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What it is: The style that characterised design between the two world wars began after the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925. It featured strong, geometric lines, lavishly carved or inlaid furniture, curvy sofas and eclectic materials such as marble, exotic woods, chrome, Bakelite and pressed glass. As well as being incredibly glamorous and associated with Hollywood decadence, Art Deco style was all about celebrating the emerging machine age with diverse influences from jazz to skyscrapers.

Why it works: You don’t have to commit to a full-on re-creation of the era, as this enduring style lends itself to a spot of cherry picking. So dip your toe in Art Deco style with a few flourishes, such as a sunburst mirror combined with a curved inlaid sideboard, or a classic deco-style bathroom suite with a monochrome checkerboard floor. You can also choose to focus more on the industrial elements to bring it up to date, or accentuate the OTT elements by combining Art Deco with baroque.

You’ll love it if: You swoon over the lavish sets in Titanic, The Great Gatsby and King Kong, your idea of heaven is a trip aboard a luxury 1920s cruise liner or a stay in a smart Miami beach house, you love to mix angles and curves or you have a penchant for black and white bathrooms.

Find a fantail
A classic fantailed, bevelled-edge mirror will appeal to purists, as it epitomises the jazz age and will add an instantly recognisable touch of Great Gatsby glamour to your scheme.

Rev up the reflections
The more reflective surfaces you have the better if you want to channel the glamour of this bygone age. Don’t just stop at the overmantel mirror – fill alcoves with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, sectioned into squares if possible to add a flash of period geometry, and bring in the bling with mirrored furniture, as well as chrome, silver and glass accessories.

Install a curved staircase
Art Deco staircases tended to veer between sleek, simple and streamlined railings and intricately detailed wrought ironwork – but either way they were grand, show stopping pieces designed to impress. So take inspiration from Art Deco department stores and hotels, such as London’s Claridge’s, which was dramatically refitted in the 1920s, if you really want to create a stunning entrance to your home.

Think glamour and luxury
Imagine a hotel suite fit for a star of Hollywood’s golden age and take your inspiration from there. Opt for plush materials such as velvet and chrome, and combine with mirrors and a colour palette of silver, oyster and grey with aubergine accents. And remember, symmetry is key.

Work those curves
Furniture with curved fronts and elegant spindle legs was a hallmark of the Art Deco era, with materials such as walnut and rosewood featuring prominently. Neat tub chairs like these, with contrasting trim, give a hotel lounge bar feel. Or for an even more distinctive look, seek out 1920s cinema seats or shell-back chairs.

Seek out a sunburst design
Although its roots go back to the Middle Ages, the sunburst design had a major revival during the Art Deco period and you’ll find a wide range of takes on this classic if you opt for a reproduction.

Flash some chevrons and zigzags
This pattern has made a big comeback recently, so it’s easy to introduce to your décor. Cushions and rugs are the obvious ways to inject an instant burst of Art Deco boldness, but you could also use chevron parquet flooring or lay tiles in a zigzag formation to nail this look in a more timeless fashion.

Opt for Crittall windows
While their origins go back to 1849, these iconic steel windows became associated with Art Deco style in the 1920s and 1930s as their sleek industrial feel chimed with the movement’s ethos.