Art Deco Cabaret Style: How to Set a Glamorous 1920s-Inspired Table
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No era tells the elegance of the table quite like the 1920s. The cabaret, the Jazz Age, the imagery that inspired our project with chef Niko Romito, "Non il solito Cabaret" — belong to the same world that gave birth to Art Deco. This guide shows how to bring that sculptural, luminous aesthetic to your own table today.
Cabaret and Art Deco: the same era, the same language
The cabaret of the 1920s wasn't just entertainment — it was staging, light, materiality. The same years that saw Art Deco born at the 1925 Paris Exposition also saw the explosion of cabaret venues as places where design entered nightlife: polished brass, mirrors, bold geometry, tables set like small stages. It's the imagery behind our collaboration with Niko Romito, Non il solito Cabaret, presented at Milan Design Week.
The elements that define a cabaret-style table
Candlesticks as small spotlights
On a cabaret-style table, candlesticks aren't a minor detail — they're the staging. A silver-plated candlestick or a moiré brass candle holder creates the same light-and-shadow effect that made 1920s venue tables so magnetic. Odd numbers, staggered heights — the same rule from our designer candlesticks guide still holds today.
Surfaces that catch the light
Silver, polished brass, mirrored surfaces: in the 1920s cabaret, every surface was meant to catch candlelight and multiply it. A sculptural silver-plated centrepiece stand works exactly this way — not just a vessel, but a surface that works with light.
Geometry on the table
Art Deco's bold lines translate to the table through the shapes of the objects themselves: a sculptural woven basket, a composition of candlesticks at varying heights that draws a stepped silhouette — the same geometric principle Art Deco applied to architecture, here in miniature on the table.
How to style a cabaret table in 4 steps
- Neutral base — let the sculptural objects speak, not the tablecloth
- 3-5 candlesticks in polished metal, staggered heights, at the centre of the composition
- One mirrored or glossy element — a stand, a centrepiece, or small details — to multiply the light
- A single jewel tone — emerald green or burgundy — in one textile or floral element, never more
An aesthetic that works beyond dinner
The cabaret language isn't confined to the table: a sculptural candlestick on a console, a centrepiece as a permanent decor object, work as a constant nod to that theatrical elegance even outside a formal occasion. It's the same principle behind our luxury event styling guide, for anyone wanting to bring this atmosphere to a larger scale.
Discover the Cabaret collection
The collection born from our collaboration with Niko Romito reinterprets exactly this imagery: sculptural objects designed for the table and the ritual of gathering, sharing the same material language that unites historic Art Deco and contemporary design. Explore the Cabaret collection and discover how to bring this aesthetic home.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a table "Art Deco cabaret style"?
The combination of polished metal candlesticks arranged as a staged composition, reflective surfaces that multiply light, bold geometry in the objects themselves, and a single jewel-tone accent — rather than a table overloaded with decoration.
How many candlesticks do you need for the cabaret effect?
Between 3 and 5, always in odd numbers, with slightly different heights to create a staged silhouette rather than a flat row.
Does this style work for a casual dinner too?
Yes — simply scale down to one sculptural candlestick and one mirrored detail to bring cabaret elegance into a more everyday setting.
