How to Style Your Room with Art Deco Wallpaper

Choosing an Art Deco wallpaper is a decision to go bold. This design style, born from the glamour and optimism of the 1920s, is anything but shy. With its symmetrical geometry, luxurious metallic accents, and rich color palettes, it’s meant to be a focal point. But once the wallpaper is on the wall, how do you furnish and decorate the rest of the room so it all works together? Styling is key to making sure the space feels cohesive and chic, rather than overwhelming. This guide offers practical tips on how to select furniture, lighting, and accessories that will harmonize with your Art Deco walls.

Selecting the Right Art Deco Pattern

Before you even think about furniture, it’s important to land on the right wallpaper. The world of art deco wallpaper is quite diverse. Some patterns are very dense and intricate, while others are more open and airy. Think about the scale of your room; a large, expansive pattern might feel right at home in a spacious living room, while a smaller, more delicate design might be better for a cozy bedroom. Pay attention to the color palette and the finish. Many art deco patterns feature a metallic sheen, which will reflect light and have a different appearance throughout the day. Pick a design that you not only love but that also fits the room's function and lighting.

Pairing Furniture with Your Deco Walls

With your wallpaper chosen, the next step is furniture. The goal is to select pieces that support the wallpaper's aesthetic without competing with it.

Complementing the Curves and Lines

art deco wallcovering design is a play between sharp, geometric lines and soft, elegant curves. Your furniture can echo this. Look for pieces with curved silhouettes, like a barrel-back armchair, a channel-tufted sofa, or a headboard with a scalloped edge. These shapes will feel harmonious with any fan or arch motifs in the wallpaper. At the same time, you can use pieces with clean, strong lines, like a sleek console table or a simple bookcase, to ground the space and complement the geometric aspects of the design.

Material Matters

The materials you choose are just as important as the shapes. To get that luxurious Deco feeling, opt for rich textures. Velvet upholstery for sofas and chairs is a classic choice that offers softness and depth of color. Furniture made from dark, lacquered wood provides a polished, high-sheen look that was popular in the era. Don’t be afraid to use pieces with metallic legs or hardware in brass, gold, or chrome, as these will pick up on any metallic details in the wallpaper.

Lighting and Accessories that Work with Deco

The final layers of the room—lighting and accessories—are what tie everything together.

Illuminate with Style

Lighting in an Art Deco-inspired room should be a feature in itself. Look for fixtures with geometric shapes, frosted glass, or metallic finishes. A sunburst chandelier, a pair of angular wall sconces, or a table lamp with a tiered base are all excellent choices. Good lighting will not only illuminate the room but will also highlight the beautiful sheen and detail of your chosen wallpaper.

Accessorize Thoughtfully

Another way to accessorize is by treating small surfaces themselves as decorative objects. Using a realistic marble wallpaper in a targeted way can have a big impact. Consider applying it to the back panel of a bookcase, inside a built-in wall niche, or on a small feature wall. The organic, flowing veins of the marble provide a beautiful, natural contrast to the strict geometry of the main Art Deco pattern, introducing another layer of texture and sophistication without adding physical clutter to the room.

Mixing Deco with Other Textures and Styles

To keep your room from looking like a period-piece movie set, it’s a good idea to mix in some modern elements and different textures. For example, pairing a geometric art deco wallcovering with the organic, veined look of a marble wallpaper on an adjacent, smaller wall can provide a beautiful contrast. You could also use a modern, textured 3D Wallpaper in a solid color to offer depth without competing for attention. Using art deco for walls doesn't mean every single surface has to be Deco; it can be the main statement that is balanced with quieter, contemporary touches.

Building a Cohesive Deco-Inspired Space

Ultimately, styling a room with a bold wallpaper is about balance. The wallpaper is the star of the show, and the furniture, lighting, and accessories are the supporting cast. By choosing pieces with complementary shapes and luxurious materials, you can build a space that feels harmonious and deeply stylish. A beautiful art deco wallpaper for walls is a fantastic foundation, and with thoughtful styling, you can shape a room that is glamorous, sophisticated, and uniquely yours.