Maximize your home’s style with updated brass and Art Deco design.

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Maximize your home’s style with updated brass and Art Deco design.

By emily.bailey

Monday, March 25, 2019

Art Deco bedroom design | Schlage

If you aren’t ready to wallpaper your living room with large floral prints or tile your floor in fan-shaped marble, don’t think you can’t still enjoy some of the other highlights of Art Deco and maximalism.

 

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Much of maximalism, which calls for greater visual interest and offers more opportunity to show off eclectic belongings, feeds off the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 30s. Art Deco was a chance for the wealthy to show off their opulence, so common features were bold and geometric designs, saturated colors and luxurious – often metallic – materials.

 

If you aren’t ready to wallpaper your living room with large floral prints or tile your floor in fan-shaped marble, don’t think you can’t still enjoy some of the other highlights of Art Deco and maximalism. One way to get a taste for the style, or to start making a design transition, is by introducing metallic, particularly brass, accents. Welcome to the 21st century, Gatsby.

Budget-friendly swap

Art Deco’s accents are often gold. If you can afford that, fantastic. For the rest of us, brass is an alternative that captures the Midas look without breaking the bank, says Better Homes & Gardens . If you’re worried that brass will look more builder-grade 80s than glamorous gold, focus on matte finishes or pieces with more of a patina, and avoid the ultra-glossy or shiny look that can make a space look dated.

 

Another way to stay budget-friendly is to mix and match your metal finishes. Brass goes especially well with rose gold, copper and even black. So if you really want that gold sunburst mirror – a classic Art Deco accessory – but can’t afford to outfit your entire house in gold, complement your signature piece with less expensive finishes.

Small scale …

One route to take with brass accents, especially if you aren’t sold yet on the idea that brass is back, is to weave metallic accessories into your home in small doses. If you have a knickknack collection on a shelf, make one of those items brass. As a bonus, creating these small vignettes with some metallics is a great way to make any space feel more expensive and lavish.

 

You don’t need to start a collection to take advantage of subtle brass accents. Hardware, whether on your door or as a kitchen cabinet pull, as well as pendant lights and faucets let you step modestly into brass. Check out Schlage’s variety of door hardware finishes, including Satin and Antique Brass, to find the right look for your home. We also offer a Matte Black finish, great for when you’re mixing metallic finishes.

... or big time

Want to be a bit more daring? Take another route larger brass pieces like coffee tables, chairs and even bedframes. These can stand alone as the statement piece to set tongues wagging. They can also serve as the perfect anchor to tie those smaller metallic accessories together and create a more cohesive look for the whole space. Remember that the original Art Deco architects created lavish spaces people couldn’t help but notice. Don’t be afraid to make a splash.

Cool, rich colors

Another characteristic of Art Deco style is bold colors. Minimalism’s neutrals don’t belong here. When choosing your statement color, look for cooler blue and green tones. You can’t go wrong when you pair brass with turquoise, emerald, cobalt or even a deep, rich gray. While Art Deco loves a good color splash, you might do best to steer away from oranges, yellows and reds when using brass.

Think outside the brass box

Not surprisingly, you see the most brass in rooms with the most metallic fixtures – kitchens and bathrooms. Don’t forget that brass is more than just a metal, though. For bedrooms and living rooms with a softer, cozier feel, choose paint, fabrics and other materials with brass shades running through them. Take inspiration from leopard print or find artwork with brass hues in the design rather than on the frame.

 

If you think brass is about 30 years in the past, think again. With modern fixtures – something with clean lines vs. ornate details – outfitted in the right finish, your space will be decidedly on-trend, not decades behind. Visit Schlage.com for more about our variety of finishes, or find us on Pinterest and Instagram for redesign inspiration.