How to Create an Art Deco Inspired Interior in a UK Period Property

Art Deco arrived in Britain during the 1920s and 1930s, and it still feels at home in older houses with high ceilings, deep skirting boards and generous bay windows. The style is about confidence rather than excess. It rewards careful editing, a few bold gestures and a respect for craftsmanship. If you live in a Victorian, Edwardian or early twentieth century home, the bones of your rooms can carry this look beautifully when you approach it with restraint.

Reading the Art Deco language

At its heart, Art Deco is built on geometry. Think fan shapes, stepped forms, sunburst motifs and clean repeating lines. Materials carry the mood too, with lacquered timber, polished brass, smoked glass and richly figured veneers doing much of the work. Before you buy anything, spend time looking at original interiors from the period so you understand the rhythm. The aim is a sense of order and glamour, never clutter.

Letting original features lead

Period properties often hide assets under decades of paint and wallpaper. Reinstating a fireplace, restoring cornicing or stripping back a panelled door gives you a frame that suits the style. Keep architectural detail crisp and let it set the proportions for the room. Where original features have been lost, a simple stepped plaster surround or a tiled hearth can reintroduce the geometry without pretending to be something it is not.

Colour, pattern and finish

Art Deco palettes tend to pair deep, saturated tones with softer neutrals. Forest green, navy, ochre and oxblood all work well against warm cream or muted grey. Use the stronger colours on a single wall, a chimney breast or the joinery so the room keeps its calm. Pattern belongs in measured doses. A geometric rug, a fluted cabinet front or a chevron floor introduces movement, while plain walls give the eye somewhere to rest. Metallic accents in brass or bronze tie everything together when used sparingly.

Choosing furniture with presence

Furniture from this era has weight and shape. Curved sofas, rounded armchairs and low tables with strong silhouettes anchor a living space. Velvet upholstery in a jewel tone reads as authentic without feeling like a costume. When you are planning seating, our range of living room furniture includes pieces with the gentle curves and considered detailing that the look depends on. In a dining room, a set of velvet dining chairs around a dark timber table captures the same spirit and feels suitably grand for entertaining.

Mirrors, lighting and reflection

Few styles use reflection as cleverly as Art Deco. Mirrored surfaces bounce light around and add a quiet sense of theatre, which suits the often shadowy rooms of older homes. A bold sunburst or fan shaped piece from our decorative mirrors collection works as a focal point above a fireplace or console. For lighting, layer the scheme. A statement pendant with stepped glass shades sets the tone, while table lamps with opaline globes soften the corners after dark.

The finishing flourish

Entertaining was central to the period, so a dedicated drinks station feels true to the style and earns its place in a sociable home. A drinks cabinet or serving trolley in lacquered timber or brass becomes a sculptural moment in a corner of the living room. Dress it with cut glassware and a single trailing plant so it feels lived in rather than staged. Small ceramics, a stack of art books and a sculptural vase complete the scene without crowding it.

Keeping it liveable

The trap with any decorative style is overdoing it. Art Deco was a response to its time, full of optimism, yet the most successful rooms balance drama with comfort. Choose two or three signature gestures, perhaps a curved sofa, a sunburst mirror and a patterned floor, then keep the rest of the scheme quiet. That discipline lets the period architecture breathe and stops the room from feeling like a film set. We stock a broad selection of modern furniture across the UK with free delivery, so you can build the scheme piece by piece at Furniture in Fashion as your ideas settle.

Frequently asked questions

Does Art Deco only suit large rooms? No. While the style flatters generous proportions, smaller rooms can carry it through a single bold gesture, a mirrored surface and a tightly edited palette. Restraint matters more than square footage.

Can I mix Art Deco with what I already own? Yes. A few period inspired pieces sit happily alongside plainer modern items. The geometry and metallic accents do the talking, so you do not need a full set to suggest the era.

What flooring works best? Parquet, herringbone timber or a geometric patterned tile all suit the look. If you cannot change the floor, a bold geometric rug delivers the same effect.

How do I avoid the look feeling dated? Keep walls calm, limit pattern to a few surfaces and choose comfortable seating. Treating Deco as inspiration rather than strict reproduction keeps a period home feeling current.