Photo credit: ahmad zaenal/Adobe Stock
Much like fashion and popular music, architectural and interior design trends can come and go quickly. In the case of the Art Nouveau style, from its first appearance on the drawing boards of designers in Europe during the late 1800s and its arrival in the United States shortly thereafter, this style was but a faded memory by the 1930s. To continue with the pop music metaphor, Art Nouveau could have been a one hit wonder. But it wasn’t. Therein lies an interesting story.
First, this style made a brief, but definitely groovy, comeback as a part of psychedelia art and fashion of the 1960s. And now, it has captured the imagination of architects, interior designers and homeowners in 2025. Ready or not, Art Nouveau is back.
Since its launch more than 130 years ago, Acme Brick products have played an important role in every architectural and design trend, including Art Nouveau. For great ideas on products for your home, just click here.
Emerging as a reaction to the industrialization that was transforming society in the late 19th century in Europe, Art Nouveau sought to infuse creativity and organic beauty into every aspect of art and design, including architecture. Characterized by its flowing lines, nature-inspired motifs, and intricate ornamentation, it celebrated artistic innovation and pivoted from the rigidity of traditional forms.
According to this source, Art Nouveau, which translates to “New Art,” sought to elevate the decorative arts to the level of fine art, emphasizing handcrafted quality over mass production. The movement spread rapidly across Europe and beyond, influencing architecture, furniture, graphic arts, and more. It was particularly popular in cities like Paris, Brussels, and Vienna, where it became synonymous with luxury and sophistication.
St. Petersburg–Vitebsky railway station terminal in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo credit: Elena Belyaeva/Adobe Stock
“Art Nouveau drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including natural forms, Japanese art, and the Symbolist movement. The style was characterized by its use of curvilinear shapes, asymmetrical compositions, and a focus on ornamentation. The fluid lines and organic motifs of Art Nouveau were a direct contrast to the rigid, geometric forms of earlier styles, reflecting a desire to bring nature back into urban environments.”
Museu de Arte Nova in Aveiro, Portugal. Photo Credit: hectorchristiaen/Adobe Stock
About a century after Art Nouveau was first introduced, another design term captured the imagination of architects and designers throughout the world. It was “biophilic design.” As has been noted over several years in the annual Acme Brick What’s Hot and What’s Not, this look has become a juggernaut for designers everywhere.
“Biophilic design means using natural resources to create a sense of harmony between modern architecture and the natural world,” according to Amanda Sturgeon, author of Creating Biophilic Buildings. “Biophilic design is the practice of creating a closer connection to nature through the ways buildings and landscapes are created and built.”
In the words of Australian architect and journalist Paul Dowton, “The Art Nouveau movement was nothing if not biophilic. It brought to the surface strong biophilic cultural tendencies, affected design at every level from jewelry to sculpture and architecture, and it was hugely popular. It is tempting to believe that a nascent biophilic style is already emerging to take the mantle of nature from Art Nouveau, as every other new major project is draped in vegetation, and curvilinear forms associated with nature are in the ascendant after decades of suppression by the forces of authoritarian modernism.”
Photo credit: Xavier Allard/Adobe Stock
Confusion about the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles is common. However, as this source notes, both are distinct design movements that emerged during different periods and have different characteristics. In general, “Art Nouveau celebrates nature and craftsmanship, while Art Deco embodies a more modern, industrial, and streamlined aesthetic.” There are other differences:
Time Period
“Art Nouveau flourished from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, roughly from the 1890s to the early 1910s. Art Deco came into prominence in the 1920s and 1930s and continued into the early 1940s.”
Inspirations and Themes
“Nature served as a primary inspiration for Art Nouveau. Designs featured organic forms, flowing lines, and motifs derived from plants and flowers. The movement aimed to harmonize art with nature. In contrast, Art Deco drew inspiration from the modern machine age, geometry, and industrialization. It embraced sleek lines, geometric shapes, and a more streamlined, symmetrical aesthetic.”
Ornamentation
“Elaborate ornamentation was a hallmark of Art Nouveau. The movement embraced intricate, sinuous patterns, often incorporating curves and asymmetry. Stained glass, decorative tiles, and ornate details were popular. Art Deco favored a more streamlined and simplified approach. Designs were characterized by bold, geometric shapes, including zigzags, chevrons, and stepped patterns.”
Materials and Techniques
“Art Nouveau artists often utilized traditional craftsmanship and materials, including stained glass, wrought iron, and ceramics. The emphasis was on the artisanal and handmade. Art Deco embraced modern materials such as chrome, glass, and plastics.”
Two examples of Art Deco architecture: Bryant-Webster Elementary School, an Acme Brick project built in 1931 in Denver, CO, and the Chrysler Building, completed in 1930 in New York City. Photo credits, from left: Acme Brick archives; Francois Roux/Adobe Stock
According to Archtene, “Art Nouveau interior design is defined by its distinctive blend of artistic flair and functional elegance. Its core elements work together to create a cohesive and harmonious space that feels both luxurious and welcoming.”
These elements include:
Organic forms and curved lines
“This style embraces the fluidity of nature and, as such, the curves and arches are prevalent in everything from doorways to furniture, creating a sense of movement and grace throughout the space.” Brick and stone are the ultimate “natural” building materials and using these materials for interior arches and curved exterior designs are a good way to pay homage to Art Nouveau. Using brick and incorporating this “curved” style in a commercial or residential building has been made easier with new innovations such as the Fast Track System. Click here to learn more about this revolutionary cladding system.
Arched brick and curved metalwork create a striking entrance for this Austin, TX residence by Davey McEathron Architecture. The brick is Glen-Gery Crystal Black Velour from Acme Brick, Tile & Stone. Photo credit: Leonid Furmansky
Floral and natural motifs
“Floral and natural motifs are central to the Art Nouveau interior design. Designers will often incorporate stylized representations of flowers, vines and leaves into wallpaper patterns, textiles and decorative elements” A good example of this style with a current home decor product is Craft porcelain tile from Acme. This is a porcelain tile inspired by the tactile sensations of hand-woven fabric. It uses a play of diagonal lines to create the illusion of a herringbone weave.
Stained glass and metals
“Stained glass is another hallmark of Art Nouveau interior design, and it is used to add color and light to a space. The intricate patterns and vibrant color of stained glass windows, doors, and lampshades create a striking visual effect, especially when paired with natural light. Metals such as wrought iron, brass and bronze are also commonly used in Art Nouveau interiors.”
An excellent example of adding the element of iron in this type of design is Love That Door, from Acme (pictured above). These handcrafted wrought iron doors, steel doors and windows are custom made, manufactured to work with the architectural style of any home.
Intricate woodwork and furniture
“The furniture in Art Nouveau interior design is characterized by its intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail. Wood is a predominant material, often carved into flowing shapes and adorned with inlays of glass, metal and even mother-of-pearl. Chairs, tables and cabinets often feature curved legs, ornate carvings and decorative motifs that tie into the broader design scheme.”
Photo credit: uliab/Adobe Stock
If Art Nouveau originally emerged as a response to the “ugliness” of industrialization, and then appeared (briefly) in the 1960s as a response to the Cold War, what is driving its new popularity? Cultural observers have suggested the current trend is in response to technology and digital overload. This current resurgence is a little therapy from nature. Whatever the reason, the popularity of Art Nouveau is growing exponentially.
Interior designers and architects follow the research of “1stDibs,” which was founded 25 years ago to “capture the magic of the Paris Flea Market online and to bring the excitement of a treasure hunt to design lovers anywhere in the world.” The company’s most recent research – The Luxury E-Commerce Report – has some interesting insights about the growing popularity of Art Nouveau.
Photo credit: Lia Aramburu/Adobe Stock
As reported on Martha Stewart’s website, “Complete with flowing lines and botanical motifs, Art Nouveau is the perfect trend for those seeking unique designs for their home. The highly decorative Art Nouveau style is well suited to the tastes of today’s maximalists and organic modernists. This style rose four positions as a furniture search term in 2024.”
Is Art Nouveau right for your home? Talk to your architect or interior designer and understand the benefits and challenges. Then have them call Acme Brick for products to make this look perfect!
