Creating a glamorous Art Deco space doesn’t mean you need a glamorous budget. It means you need an eye for potential and hands ready for some DIY work.
The key to creating an elegant and stylish home affordably is knowing how to look beyond the surface.
What Is Art Deco?
Art Deco derives from the French name Arts Décoratifs, which is a shortened name for an exhibition that was held in Paris in 1925.
The era lasted from the 1920s into the 1930s and celebrated progress after World War I.
This interior design style is a visual art. It focuses on geometric aesthetics that highlight bold colors, symmetry and extravagant materials.
Your layout doesn’t have to tell a story — it just has to make you feel like you’re in a space of timeless elegance.
Coloring and Painting on a Budget
So, you want to create a Gatsby-inspired fantasy, but your bank account doesn’t allow you to dream beyond your walls and paintbrush?
That’s all you need, anyway! Color will spruce up your home, creating an eye-catching look that speaks for itself.
When you paint your walls, focus on a base of bold colors. They make a statement that your home is filled with joy and energy.
Red, royal blue, emerald green, bright yellow, fuchsia, orange and black are great options.
Painting each room a different color enhances the energy throughout the house.
When you’re on a budget, it’s also advisable to design your walls with aesthetics in mind.
There are three types that you can focus on — visual, sensational and emotional.
Play around with your bold colors until you find the shade and design that fits your vision.
If you’re a homeowner or decorator who constantly likes to change your bold design based on your mood, an affordable investment is stick-on wallpaper.
Whether you buy a pattern or create one yourself, it allows you to change the feel of your home according to your desires at an affordable price.
Finding Your Accessories
Having an elegant-looking space doesn’t require thousands of dollars. All you need is an idea of what you want and the most affordable way to get it.
Art Deco interiors include symmetrical items, mirrors, sculptures, geometric designs, jewelry, side tables, carpets, textiles and round chairs.
After choosing a paint color or wallpaper, it’s important to look at the ceiling and floor.
Having bright lights enhances the bold-colored walls, and using rugs creates contrast, personality and focus.
If you’re not keen on carpeting, consider floor tiles that encompass the broader spectrum of geometric patterns.
During this era, people placed a specific focus on squares and diamond shapes when it came to flooring options.
While giving your home the je ne sais quoi look and feel, it’s important not to have so many accessories that your house feels cluttered.
Have you ever heard the saying, “less is more?” You can make drastic changes using functional furniture.
DIY Deco Tips for Furniture and Accessories
It’s time to pull out those vases, frames, cups, chairs and candles for a do-it-yourself journey.
Nothing makes a home more memorable than the moments you create in it. Here are some how-to ideas for repurposing your old items:
● Vases and glasses: Spray or paint your vases and glasses with your favorite bold colors. Remember — your choice must complement the wall colors, as well.
You can use painter’s tape to design them — zig-zags and triangles are popular shapes. During the Art Deco era, artists like Jean Luce were known for glass artistry, and you can be, too!
● Frames: One of the boldest statements you can make is hanging frames.
They encapsulate the artistry of geometry, especially when they’re painted black, gold or silver.
● Cups: Entertainment was a big part of the 1920s, so decorate your vintage cups with mirror pieces to turn them into spectacular beverage containers or candle holders.
● Shiny metal: Pinning shiny metal to your chairs and cushions is one of the most cost-effective ways to repurpose your jewelry.
Drape your old necklaces around your chairs or pin your brooches to the back of them and along the cushions.
Symmetry is a big part of Art Deco, so make sure all your cushions have a brooch or all your chairs have necklaces.
● Candles: If you have old candles, it’s time to melt the wax and mold them into a sculpture that speaks to your 1920s soul.
Where to Find Affordable Glam
Most of your DIY ideas can be repurposed from old items, but if you don’t already have furniture to bedazzle, you should look at affordable places to buy these hidden gems:
● Second-hand stores: Quite often, second-hand stores and community markets sell unique vintage pieces.
There was a stage when some loved it and their preferences changed, or perhaps their family member’s taste is dissimilar to their own.
These are great places to negotiate prices, thanks to the items’ pre-loved conditions.
● Online platforms: Marketplaces on social media are ideal platforms for people to sell their used or fairly new furniture and decor.
This method is cost-effective because you don’t have to drive to the market or pay full price.
Just be cautious of scams — you can request pictures of the item to ensure the seller isn’t tricking you.
● Clearance sales: Who doesn’t love a clearance sale? Look out for them at stores with the furniture you’re looking for.
● Local artisan markets: There’s probably no better place to find artwork than from an artisan.
Many artists make and sell quality items at affordable prices.
● Family storage: There is no place like home — or your parents’ home.
Check in with mom and dad about old decor furniture you can take off their hands. This shouldn’t cost you much, if anything at all.
Live Your Best Art Deco Life
Finding or repurposing items that capture the essence of Art Deco doesn’t have to leave holes in your pocket.
All you need is imagination, the right opportunities and knowledge about where to find your prized possessions.
Bringing glam to your home can be affordable while looking priceless.
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