The first time I stumbled into a true Art Deco space, I was twenty-three, broke, and wandering through Chicago in a borrowed suit. The hotel lobby I cut through had marble floors polished within an inch of their life, chandeliers that dripped crystal like frozen fireworks, and mirrors that refused to let you pass unnoticed.
It was overwhelming. Dazzling. Like stepping into a room that didn’t just exist but performed.
That’s Art Deco in its purest form — a style that doesn’t know how to be subtle.
Born in Paris in the early 1920s, Deco was a rebellion. It came out of the rubble of the First World War and into the noise of the Industrial Revolution. The flowing lines and floral motifs of Art Nouveau suddenly felt too delicate, too sentimental for a world that had seen so much blood. Instead, Deco embraced the machine. It loved symmetry, sharp edges, geometric patterns. It wanted chrome, marble, glass, and gold.
It was glamour with an engine. A movement that insisted the future could be beautiful — and loud about it.
But now, a century later, Deco is making its comeback. And this time around, it’s not wearing sequins.
The Birth of New Deco
Designers call it New Deco. Think of it as Deco after therapy. Where the original style was unapologetic excess, its modern incarnation is thoughtful restraint.
The jewel tones of emerald and sapphire are gone, replaced with creams, browns, and muted tones that carry a kind of quiet confidence. The hard lines and machine-inspired angles have softened into curves — headboards that arch, mirrors that round, furniture that feels sculpted rather than assembled.
Lighting, once a chance to show off, has become a study in elegance. A geometric pendant. A polished brass lamp. Fixtures that bring a room to life without stealing the spotlight.
Patterns are still here, of course — they always will be. But they’ve learned to whisper. A monochrome rug. Wallpaper that hints at geometry without overwhelming. Symmetry remains a hallmark, offering the kind of order that soothes the human brain like a well-written poem.
In short: New Deco is glamour distilled.
Why Now?
To understand why Deco has resurfaced in 2025, you only have to look at the past few years. We’ve lived through our own upheaval. Our own chaos. Minimalism — with its beige walls and stark spaces — had its moment, but the pendulum was bound to swing.
Emma Deterding, founder of Kelling Designs, puts it like this: “Art Deco has regained popularity because it symbolizes optimism, progression, and resilience in uncertain times.”
It makes sense. When the world feels unstable, we reach for beauty that reassures us. Beauty that grounds us. But unlike our Gatsby-era counterparts, we don’t need the excess to prove anything. Our luxury is quieter. More intentional.
Helen Pett, brand ambassador at Arteriors, agrees: “The style brings a sense of drama and sophistication to interiors, acting as a welcome departure from the pared-back minimalism of recent years.”
Drama, yes — but drama with boundaries.
How to Bring New Deco Home
So how do you translate this reimagined glamour into your own four walls? Designers point to a few principles:
1. Start with an earthy palette.
Instead of drowning your living room in emerald, begin with a neutral base — warm creams, soft browns — and build from there. Add splashes of color sparingly through cushions, artwork, or a statement chair. Think curated luxury, not a paint box explosion.
2. Invest in curves.
The era of harsh lines has softened. Curved sofas, rounded chairs, even arched shelving give a space a fluidity that feels welcoming. “Curved shapes promote fluidity and openness, perfect for encouraging social interaction,” says Daniel Smith, founder of Danetti.
3. Light with intention.
Lighting is your secret weapon. A single pendant with sleek lines. A floor lamp with brass accents. These small touches carry an outsized impact, balancing Deco’s glamour with modern minimalism.
4. Curate with restraint.
This isn’t about filling a room with every geometric pattern you can find. It’s about editing. A statement piece here, a bold lamp there, surrounded by breathing space. Martin Waller of Andrew Martin describes it as “a masterclass in balance: opulent yet refined, striking yet effortless.”
5. Let patterns whisper.
Geometric prints still belong, but in softer forms. A monochrome rug with subtle lines. Wallpaper that nods to Deco motifs without overwhelming. It’s about suggestion, not saturation.
6. Honor symmetry.
Arrange furniture in pairs. Align wall lights. Create balance wherever you can. As Jamie Watkins, co-founder of Divine Savages, explains, Deco’s allure comes from “striking symmetry,” which brings sophistication and drama to even the simplest room.
Gatsby in the Quiet
If classic Art Deco was Jay Gatsby in his white suit, waving from a marble staircase at the height of a roaring party, New Deco is him much later. The music has stopped. The tie is loosened. He sits in a quiet room, glass in hand, the glamour still there but softened by time and perspective.
New Deco doesn’t need to shout to be heard. It doesn’t need to fill a room with gold to prove its worth. Its beauty lies in what’s chosen — and what’s left out.
And maybe that’s why it feels so right, right now. We’re still drawn to glamour, but not the kind that leaves us with a hangover. We want spaces that ground us, that steady us, that carry elegance lightly.
New Deco does all of that. It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t always have to dazzle you into submission. Sometimes, it can simply sit across the room, quiet and confident, and still take your breath away.
