Enrich your home with art deco glam

For a modern take on art deco, this living room uses a mix of bold geometric lines and rounded curves.

In the hundred years since art deco was officially launched to the world – at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris – its influence on interior design has been strong throughout the century.

Its hallmarks – geometric motifs, bold colours, luxurious materials and streamlined silhouettes – were both glamorous and innovative at the time… and the decorative style of those roaring 20s has had a stronghold on interiors ever since.

For a modern take on art deco, this living room uses a mix of bold geometric lines and rounded curves, such as rounded bar carts, domed pendant lights and structured coffee tables.

Walls are painted in Resene Conch, a soft, muted blue that carries a touch of grey. The colour choice speaks to a broader trend in interior design that embraces restful colours, in turn creating a home that relaxes you through colour.

Resene Wallpaper Collection M53304 introduces a bold art deco pattern in deep and turquoise blues as well as crisp whites. The motif embodies the opulence of the 1920s while maintaining a contemporary edge with its modern colour palette.

To complement the wallpaper, carefully chosen accent colours elevate the room’s richness. The coffee table is painted in Resene Green Meets Blue for a bold yet harmonious touch.

To soften the cool tones of the blues, the floorboards are stained in Resene Colorwood Bleached Riverstone. Light, natural looking floors have become increasingly popular as they create an open, airy feel while providing a neutral base for bolder colour palettes.

The gold bar cart stands out as a statement piece, reinforcing the era’s love for metallic finishes. Mixing up metals – gold, brass and even antique silver – is a sure way to add a touch of luxury.

Art deco colours are often vivid and bright, a mix of metallics, rich teals, saffron oranges and green-hued blues. Think Resene Gold, Resene Guru, Resene Carpe Diem and Resene Blue Chill. Softer hues in this palette include blush pinks, true blacks and ivory whites such as Resene Wafer, Resene Bastille and Resene China Ivory.

While traditionally this interior style has fun mixing these colours into a palette, you may want to pick only a couple of colours and pair them with an art deco motif to get the same feel.

While this living room has borrowed from the greeny-blues and metallic hues, you could have fun with other palettes to represent the art deco style throughout the ages.

Give your room a Hollywood Regency feel with luxurious and high contrast colours, such as blue sapphire, ruby red and champagne gold. Try Resene Resolution Blue, Resene Havoc and Resene FX Metallic Gold Dust on accent pieces against Resene Wallpaper Collection E366072. A big, ornate chandelier and art deco sconces (go for gold-look) are key. Bring in mirrored furniture and oversized vases filled with flowers to achieve that old Hollywood charm.

For a fun take on art deco, go Palm Springs with flamingo pinks, aqua blues, mint greens, soft yellows and coral. It’s a bit of a tropical look and prints such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 103824268 are perfect in this setting. Overlay with accents of Resene Glamour Puss, Resene Shakespeare, Resene Ottoman and Resene Gin Fizz. Add to the tropical look with palm trees, banana leaves, rattan, terrazzo and sunburst motifs and decor.

Or take it right back to the 1920s with Parisian Jazz Age, which celebrates the romantic opulence of the era. Inspired by haute couture, jazz clubs and the grandeur of Parisian architecture, this style is all about rich colours, gilded details and a refined sense of drama – think deep plums, midnight blues and rich emeralds paired with soft blush, champagne and antique gold. Pair prints such as Resene Wallpaper Collection M53302 with colours such as Resene Bingo, Resene Deep Teal, Resene Pohutukawa and Resene Plum.

Did you know… that all 45 metallic shades from the Resene FX Metallic and Special Effects colour chart are available to order as part of the Resene FX Metallics Wallpaper Collection. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to view samples in store and talk to the experts about the best wallpaper choice for your home.

Whimsical ways with wallpaper

Art deco was all about playing with new inventions and ideas. Translate this to your walls and decor by creating DIY projects with wallpaper. A strip of wallpaper creates a beautiful feature wall in this living room, reminiscent of the lavish room dividers so popular in the 1920s.

A lampshade has been wrapped in the same wallpaper – Resene Wallpaper Collection M53304 – carefully applied with wallpaper paste. In another simple idea, the wallpaper has been applied to serving trays, which up the glam of the art deco styled-room.

These touches go a long way in creating depth to rooms with a theme and leave an everlasting impression.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Megan Harrison-Turner. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2024