Art Nouveau vs Art Deco – what's the difference between these two classic design styles?

Art Deco living room with velvet sofa, lacquer wood table, iron chairs and abstract art.

As trends steer towards more eclectic and characterful looks, we are more than ever looking to the past for interior design inspiration. We can't deny that history is majorly influencing the designs of today, which means it's never been more important to get our facts straight.

While most of us are familiar with major art movements, it can be difficult to distinguish between neighboring styles with similar design qualities. Two commonly confused movements are Art Deco and Art Nouveau.