Your Guide to Art Nouveau Interior Design
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Art Nouveau style is making a comeback and you don’t want to miss it. Keep reading to get in-the-know about this free-flowing, decadent design style!
What Is Art Nouveau?
Art Nouveau is an interior design movement that first emerged in the late 19th century, specifically between 1890 and 1910. It was seen as a way to challenge the industrial movement with a reintroduction of nature-inspired forms and designs. It places an emphasis on curved lines, detailed craftsmanship, floral- and nature-inspired patterns, and ornamental embellishments.
Art Nouveau vs. Art Deco
The Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements occurred close together in time but each one offers its own unique statement and style. Here are the key differences between them:
Art Nouveau (1890-1910)
As a response against the industrial revolution, Art Nouveau was influenced by the natural world, especially the organic and fluid lines/patterns found in nature. This design style features nature-inspired scenes and free-flowing lines used on walls, painted furniture, decor, or upholstery, subtle pastel colors and rich wood tones, and hand-crafted furnishings.
Art Deco (1920s-1930s)
This style was influenced by modern art movements (Bauhaus, Cubism, & Fauvism) and the post-WWI emphasis on modernity and technology. It was also seen as a way to juxtapose more decadent styles like Victorian and Art Nouveau. The hallmarks of Art Deco style include geometric shapes and patterns, bold color schemes (such as jewel tones and metallics), and manufactured furnishings made with modern materials like concrete, steel, or chrome. Learn more in our guide: What Is Art Deco?
How to Get the 'Art Nouveau' Look at Home
Follow these steps to transform your space into a whimsical masterpiece:
1. Start With Ornate Decor Pieces
Decor is the best way to introduce Art Nouveau style to your space, since you can play around with different patterns, shapes, and color schemes easily and affordably. We highly recommend starting with a captivating floral print or a vintage-like vase to get a sense of the style. For more decor inspiration, read below or browse a few examples:
- Pieces of artwork by artists like William Morris, Gustav Klimt, or Alphonse Mucha that depict nature/floral prints and whimsical human portraits.
- Ceramic vases with Japanese influences or floral-painted vases inspired by Émile Gallé.
- Stained glass panels depicting intricate patterns or floral motifs, much like those created by Art Nouveau artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.
- Throw pillows and area rugs with Art Nouveau floral prints.
- Decorative sculptures of flowers, insects (like butterflies), or branches/trailing vines made of rich hardwood, metal, glass, or stone.
Overall, Art Nouveau spaces place an emphasis on relaxed neutrals and pastels to juxtapose decadent crown molding and rich wood architecture or furniture frames. The living room above airs more on the side of light and bright – a modern interpretation of Nouveau interiors. More traditional spaces would see much more medium- and red-toned wood walls, archways, and carved furnishings, with beige, cream, and pastels being used for furniture upholstery and decor.
3. Prioritize Intricate & Curved Furnishings
The British Arts & Crafts Movement of the 1860s called for more handcrafted, quality items as a way to challenge mass production during the Industrial era. This is what led to more decadent, intricately-carved, and painted furnishings, which we see in Art Nouveau design. This, in combination with the desire to reconnect with the natural world, is what gave Art Nouveau furniture its distinct style. These furnishings are typically made of quality hardwood and are carved to take on curved, fluid shapes and even designed to look like vines, leaves, flowers, and other elements of nature. During this era, it was also popular to have wood furniture painted by an artist to depict flowers, insects, or nature scenes.
Modern Art Nouveau homes incorporate sleek curved sofas or contemporary barrel chairs instead of or mixed with ornate furnishings to give the space more of a fresh look.
Elaborate light fixtures can also help you achieve a Nouveau-inspired space! Most Art Nouveau fixtures feature stunning glass and metallic details with whimsical faux leaves or branches, painted lamp shades, or Tiffany glass. This chandelier captures Art Nouveau in a more contemporary light with its structured tiered leaf design and gold finial embellishments. You also can't go wrong with a Louis Comfort Tiffany–inspired table lamp or an antique bronze wall sconce with crystal embellishments.
Use crown molding, millwork, wall trim, and paneling to mimic the intricate architectural notes inside Art Nouveau homes. Here are some examples of how to get the look:
- Create archways using curved decorative brackets.
- Line floors and ceilings with floral-patterned moldings.
- Highlight wall corners with elaborate corbels.
- Anchor ceiling lights with botanical-carved medallions.
- Update your fireplace with an ornate fireplace surround.
Give your walls a burst of energy with stunning floral wallpaper or nature scene murals. This William Morris–inspired wallpaper creates a sense of energy and movement through the fluid shapes of the flowers and leaves. You can also achieve an element of movement with wallpaper that showcases vines, branches, or birds in flight.
