Home Decorating: Roaring Twenties

Influences

• There were several different influences on home decorating in the 1920s. As cinema became more popular, the glamor of early Hollywood became an influence on interior design choices. Items such as cocktail cabinets were often found in '20s homes in homage to Hollywood extravagance. Art deco also influenced home decor, and geometric shapes, angular lines and art deco pieces could be found around an average house. World travel became more accessible, and exotic finishing touches from Africa and the Orient made their way into interior decor.

Simplicity

• Simplicity was emphasized in home decor of the Roaring '20s. To create larger, less cluttered spaces, integrated furniture became popular. Bookcases, breakfast nooks and window seats were among the various built-in furnishings that were designed to save space and help create simple living spaces. These functional pieces meant that you would need less freestanding furniture, so even smaller, bungalow-style homes could remain efficient and uncluttered.

Walls and Floor

• Walls were often painted either white or bright pastels, such as shades of pink, green and blue. People of the '20s preferred a gloss finish on walls, so they added a layer of varnish on top of the paint. Polished parquet flooring was a common choice in this decade, as were checkered black and white tiles or linoleum flooring with abstract art deco patterns printed on it.

Accessories

• In line with the idea of simplicity in home decorating during the '20s, art and accessories were often kept to one or two signature pieces in the room. You may have displayed an art deco vase, containing ostrich feathers for an extra decorative touch, and hung one striking painting on the wall. Small accents, such as a fancy letter opener or an enameled cigarette case, would add a touch of old Hollywood glamor.