Get a glamorous bathroom look with Art Deco details

Ready to take a trip back in time to the fabulous 1920s? The Art Deco style is well known for its over-the-top opulence, from bold geometric shapes to lustrous metallic finishes.

Picture luxurious marbles, lavish baths and showers, geometry-inspired wall and floor coverings, and statement fixtures… The Art Deco style is ideal if you are looking to bring that boutique hotel feeling to your bathroom (or if you want to feel like you’ve stepped foot on the set of The Great Gatsby, both totally understandable).

So, where do you start if you want to get this bold bathroom look?

Bold cloakroom with Hollywood glamour, gold finishes, patterned wallpaper, and striped flooring.
Architecturally designed Art Deco-inspired cloakroom by West One Bathrooms, with a playful, Hollywood glamour.

1. Symmetry matters

Symmetry and elegance are synonymous with this style, so it’s important to keep proportions and dimensions in mind when designing your new scheme. “Art Deco interiors are known for their symmetry and structured elegance,” says Louisa Swannell, head of design and marketing at Walls and Floors. “Using matching twin basins and mirrors with evenly spaced fittings can help achieve this, especially when paired with metallic finishes such as brushed brass or gold.”

Twin basins with gold taps, mirrors, and blue Art Deco tile behind the vanity.
Symmetry is key in Art Deco-inspired bathrooms. Capsule Dark Blue Grey Art Deco engraved decor wall tiles, £2.95 per tile, Walls and Floors.

2. Art Deco shapes and patterns

In terms of aesthetics, Isabel Fernandez, director at Quorn Stone, says Art Deco bathrooms are all about confident design, so dare to go bold. Wallpaper is a great way to give a nod to this iconic period, and James Mellan-Matulewicz, CEO and creative director at Bobbi Beck, recommends choosing a strong pattern. Opt for statement designs adorned with geometric motifs such as straight lines and chevron, or peacock feathers and leaves in moody, rich colourways.

And, if you’re feeling extra, gold foil and metallic wallpaper will instantly add the wow factor to your space.

Bathroom design with peacock wallpaper and wood furniture.
Draw the eye in with intricate wallpaper like Maiden, £79 per roll, Bobbi Beck.
A pink cloakroom with Art Deco wallpaper and scalloped basin.
Complete your cloakroom with Art Deco-inspired wall coverings. Flight crane wallpaper, £90.60 per roll, Hovia.

Tiles are another great way to embrace the Art Deco style in your bathroom, whether it’s a statement, repeated shape or patterned slabs. “Fan, chevron or stylised leaf patterns in rich tones can be particularly effective when combined with a glossy finish that will enhance the design whilst adding a touch of Deco glamour,” says Louisa. Alternatively, Isabel recommends classic checkerboard floor tiles in monochrome or rich hues such as emerald.

Timeless scheme with jewel tones on the wall tiles and paint, navy furniture, white sanitaryware, and checkerboard flooring.
The checkerboard pattern is equal parts timeless and opulent. Charlbury range in Slate, Calypso Bathrooms.
Art Deco bathroom with geometric tile work.
Get inspired by this Art Deco bathroom design by The Mint List with intricate geometric tile work and clean lines. Photography: Dave Watts.

Alongside geometric motifs, curves and arches can also help you inject a dash of Art Deco glamour into your space. “A decorative arch is a great way to introduce this trend into your bathroom. Combine with warm, rich colours, wood furniture and lustrous artisan tile work,” advises Zoe Jones, senior creative producer at Roper Rhodes.

Art Deco bathroom with geometric flooring, mustard yellow tones, and a white curved basin and tap.
Embrace elegance in your bathroom with a curved pedestal basin and sleek brassware. Deck-mounted basin tap in Warm Brass, from £1005, Varied Forms.

3. Materials

When looking at sanitaryware, select timeless pieces crafted from durable, high-quality materials. Striking marble, for example, oozes glamour, whether it’s white, dark or coloured. Marble-effect and glossy porcelain are more budget-friendly alternatives with no compromises on style.

An opulent bathroom with marble basin, opaline glass lights, and a gold mirror.
Make a statement with a dark marble basin and polished gold brassware. Carlo deck-mounted marble basin in Portoro, £13,041 with Enzo large wall-mounted single sconce in Alabaster, from £6000, Waterworks.

For your bathroom furniture, choose sturdy wood or painted pieces, complete with a mix of open or closed storage for practicality. More of a maximalist? You can pick a design set on a brass frame or embellished with metallic detailing.

An Art Deco bathroom with statement furniture and mirrors.
Strike the balance between style and function with timeless furniture, patterned flooring, and Art Deco details. Charlene double vanity unit by Park Avenue paired with Dark White brassware, C.P. Hart.
Art Deco bathroom with a gold frame vanity, white toilet, and patterned wallpaper.
This bathroom features the Safari Soirée wallpaper in Charcoal, £159, Divine Savage, a brass vanity unit and a matching mirror. Interior Design by Lucinda K Design. Photography: Mariell Lind Hansen.

4. Art Deco-style lighting

It’s also important to consider lighting fixtures such as sophisticated chandeliers or sleek brass wall scones and pendants with fluted or milky opaline glass. “Crystal fixtures work well in bathrooms and add an elegant touch. Brass wall lights or a flush ceiling fitting are great options that elevate the space with a classic Deco feel,” advises James.

However, make sure to check the IP ratings first, so your solutions are suitable for use in the bathroom. Find out more here.

An Art Deco cloakroom with marble herringbone tiles, fan wallpaper, classic basin and gold taps.
Marble, Art Deco-inspired wallpaper, and timeless fixtures and fittings give this cloakroom a charming allure. Design by The Vawdrey House. Photography: Malcolm Menzies.
A classic scheme with pink panelling, patterned tiles, a walk-in shower, and gold fixtures and fittings.
Create a timeless look by choosing classic sanitaryware pieces. Guild collection, from £75, Burlington.

5. Finishes

Lastly, the finishes you choose can also add to the overall Art Deco feel of your new bathroom design. “In a bathroom setting, reflective mirrors or glass accessories bring true opulence, while finishes such as marble, polished chrome, and gold accents add depth and richness to the space,” says James.

A classic scheme with a terracotta wc unit, zellige tiles, and a glamorous mirror.
This bathroom with Burford back-to-the-wall WC unit in Terra, Roper Rhodes, includes an arched shower enclosure, checkerboard flooring, and a glamorous mirror as the perfect finishing touch.
A blue elegant bathroom scheme with fluted furniture, nickel brassware and hardware, and mirrors.
We love the symmetry in this elegant bathroom which includes the Deco 3142 three-hole basin mixer with crosstop handles in Nickel, £1270.80, by Perrin & Rowe.

Alexa, now play some jazz…

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