Art deco uses simple colors and thin black lines.
Art deco style began in 1920s France as a response to the art nouveau style popular at the time. Art deco uses clean lines, solid colors and geometric forms to create a modernist look. Bring the art deco style into your home with frameless mirrors, thin lines of black for dimension and chrome details. Ideas For Home Decorating states that most rooms easily adapt to the art deco style because of its simplicity.
Mirrors
Mirrors not only employ the clean, smooth lines of art deco but also the reflectivity and metallic sheen that brings the art deco look together. Choose simple mirrors without frames or beveling. Purchase many smaller frames and hang together in a geometric pattern with an inch or two in between each. This strategy works well over fireplace mantels or pieces of furniture. Put a twist on the mirror placement pattern by arranging it off-center. Create a steplike pattern with rectangular mirrors or hang mirrors starting from a corner and spreading out and down along both walls.
Black Lines
Thin black lines provide emphasis and dimension in the art deco style. Place artwork inside thin smooth black frames. Hang framed artwork in groups of three for a streamlined look, especially on wide walls or hallways. To fill your frames, take close-up pictures of art deco architecture or other angular subject matter. Go for simple bright colors that pop inside the black frames. Alternatively, paint thin black lines directly onto the walls. Use high-quality painter's tape to mark the walls vertically and paint black lines going from 1/2 inch to 2 inches apart.
Chrome Detailing
The art deco look comes together with reflective or brushed chrome detailing. Choose chrome door and drawer knobs to easily add this dimension to any room. Find a chrome decorative bowl or vase and fill with glass balls and reeds, respectively. Fake the chrome detailing with other sleek silver-colored metals, such as stainless steel and aluminum. You can even spray-paint decor details in silver to fit the art deco theme.
