30 Classic Art Deco Kitchen Ideas
Interior designers are increasingly examining previous interiors and designs and trying to imitate them daily. Because of this, art deco kitchens are making a grand comeback in 2024 and 2025 for specific reasons.
Imagine a fusion of bold geometric shapes and luxurious materials with a touch of vintage charm. This design has seen many eras and still inspires designers and homeowners.
Therefore, if you want to turn your kitchen into a stunning display of elegance and sophistication, the Art Deco kitchen style is unquestionably for you.
In this article, I’ll share my insights to help you adopt this timeless design style in your own cooking space.
Art Deco Kitchen: What is the Art Deco Style?
Luxury, glamour, and geometric shapes are hallmarks of Art Deco, a design movement born in the 1920s and 1930s. Its first exhibition was at the 1925 Paris Exhibition.
In the context of a kitchen, Art Deco is all about blending form and function. Art Deco is both visually striking and practical. Think of kitchens that sparkle with chrome, embrace bold color schemes, and showcase sleek, symmetrical layouts.
Art Deco and Art Moderne: What’s the Difference?
Before exploring Art Deco kitchens, it is essential to distinguish it from its close relative, Art Moderne.
While often used interchangeably, Art Deco and Art Moderne (or Streamline Moderne) are distinct. Art Deco leans heavily on geometric shapes, symmetry, and abundant materials like gold, chrome, and marble.
On the other hand, art moderne focuses more on clean lines, smoothness, and minimalism. The Machine Age influences it.
You can select the right components for your kitchen by being aware of these distinctions.
Features of Art Deco Kitchen Interiors
An Art Deco kitchen isn’t just about adding shiny surfaces or using geometric shapes. It’s about creating a cohesive atmosphere that blends old-world glamour with modern functionality.
Here’s how you can bring Art Deco elements into your cooking space:
Colors
Art Deco kitchens feature high-contrast, bold color schemes. Black and white form the backbone but are often paired with vibrant accents like emerald green, sapphire blue, deep reds, or gold.
Dark raspberry, mustard yellow, teal, lavender, and subdued navy all work well as accent pieces, in small areas of color, or as a component of a tile design.
Above all, there is an obsession with gold and yellow, which permeates the 1920s color scheme. In addition to the symbolism of wealth, this also draws from the era’s interest in Egyptology and Aztec culture.
Furniture
Regarding Art Deco kitchen furniture, think angular, streamlined pieces that make a statement. The key is symmetry and balance—Art Deco furniture often features geometric patterns, chrome finishes, and luxurious materials like velvet or lacquered wood.
I’ve found that investing in a statement kitchen island or dining table with clean lines and bold finishes can elevate the whole room.
Luxurious Fabrics
If you’re incorporating seating or upholstered areas into your Art Deco kitchen, choose luxurious fabrics such as velvet, leather, or silk. For example, velvet bar stools or leather dining chairs add comfort, texture, and elegance.
I’ve often paired these rich materials with metal finishes to ensure they don’t overwhelm the space, creating a perfect balance of luxury and usability.
Art Deco Kitchen Lightening
Proper lighting is crucial in creating the perfect Art Deco ambiance. Pendant lights or chandeliers with geometric shapes, chrome finishes, or glass details can illuminate your kitchen while enhancing its glamorous atmosphere. In my kitchen, I’ve used geometric pendant lights that echo the bold patterns seen throughout the space—these fixtures have a transformative effect.
Art Deco Kitchen Furniture
Certain pieces of furniture and features are essential to achieving that unmistakable Art Deco flair when transforming your kitchen.
Art Deco Kitchen Cabinets
The cabinetry in an Art Deco kitchen should be sleek and sophisticated. High-gloss finishes like lacquered wood and metallic hardware add to the glamorous feel. Integrating mirrored surfaces or glass-fronted cabinets enhances the visual appeal and adds a sense of spaciousness.
Art Deco Kitchen Cupboards and Units
Symmetry is crucial when it comes to kitchen cabinets and units. Pair tall cupboards with horizontal units to maintain a balanced, harmonious feel.
I recommend integrating modern appliances within these units for a seamless look that also supports the functionality of your kitchen.
Art Deco Kitchen Accessories
Adding accessories like geometric-patterned rugs, vintage-inspired cookware, or even a sunburst mirror can bring the whole look together. Adding a few Art Deco accessories can create a strong visual impact without overwhelming the space.
30 Art Dico Kitchen Ideas
To display the Art Deco style in your kitchen, here are 40 creative ways to add a touch of this glamorous era to your space. I’ve incorporated many of these elements into my kitchen, and each one has helped bring that unique Art Deco style.
1. Incorporate Curves and Flueting
The Art Deco design is famous for its graceful curves and fluting. You can incorporate curves into rounded-edge countertops, islands, cabinet glass, or walls.
Adding curves is an excellent way to add dimension and sophistication to the space. Examples include cabinetry with fluted doors, decorative moldings, or a curved kitchen island.
2. Amp up the Glamour
Metallic accents, such as gold, chrome, or brass, in fixtures, lighting, and handles enhance the luxurious feel of your kitchen. You can place leather stools, gold accents, and glossy accessories that sparkle in the light. These details unify the space with the period’s style.
3. Go for Gold
Accents of gold mixed with dark marble or stones can give the kitchen an opulent feel without being dim. Pairing with light cabinetry ensures a bright yet Deco-inspired ambiance. Whether it’s gold-trimmed cabinets, a gold-framed mirror, or golden accessories, this hue is a hallmark of Art Deco glamour.
4. Maintain the Theme
Once you’ve established the Art Deco backsplash, carry it to other kitchen areas by repeating shapes in cabinets or hardware for a cohesive look. Consistency is key in Art Deco design. Carry bold geometric patterns, sleek lines, and metallic accents throughout your kitchen.
5. Include Vintage Elements
Don’t be afraid to mix traditional elements with Art Deco. Original flooring or vintage-inspired appliances can complement the modern design. Keep original kitchen features, like vintage lights or unique architectural details, to preserve authentic Deco charm.
6. Play with Unique Colors
While black, white, and jewel tones were regular in Deco, adding a personal twist with jewel tones or other vibrant hues can make the space uniquely yours. You can put your spin on the style by incorporating more unexpected color combinations, such as pastel shades or muted neutrals.
7. Add Dark Woods
Dark woods like mahogany or espresso bring in-depth warmth, aligning with the earlier period’s aesthetic while adding a sense of luxury.
Dark, rich wood finishes provide warmth and contrast against metallic finishes and glossy surfaces, creating a well-rounded Art Deco aesthetic.
8. Add Ceiling
An often overlooked area, the ceiling can be a canvas for geometric designs or metallic finishes that elevate the entire space.
9. Opt for a Deeper Palette
Dark and moody hues, like deep blues and emerald greens, work well in an Art Deco kitchen, especially when paired with lighter metallic tones.
10. Make a White Kitchen Pop
A white kitchen with Art Deco features such as a geometric backsplash or metallic appliances can feel incredibly sophisticated.
11. Incorporate Geometric Shapes
Geometric shapes and patterns are a defining feature of Art Deco design. Be sure to incorporate them throughout your kitchen, whether in the tile work, the cabinetry, or the lighting fixtures. Semi-circular hardware, square tiles, and symmetry bring Deco geometry into the kitchen while keeping a balanced look.
12. Use Minimal Deco Features
You don’t have to embrace the Art Deco aesthetic to make an impact. Adding just one or two carefully chosen elements, such as a dramatic light fixture, a bold backsplash, or an antique poster, infuses your kitchen with the style’s glamour and sophistication.
13. Pick a Statement Color
Art Deco interiors often feature bold, saturated colors, so consider choosing a single, statement-making hue, such as a rich teal or a deep burgundy, and using it as the foundation for your design.
You can add a bold color like teal or aqua used on a door or island; it adds a Deco theme and pairs well with other vintage colors.
14. Create a Bar Area
If your kitchen has a bar or wet bar area, it can be the perfect spot to showcase your Art Deco-inspired design. If not, you can create a glamorous, softly lit bar area with glass shelves and balanced symmetry to add a bit of Deco indulgence.
You can add a mirrored backsplash, sleek chrome hardware, or a dramatic pendant light as a focal.
15. Add Art Deco Pieces
Display period-appropriate pieces, like a unique shelving unit, to subtly nod to Deco’s elegance without a complete overhaul. You can reinterpret the Art Deco modernly and consider blending the style with other design aesthetics, such as mid-century modern or contemporary.
16. Mix Dark and Light Tones
Balance a kitchen with dark and light tones to create a visually striking art Deco-inspired kitchen. Try incorporating dark and light tones, such as rich, wood-toned cabinetry paired with crisp, white countertops or backsplashes.
Combine light and dark cabinets to balance minimalism with deco aesthetics, adding molding or pendant lights for extra impact.
17. Blend Styles
Mix Two Styles (Embrace Other Designs From the Era) While Art Deco is the primary focus, you can also incorporate elements from other design styles that were popular during the same era, such as Art Nouveau or Bauhaus, to create a unique and layered look.
Consider incorporating influences from other styles, like Spanish Colonial, to give your Deco kitchen a personal, multi-layered look.
If glam isn’t your style, look at more straightforward 1920s-30s and 1970s kitchens with stainless steel and geometric touches for a subtler Deco feel.
18. Modernize Deco Elements
Deco-inspired features, like bubbly pendant lights or rounded islands, bring in Deco touches with a modern feel.
19. Add Mirrored Surfaces
Mirrored surfaces, such as backsplashes or cabinet doors, are a hallmark of Art Deco design and can help to create the illusion of depth and light in your kitchen.
20. Go for Glass Cabinets
Glass-fronted cabinetry was a popular feature in Art Deco-inspired interiors, as it allowed homeowners to showcase their prized possessions and create a sense of openness and transparency.
21. Focus on Art Deco Lighting
Dramatic, statement-making lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers or sconces with geometric shapes and metallic finishes, can be a powerful way to infuse your kitchen with Art Deco flair.
22. Ornamental Details
Art Deco design uses ornamental details, such as carved moldings, inlaid patterns, or decorative metalwork. Incorporate these elements into your kitchen to add a touch of visual interest and elegance.
23. Sunburst Patterns
The sunburst pattern, radiating lines, and geometric form were popular motifs in Art Deco design. Consider incorporating this pattern into your kitchen’s tile work, cabinetry, or light fixtures.
24. Terrazzo Flooring
Terrazz was a common choice for flooring during the Art Deco period. This composite material comprised marble, quartz, or other marble chips. Its bold, speckled pattern can add a touch of vintage glamour to your kitchen.
25. Velvet or Leather Seating
Art Deco kitchen interiors lean over luxurious, high-quality materials like velvet or leather. Incorporate these materials into your kitchen’s seating, such as bar stools or a banquette, to create a sense of luxury and sophistication.
26. Bold Backsplashes
The backsplash is an excellent opportunity to showcase your Art Deco-inspired design through bold, geometric tiles or a mirrored surface that reflects light and creates a sense of depth.
27. Black and White Flooring
You can expertly incorporate the classic Art Deco color scheme of black and white into a striking geometric floor pattern, like a bold zigzag design or a classic checkerboard.
28. Decorative Range Hoods
Art Deco-inspired kitchens often feature dramatic range hoods with bold geometric shapes and luxurious finishes like chrome or brass.
29. Elegant Window Treatments
Window treatments, such as sleek, streamlined draperies or geometric-patterned valances, can help frame your kitchen’s windows and add a touch of Art Deco-inspired elegance.
30. Dont Forget the Layered Textures
While the Art Deco style is known for its sleek, streamlined forms, you can add depth and visual interest by incorporating a variety of textures, such as polished chrome, matte black, or brushed brass.
Conclusion
The list continues, expanding on incorporating the Art Deco kitchen style. By combining geometric patterns, bold color schemes, and luxurious materials, you’ll create a space that’s as functional as beautiful.
I recommend starting small with any signature piece, such as a geometric backsplash or a gold-trimmed mirror. Over time, you can gradually expand the style, bringing more of this stunning design movement into your home.
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