Best Art Deco Furniture Stores (2026): A Style Guide

Art Deco design dates to the 1920s and '30s and is defined by bold geometric motifs — sunburst patterns, stepped silhouettes, symmetrical fan shapes — paired with rich material contrast: dark lacquered or exotic woods set against brass, chrome or mirrored inlay, and jewel-toned upholstery in emerald, sapphire or deep burgundy.

Genuine Art Deco-inspired pieces use real inlay work and veneer marquetry — thin pieces of contrasting wood or material set into a surface to form the geometric pattern — rather than a printed pattern standing in for it. Ask whether a pattern is inlaid, physically set into the material, or printed on top; inlay work holds up to wear and refinishing in a way a printed surface pattern does not.

Because the style relies on high-contrast material pairing, mismatched finishes are the most common quality issue — brass hardware that doesn't match an adjacent metal accent, or a lacquer finish with visible unevenness under angled light. Look at a piece under a few different light angles before buying, since Art Deco's glossy, reflective surfaces show finish flaws more readily than a matte one would.