walls, laying a wood floor or visiting a sofa sectional sale, it’s important that you are aware of what trends are currently in vogue. Has one of the world’s most famous styles, art deco, made a 2023 return to interior design? Let’s find out.
What is Art Deco?
Art deco is a shortened form of the French term arts decoratifs. It is an art movement that originated in France in the 1910s, quickly spreading across Europe and the US throughout the next two decades.
The principle of art deco is a combination of both modernity and luxury. Modern design is fused with expensive, luxurious materials, creating a sense of forward-thinking opulence and grandeur. In the early days of the movement, this included precious gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. However, after the Great Depression, the style became more reserved, instead using less expensive but still modern materials such as steel and plastic.
The goal of art deco is to combine design and function. At first, this was seen most commonly in architecture and product design, with buildings and their contents adopting art deco stylistic practices. However, as the movement spread, art deco’s influence could be seen everywhere, including on clothing, jewellery, and even vehicles.
Art Deco in Interior Design
As we touched on earlier, art deco was incredibly popular in the design of buildings and their interiors. Perhaps the two most famous examples of architectural interior design are the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building in New York City.
Art deco interior design embraces colour and shape, using these in playful, interesting ways to create striking visual arrangements. Think of it as the polar opposite of stripped-back styles like minimalism. Art deco is loud, bold, and often brash.
Art deco can influence every element of interior design, including furniture, wallpaper, and accessories. Expect to see unique colour combinations, complex patterns and geometric shapes, stylised curves, and jagged edges.
Has Art Deco Made a Return?
In recent years, interior design has been largely defined by ideas of neutrality and minimalism. Neutral tones like whites, creams, and greys have been the standard, and people have generally prioritised form over function.
However, in what can be seen as a direct response to this, art deco is enjoying something of a resurgence. People are tired of overly-neutral homes, which can appear a bit lifeless and even boring. As a result, more and more people are choosing to incorporate art deco stylistic principles in their interior design choices. This could mean entire home renovations that fully embrace the art deco philosophy or a subtle nod to this timeless style through a carefully selected piece of furniture.
Conclusion
For an art movement that is over 100 years old, art deco still looks incredibly modern. We can expect to see it become more popular among interior designers throughout 2023.
