Art Deco Style Ideas: Fresh Tile and Room Details

The easiest way to make Art Deco feel current is to pick one hero element, usually the tile, and keep everything else quiet. Use matte finishes instead of high gloss, bigger pattern scale, and metal in thin lines instead of heavy ornament.

It's very common to overdo this style, so don't feel bad if a first attempt looks like a movie set. Below are modern Art Deco style ideas built around tile, with notes on materials, proportions and upkeep.

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What is considered Art Deco style?

Art Deco is a design style that began around World War I and ran through World War II, roughly 1915 to 1945, according to Cornell's overview of Art Deco. The same page notes that in the 1930s the palette became more subdued, with white, black and metallic surfaces combined with softer hues.

That detail is useful today. You don't need strict black and gold. The style's real vocabulary is symmetry, geometry, metal accents, fluting, sunbursts and fan shapes, and those examples of Art Deco design all translate well to tile.

How do you update the fan shape?

The fan, or fish scale, is the most recognizable Deco motif. Small white fan mosaics can look dated, so change the scale. Large-format fan tiles read as architectural movement across a floor instead of a busy buzz of pattern.

Orientation changes the mood too:

• Points up gives the traditional fish scale look, organic and slightly maritime.
• Points down makes a teardrop effect that feels more grounded.
• Sideways fans form a wave that can make a narrow bathroom feel wider.

Plan the edges before you order

Fan tiles are irregular, so they don't stop cleanly against a straight wall. Lay out from the center of the room so opposite walls get equal-sized cuts. On a backsplash that ends at an open wall, let the curve be the finished edge instead of cutting the fans flat. Ask your tile setter about a glazed edge or a sealed stone edge for that spot.

Should Art Deco tile be matte or glossy?

For a modern look, choose matte. Glossy surfaces bounce light and create sharp reflections that push a geometric pattern toward flashy. Matte finishes absorb light and soften the pattern, so it reads as sophisticated.

Encaustic cement tile is a good match: chalky, matte, and available with fine geometric patterns. Cement is porous, though. On a shower floor it needs repeated sealing, and I recommend a cement-look porcelain there. You get the matte look with almost no absorption to worry about.

Quiet Deco color pairings

• Sage green with brass
• Terracotta with cream
• Charcoal with slate blue

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How do you add brass without a luxury budget?

Instead of metallic glazes that can scratch or fade, use real metal. Tiles with brass or copper strips set into stone exist, but they're expensive. A cheaper route is metal edge profiles used as lines in the layout:

1. Choose a large rectangular tile, such as 12x24 inches, in a solid color like emerald or navy.
2. Buy thin brass or gold-toned profiles, about 1/8 inch.
3. Set the tile in a vertical stack or herringbone.
4. Place a profile between chosen rows instead of a grout line.

The result is a custom grid with the verticality Deco architecture is known for. As an architect, I'd try a kitchen backsplash of matte black vertical-stack subway tile with a brushed metal strip at every third joint. It adds rhythm and height without clutter.

For more ideas that borrow the geometry without the costume, see geometric wall paneling ideas that feel Art Deco but new.

Is terrazzo a good Art Deco floor?

Yes. Terrazzo was a common floor in Deco-era buildings because it's durable and seamless. To avoid a school-hallway look, choose large, chunky marble or glass chips and skip the fine, sandy grain.

For a rug effect, use terrazzo as the field and frame it with a border in solid black stone. A border of about 4 to 8 inches works well, with a few inches of field between the border and the baseboard so it doesn't look like you ran out of tile.

It also suits busy homes. The speckled pattern hides crumbs, pet hair and water spots, and the surface is hard enough to resist dog claws. Ask your installer about sealing needs for the specific product.

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Where does fluted or 3D tile work best?

Fluting echoes the columns and reed detailing of Deco architecture. Finger or kit-kat tiles, thin vertical strips, give that look. Dust settles on ridges, so I recommend keeping them on walls instead of floors.

• Behind a bathroom vanity mirror, floor to ceiling.
• On the front of a kitchen island, where it also protects against scuffs.
• As wainscoting about 42 inches high with a stone cap and a dark paint above.

Texture needs shadow. Wall sconces or recessed adjustable lights placed high will wash down the wall and fill the grooves. Without that, fluted tile looks flat.

Can you do a sunburst in tile?

A literal sunburst can turn kitschy. Arrange rectangular tiles radially around a focal point, like a vanity mirror or a range, and you suggest the shape without drawing a cartoon sun.

Renters and small spaces

Renters can use peel-and-stick vinyl in geometric patterns. Don't stick it straight over grout lines, because the texture shows through. A thin underlayment or a loose-lay vinyl sheet avoids that.

For small Art Deco style ideas, a powder room can handle a busy small-scale mosaic because the floor area is tiny. In a larger bath, choose larger tile so the pattern doesn't feel dizzying.

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How do you style Deco tile so it stays fresh?

If tile, faucets and lights are all Deco, the room becomes a time capsule. Mix eras.

• Lighting: frosted glass globes soften sharp tile lines.
• Hardware: unlacquered brass develops a patina over time.
• Grout: charcoal or dark gray beside dark tile avoids the visual noise of bright white.
• Textiles: solid towels and shower curtains, since the tile already carries the pattern.
• Wood: walnut or warm oak balances cold stone and metal.

On complex patterns, which have more grout, epoxy grout resists stains and doesn't need sealing. It costs more up front but saves scrubbing.

To carry the look beyond tile, read how to keep Art Deco decor from looking too retro, or try modern Art Deco storage ideas and neo deco decor for a sunroom.

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Frequently asked questions