Some interior styles become outdated with time. Others keep returning in new forms. Art Deco belongs to the second category.
Recognised for its geometric patterns, rich colours, polished surfaces and sense of luxury, Art Deco emerged in Europe during the early 20th century and became one of the defining design movements of the 1920s and 1930s. Almost a century later, its influence can still be seen in contemporary homes, boutique hotels, restaurants, offices and high-end retail spaces.
But today's Art Deco is not about recreating a 1920s room exactly. Modern interiors are borrowing its strongest ideas—geometry, symmetry, contrast, statement lighting and sophisticated materials—and adapting them to spaces that need to be comfortable and practical.
So, what exactly is Art Deco interior style, and why is it becoming relevant again?
Art Deco is an interior and design style built around geometric forms, symmetry, ornamentation, rich materials and visual drama.
The name comes from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris. According to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition attracted more than 16 million visitors during its seven-month run, helping establish Art Deco as an internationally influential design language.
The movement developed after World War I, during a period when designers were interested in combining modern technology with traditional craftsmanship. The result was a style that could feel both modern and luxurious.
Unlike minimalist interiors that try to make decoration disappear, Art Deco makes decoration part of the experience.
Think:
The Metropolitan Museum describes Art Deco as a style associated with sleek modernity, elegance and refinement, while also highlighting its use of exquisite craftsmanship and costly materials.
If there is one feature that immediately makes an interior feel Art Deco, it is geometry.
Circles, triangles, chevrons, stepped forms, arches, fan shapes and repeated linear patterns are common. These shapes can appear in furniture, flooring, lighting, partitions or wall treatments.
However, modern Art Deco does not require every surface to have a pattern. A single geometric feature wall can often create the desired effect without making the room feel excessive.
This is particularly useful in Indian homes where living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas may need to perform multiple functions.
Art Deco interiors often feel organised because of their deliberate symmetry.
A large artwork positioned between two wall lights, matching side tables beside a sofa or a centrally positioned pendant light can immediately introduce this quality.
The objective isn't perfect uniformity. Instead, symmetry gives the room a sense of balance and intentionality.
Traditional Art Deco interiors were comfortable using strong colours.
Black and gold are perhaps the most recognisable combination, but contemporary versions can explore emerald green, deep blue, burgundy, charcoal, cream and warm brown.
This approach also connects with the broader movement toward more expressive interiors. Houzz's 2025 Emerging Summer Trends Report found that searches for colour drenching increased fourfold, while searches for cool and warm colour schemes also increased significantly.
That does not mean every colourful room is Art Deco. But it shows why the style's confidence with colour feels particularly relevant today.
Art Deco is not simply about painting a wall dark green and adding gold handles.
Material selection is crucial.
Traditional examples used materials such as lacquer, exotic woods, metal, glass and other highly finished surfaces. The Met's research on French Art Deco highlights the movement's emphasis on craftsmanship and materials ranging from exotic woods to lacquer and ceramics.
For a modern home, the same visual language can be recreated more practically through:
This is where Art Deco can work particularly well with contemporary wall finishes.
Art Deco itself is not a brand-new trend. It is a historic design movement experiencing periodic revivals.
What is interesting today is that several current interior trends overlap strongly with Art Deco principles.
The latest Houzz 2026 Emerging Summer Trends Report reports growing interest in tactile environments, curved forms, warm colour palettes and more expressive spaces. Searches for scalloped tile increased more than three times, while searches for arched range hoods increased by 177% and rounded kitchen islands by 123%.
These aren't exclusively Art Deco trends, but they demonstrate a move away from rigid, overly minimal interiors toward stronger shapes and more character.
Houzz's 2026 Fall Design Trends Report also points toward a continued shift away from stark white-and-grey spaces, with designers seeing greater interest in warm wood tones, earthy colours, layered textures and natural materials.
This is important because contemporary Art Deco works best when it is not treated as a historical replica.
Instead, designers can borrow its vocabulary and combine it with today's preferences.
For Indian homes, Art Deco can be particularly interesting because it sits comfortably between traditional richness and contemporary design.
A compact apartment does not need an enormous chandelier, elaborate furniture or an entirely black-and-gold colour scheme.
A more practical interpretation could involve a neutral base with one dark accent wall, brass detailing, geometric wall panels and warm lighting.
In a living room, for example, a geometric feature wall behind the television or sofa can become the focal point. In a bedroom, a vertically patterned wall treatment behind the bed can create symmetry without consuming floor space.
For dining areas, fluted panels, curved furniture and a sculptural pendant can introduce the Art Deco influence without making the room look theatrical.
This approach is especially useful for homeowners who want their interiors to feel premium and distinctive without becoming visually crowded.
Walls are one of the easiest places to introduce Art Deco because the style relies heavily on pattern, symmetry and texture.
Instead of covering every wall with decoration, designers can use one statement surface and keep the surrounding walls relatively restrained.
PVC panels, textured finishes and other contemporary wall treatments can help translate classic Art Deco ideas into modern homes. Geometric layouts, fluted textures, metallic detailing and carefully framed sections can create depth while remaining easier to maintain than some traditional decorative treatments.
For Wallfabrica, this is where the style becomes particularly interesting: Art Deco doesn't have to mean old-fashioned luxury. It can become a contemporary wall-design language.
Art Deco works best for homeowners who want interiors with personality.
It is a good choice if you enjoy:
However, restraint is important.
Using geometric patterns on every wall, several metallic finishes, heavily decorated furniture and multiple bold colours at once can quickly make a room feel overwhelming.
A better approach is to choose one or two defining Art Deco elements and allow the rest of the room to support them.
The biggest lesson from Art Deco is not the gold, velvet or geometric patterns.
It is the idea that functional spaces can still have personality.
The original movement emerged at a time when designers were trying to make modern life feel sophisticated, optimistic and visually exciting. The Metropolitan Museum notes that Art Deco reached its peak around the 1925 Paris exposition and continued influencing designers through the 1930s.
Nearly a century later, its principles are finding new relevance because homeowners are increasingly looking beyond generic interiors.
Today's interpretation is softer, more practical and more adaptable. It might be a geometric PVC panel behind a sofa, a curved console, a warm wood finish, a deep accent colour or a carefully positioned brass detail.
That is why Art Deco continues to matter: it isn't really about recreating the past. It is about taking the confidence, geometry and elegance of the past and making them work for the way we live today.
