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By Kerry Hale

How To Achieve An Art Deco Bathroom

  • Thursday 17 September 2020
  • 5 minute read

Though the art deco movement started nearly a century ago, many are now trying to recreate the look in modern bathrooms. But what is art deco and what are the key pieces and accessories you need to create your very own stylish art deco bathroom?

Art deco is one of the most fashionable design movements of the modern era. Its heyday was the roaring 1920s and early 1930s, when the style dominated everything from iconic buildings to ocean liners. Bathrooms of the time were a testament to a style characterised by bold designs, uncluttered lines, vibrant colours and patterns.

Art deco bathroom mirrors and art deco floor tiles, to take two examples, featured geometric shapes and intense colour schemes. They were defined by exquisite craftsmanship and decorative elegance. But what do you need to do if you want a modern bathroom infused with art deco style? From art deco taps and shower fittings to geometric tiles and mirrors, read on to find out how to create your very own art deco style bathroom.

Going modern or traditional

Creating an art deco bathroom may be your goal, but the first thing you need to decide on is what kind of balance you want between modern and traditional.

Daniel Taylor, CEO and founder of Metro Design says there are several directions you could take for an art deco style bathroom depending on your personal preference. For Daniel, the enduring appeal of art deco lies in the fact that it is a style that embraces both the old and the new.

He says: “Art deco brings its streamlined, elegant use of balanced shapes, colours and visual textures that satisfy all tastes. The balance between the classic and the modern, the old and the new, is a key trend in a world with such diverse influences. Art deco is the catalyst of what is best in different décor styles, arts and design.

“Art deco has filtered and combined the rich and strong influence of art noveau’s profusion with the modernist’s purity. In a bathroom, nothing could work better than that: the result of technique with the exact amount of lines, volumes, shapes and the right touch of ornaments. Not more, not less; the essence of sophistication.”

Art deco bathroom accessories

Make an instant style statement in your bathroom by adding art deco bathroom accessories such as taps from the Mira Virtue range.

Add a geometric bathroom mirror for a truly glamourous look. These timeless pieces add depth, the perception of space and they are a brilliant way to brighten up an empty wall in your bathroom. Art deco mirrors embrace the geometric style of the period and come in a huge range of shapes and sizes.

Art deco floor tiles

Installing art deco floor tiles is another way of incorporating the style into your bathroom. Geometric designed flooring is a trend that is growing increasingly popular, and brilliant white walls go perfectly with striking geometric floor tile patterns or floor mosaics. Make a classic style statement in your art deco bathroom with monochrome checkerboard black and white art deco floor tiles. They are clean and simple and add instant glamour.

If you need some inspiration, take a look at the bathrooms at the Savoy Hotel in London. For the more adventurous, there are many other colour combinations that work including red and silver, and dark green and white.

Bathroom art ideas

The key to achieving an art deco bathroom look is the right art and accessories. Artwork could include 1920s-inspired prints in copper, bronze or nickel frames. According to Daniel Taylor, it’s important to use finishes without ostentation, and he advises people to avoid gold accents.

He says chrome is a great alternative to stainless steel for bathroom accessories, and key pieces to help finish off the look include traditional rainfall showers like the Mira Realm ER.

Want to add a touch of the 1930s to your home? Use our online bathroom design tool to create the art deco bathroom of your dreams. Or if the art deco bathroom trend isn’t for you, find out how to create a more vintage bathroom look.

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