In design, we often look through the lens of the past to inform our present. And with mid-century modern style so dug in -- and no longer just a furnishings trend, thanks largely to millennials -- the question is, what's the next aesthetic to resonate?

Many signs are pointing to Art Deco. Modern in its heyday in the 1930s, the style crossed a swath of large and small objects for design, from buildings and furniture to everyday objects, even jewelry, with simple shapes dressed by extravagant materials and marked by craftsmanship.

The look is bold, opulent, even flamboyant. Its forms can be shapely or angular. It can be tailored or sexy, lavish and glamorous. And its scale in furnishings doesn't overpower. We've traveled through strong cycles of embracing the style, including in the late '70s and early '80s.

And in late '90s, "Titanic" launched a new wave of love, even though the decor aboard the iconic ship preceded the official birth of Art Deco by more than a dozen years. Yet the opulence of such "floating palaces" in a more romantic era struck a chord.

But there's no doubt about its current presence, as characteristic design elements have been sneaking in with patterned stylized and geometric motifs, channeling and fluting.

At the spring High Point, North Carolina, furniture market, a major 45-piece collection was launched at French Heritage, with another significant one at Fine Furniture Design. There's lighting, wallcovering, tile, rugs, textiles, dinnerware, glassware and serve ware.

A recent exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York celebrated a broad spectrum of the design with The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s. More than 400 works, including furniture, textiles, tableware, fashion, jewelry, paintings, posters, wallcovering and architecture were displayed. Craftsmanship starred in Bakelite radios and exquisite precious jewels from fashion houses like Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier. Touching on the artistry of transplanted European designers, primarily from Austria and Germany, American architecture became an inspirational backdrop, particularly the powerful image of the skyscraper in centerpieces, like the famous Chrysler Building in New York City.

In home furnishings, "Art Deco is interesting," says trend forecaster Michelle Lamb, publisher of The Trend Curve. "It can be decorative, but a lot of it has to do with adding nuance to shape." During its heyday, "nothing was too small to have design applied, brought down to the scale of a perfume bottle" or a makeup compact, a pair of earrings or a bracelet.

The key, according to Lamb, is to revamp the inspiring elements of tradition in ways that make them approachable.

"Millennials may want something more interesting -- newer, fresher -- but it will have to be informed by clean lines. And it can't get too big -- not much bigger (in scale) than pieces were in the '40s, '50s and '60s."

Los Angeles designer Michael Berman, who designed a wallcovering collection for Fromental with some Art Deco inspiration, says that its decorative graphic element is especially suited for mid-century modernism "because the furniture is so simple, with linear silhouettes and clean lines. That allows people to get a little more adventurous with some pattern on the wall, on the floors."

When French Heritage rolled out its Facet collection, it represents an exciting direction for company president Henessy Wayser, who collaborated with designer Michelle Workman for more than 18 months to produce it. Zebrawood, rosewood and oak burl veneers, as well as faux shagreen and fashionable lacquers emphasize the clean lines of the design, and accents of solid brass, copper, brass inlay, nickel and mirror define and add a dressy flourish. Upholstery by Kravet includes velvet, satin and woven jacquard in a palette of midnight blue, fuchsia, winter green, gypsy rose and shades of light and deep purple.

Workman, who grew up in Los Angeles ("which has a ton of AD architecture," she notes), always has been fond of Deco style. But she wasn't at all interested in replicating line for line, just riffing off of it, "flavoring with an Art Deco sensibility rather than a straight reproduction. And, of course, a little glam."

"Deco is a really wonderful transitional style," says Workman. "It's still rooted in history, yet completely modern. For millennials, it's a style they're not familiar with. To me it's about the clean lines, geometries. And the materials -- exotic woods, beautiful burls, skins, shagreen and parchment."

Workman had a little fun naming some of the pieces, which range from $500 to $10,000, for cocktails. A small book depicting pieces from the collection includes recipes and brief history of the drinks. One of her favorites: the channel-backed Hanky Panky Chair: "That leg. So thin, but cast in metal. Love its elegance."

When designer Patrick Aubriot designed a Deco collection for Fine Furniture Design, he looked to his roots for a historical connection. His interpretation is subtle, distilled to the essence of pieces in clean, classically inspired, contemporary silhouettes. It features figured anigre veneers in rich, dark Cafe Noir finish, black granite with chiseled coin edges and silver-leaf accents in a bronze patina gilt finish.

Shapes -- curves or linear and angular -- add to the look, and can be especially accentuated in accessories, such as decanters and soup tureens, and by lighting. Aerin Lauder was inspired by stylized flower forms with the design of a ceiling-mounted pendant light, available in silver or gold. Another elongated AERIN sconce called Eaton for Circa Lighting sparkles; a 14-inch tall, 7 1/2-inch wide jewel-like column style with spiral glasswork accented in gold, and can add a luxurious Deco accent to a wall in a bedroom, living or dining room.

Here's the thing: Many of the newest Deco style pieces are ideally suited for small spaces. Case goods, like bars, are not towering, most topping out at 6 feet tall. Some chairs almost look petite, but sit well, and are comfortable for larger frames.

A new Deco collection from Diesel Living with Moroso, introduced at Salone del Mobile in the spring, features small-scale clean-lined upholstery, sitting on faceted mirrored faceted bases. Patrizia Moroso says that the collection represents two different, yet coexisting aspects of certain contemporary trends -- "one darker in tone ... with a more aggressive and enigmatic aesthetic, and the other inspired by nature and a visual radiance, with soft and welcoming shapes."

Another turn was taken by Timothy Oulton, whose signature has come to be brown leathers with hides in a more rustic aesthetic. His Rex console plays on the romanticism and glamor of the 1920s, with its hand-cut crystal prisms that dazzle.

The spirited geometrics and stylized patterns can be complex in a range of colors, and especially powerful in black and white, as in the repetitive fan shapes and diamonds of a new wallcovering called Majestic Gold from the bathware company Devon & Devon. Or a bold fabric pattern in black embroidered on natural linen from Boussac. Or a take on an op-art vibe, in an intricate inlay of bone on the face of a console by Bernhardt.

Geometric patterns, especially in a larger scale and in multiple hues are almost mesmerizing. And in textiles or rugs, they can anchor a space, providing a number of options for pulling together companion colors for accents and art in a room. A good example is a series of wool rugs designed by Zaven for CC Tapis. They recall the colorful artistry of Ukranian-born French painter Sonia Delaunay, whose art and textiles were exhibited in a Paris retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in 2015.

"A lot of the motifs take on Aztec and Egyptian forms," says Michelle Workman. The discovery of King Tutankhaman's tomb in 1922 ignited an interest that led to stylized panthers, gazelles, garlands and maidens, which have been expressed from the kitschy to the sublime.

The price range for authentic Art Deco actually waxes and wanes, according to demand at auctions, and you can fetch something decorative for hundreds of dollars. At the high end, originals have hit the $1 million mark. A square extension table in rosewood by French master Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann recently was posted for $100,000 on www.1stdibs.com.

A new piece by Lalique Maison actually features a crystal inlay originally designed by Rene Lalique in 1928 for the Orient Express. It retails for just under $35,000. The ivory ash and crystal Joueur de Pipeau bar speaks fluently in the opulent lexicon of the original movement.

One way to integrate a bit of Deco styling is with tabletop or accessories. The Portuguese porcelain company Vista Alegre introduced a handsome range of Art Deco-inspired designs in porcelain and lead crystal. A tabletop collection called Emerald teams beautiful shades of light and dark greens, richly decorated with matte gold. The company actually used original pieces of the brand to recreate the exhuberance of the period.

Vista Alegre's Jazz cups are all about shape and attitude. Their handle is a triangle, and the bold coral and white with black borders adds to the graphic. The company also features whiskey decanters in a number of shapes and Deco-inspired designs.

Also keep an eye out for characteristic Deco motifs in textiles, such as bedding and even kitchen towels and pillows.

Between the choice of Deco style patterns and modern furniture designs, there's an appeal to consumers of all ages, especially because pieces can play off mid-century modern, traditional and other contemporary styles.

Lamb says that as millennials seek more mature styles and as more dressed up furnishings, in general, gain momentum, Art Deco style will benefit. She expects it to stay at the high end through mid-2018, and emerge at more moderate price points for 2019.

"In a sea of plains, pieced woods, the richness of multiple patterns enhances choices," says Lamb. "'Eclectic' now is a dated term, and it's not so much about mixing styles and stripes and values, as it is creating an environment that is unique to you."

Sources

-- AERIN, 866-647-3330, www.aerin.com

-- Bernhardt, 828-758-9811, www.bernhardt.com

-- Boussac, through Pierre Frey, 212-421-0534, www.pierrefrey.com

-- CC Tapis. Company is in Milan, Italy: email info@cc-tapis.com, www.cc-tapis.com

-- Devon & Devon, 718-649-5882, www.devon-devon.com

-- Diesel Living, Diesel Collection at Moroso, available at New York's DDC, 212-685-0800, www.moroso.it

-- Fine Furniture Design, 336-883-9918, www.ffdm.com

-- French Heritage, 800-245-0899, www.frenchheritage.com

-- Fromental, 347-625-1838, www.fromental.co.uk

-- Lalique, 888-488-2580, www.lalique.com

-- Timothy Oulton, at HD Buttercup, Los Angeles, 310-945-5423, www.timothyoulton.com

-- Vista Alegre, 888-506-0526, www.vistaalegre.com

-- Walker Zanger, 732-697-7700, www.walkerzanger.com

Even if you're not a "pattern person," 'fess up. Some designs just pop -- especially on the walls and floors. Like a compelling piece of art, a giant bloom or palm frond on an open ground can be beguiling. A dynamic geometric, like a chevron or a wide stripe, is particularly arresting in graphic black and white. An allover abstract recalls grand expressionist canvases. A multi-patterned patchwork can be appreciated for its intricacies, just as in the hand-sewn equivalents. Surfaces can be stimulating.

One thing is certain: Ornamentation is back. And its expression is morphing, in large part due to the explosion of technology, namely digital printing. And part of the reason for the growing popularity is the desire for personalization and an artisanal touch -- real or perceived.

"It's all about personalization," says Michelle Lamb, publisher of The Trend Curve, which reports on international trends in the home furnishings industry. "The term 'eclectic' is now dated," says the Minneapolis-based forecaster, "and it's not about mixing styles and stripes and (color) values. It's about creating an environment that is unique to you. You can almost see the mark of the maker, and it's absolutely key."

Although wallcovering waxes and wanes in popularity, it is most definitely enjoying a moment, especially with the influx of so many artisanal producers. At the high end, companies like Fromental are go-to sources for designers seeking sophisticated and elegant patterns. Or de Gournay, which draws raves for magnificent landscapes as large as life, gorgeous chinoiserie and period murals, sometimes touched with gilt.

For many, patterns are intimidating. But not so for Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, partners in life and in their design firm, Madcap Cottage. They're not at all afraid to put pattern on walls, on floors, on ceilings, windows, sofas and pillows -- sometimes in the same room! Authors of the new book "Prints Charming" (Abrams, $35), they show how to choose, use and layer patterns. They also are debuting a wallcovering collection this fall, first on One Kings Lane (www.onekingslane.com).

"We're in a new Arts and Crafts movement," says Nixon. "It's a reaction to all the technology on Instagram and Facebook every hour of the day. We want to have moments of life where we feel something special. A hand touch. Something authentic in our homes."

The Madcap gents reside in the more is more camp -- with the honed eyes and editing that it takes to pull it off. But even designers more known for modern style, like L.A.-based Michael Berman, are appreciating surface decoration.

Berman thinks that the popularity of mid-century modern style, which has morphed from a style trend to a core of design, allows for pattern to be used as backdrops.

"The furniture is so simple, with linear silhouettes and clean lines," says Berman. "That allows people to get a little more adventurous with pattern on walls and floors."

Berman's new wallcovering collection for Fromental "reinterprets traditional paper through a lens of modernity," with some Art Deco inspiration.

Trends seen at shows like Cersaie, an annual tile showcase in Bologna, Italy, have been largely focused on amazing innovations in porcelain, many of which highlight the graphic capabilities of digital printing. Themes in recent years have focused on nature, wood lookalikes, geometrics, some with 3-D effects, retro looks, artistic murals and integration of metallics (accents or allover shimmer).

Within these themes, there's much room for creativity. Take the uber-popular wood looks, for example. We've seen wide "planks," narrow "boards," heavy grains, a range of hues, including the more fashion-forward taupey grays. We've seen them laid up in chevron patterns. And then there are the unexpected twists, such as the intriguing Woodline collection from Unica. It takes a wood grain pattern, plays with it to create still another design with a crisp black outline, as it also creates dimension.

And it's not even nostalgia as much as an appreciation for great turn-of-the-century or mid-century design that drives some revisiting. Concrete and amazing facsimiles in porcelain often have rich ethnic roots. The Cir brand from Gruppo Romani, for example, introduced a collection of glazed porcelain stoneware in muted colors that evokes the look of historic tiles from Havana. The tiles are especially effective when installed in a patchwork pattern featuring the different designs.

A new wallcovering from Flavor Paper highlights another global inspiration with a simple pattern -- an almost Suzani-like linked circle, but in blown-up scale and with a detailing that looks like stitching. It was inspired by a print the designer describes as "South Africa's denim equivalent," dating to the 1800s.

A rich oversized floral from Black Edition's Herbaria wallcovering collection was actually inspired by Dutch masters. Voutsa's exotic Tahitia chinoiserie by artist George Venson features enchanting foliage stretched vertically on a long panel that can be isolated or ganged together to create a larger piece of art. Printing on grass cloth gives it texture.

Madcap Cottage's jungly fronds in shades of green seem electric, like neon on a black ground in wallpaper for York.

Allover prints such as Aimee Wilder's cheetah can be equally arresting -- both from unorthodox teamings of color as well as the treatment and scale of the pattern, which has a sort of swirling motion. It's both the scale and palette-teaming that differentiate the newest designs from the miniprints of the '70s.

Another prevalent touch -- both in tiles and in wallcovering -- is a hint of metallic, especially gold, which has been warming home decor for some time. It can be like a whisper, as in a wash, even on grass cloth. Or it can be part of the design, as in a "stripe" or geometric hexagon in gold on a white tile that actually is an inlay of real metal on marble or porcelain, sometimes with a hint of veining beneath.

While there are so many patterns to entice, application is further intriguing. Besides conventional spots for tile, like bathrooms or backsplashes, ceilings have been added to feature walls as prime locations -- parallel to the way wallcovering are being used.

Even borders are no longer limited by typical linear dimensions or heights. They can be enchanting and even whimsical, as in a collection of Fornasetti air balloons, blimps and sailing ships staggered and in various sizes by Ceramica Bardelli, available at Hastings Tile & Bath.

Whether it's dreamy or whimsical, fantasy or vividly realistic, you can find an artisanal look for walls, floors and ceilings that covers a wide range of budgets -- from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Add your own vision and personalize as you wish.

Sources

-- Black Edition, The Romo Group, 800-338-2783, www.blackedition.com

-- Flavor Paper, 718-422-0230, www.flavorpaper.com

-- 41Zero42, email info@41zero42.it, www.41zero42.com

-- Fromental, 347-625-1838, www.fromental.co.uk

-- Hastings Tile & Bath, 212-674-9700, www.hastingstilebath.com

-- Italian Trade Commission (for Italian tile companies ABK, Ceramica Francesco de Maio, Gruppo Romani, Unica) 212-980-1500, www.italtrade.com

-- New Ravenna, 757-442-3379, www.newravenna.com

-- Voutsa, 646-892-7797, www.voutsa.com

-- Walker Zanger, 732-697-7700, www.walkerzanger.com

-- York Wallcoverings, 800-375-9675, www.yorkwall.com

-- Aimee Wilder, 347-746-2554, aimeewilder.com

So, remember when talking to your plants was a thing? If you do, you can probably picture macrame-sleeved hanging spider plants. That was groovy accessorizing in the '70s.

Guess what? Macrame is back. And so are houseplants.

Under the radar as a design trend, suddenly houseplants -- and the containers for them -- are almost as hot as the sizzling summer hit "Despacito," though we can't vouch that views on retailer websites are anywhere near the 3 billion eyes on the Luis Fonsi YouTube video.

What is significant about this verdant trend is that it's more expansive than before. In past decades, it was large-scale sculptural plants that won over designers, who then were tasked with finding appropriate containers for those palms and fiddle leaf figs that looked good and suited the style of the decor.

Now, smaller plants are garnering attention, and it's as much about the green styles and textures -- from asparagus ferns to newer air and string plants as well as succulents -- that are driving a need for more particular and innovative designs in containers. There's more to it than color, including tapping into current design trends from matte black and geometrics to 3-D and textural surfaces.

Even brands like Tom Dixon have weighed in, in elegant copper and glass containers that can hold flowers or plants.

Like popular planters for the patio or window boxes, there's a range of squares and rectangles as well as round pots. There are trays that usually include at least a trio of pots -- perfect for use as a centerpiece on a dining table. The terrarium also has made a comeback -- and in a variety of new forms that combine glass with wood. Some glass orbs can be suspended from the ceiling chandelier style, staggered and in multiples. At Anthropologie (www.anthropologie.com), there's even a brass and colored glass mobile.

Curiously, Pottery Barn has an entire plant shop that covers all of the trends and targets those without green thumbs. Its message: "Get the houseplant look" -- with faux greens.

One reason for this current resurgence in houseplants is a desire to connect with nature, to bring the outdoors in, in apartments and single-family homes that have little outdoor space. Many want to grow their own herbs and vegetables -- and if they can't do it outside, why not inside? Hydroponics (growing plants without soil), aquaponics (in water), grow lights and special herb pots for the kitchen are cultivating interest.

There are, of course, the health benefits of plants. More than 10 years ago, says Susan McCoy, CEO of the Garden Media Group, a boutique marketing firm that tracks trends in horticulture and gardening, plant folks were preaching about how they clean the air of volatile organic compounds.

"At the time we thought, who is going to know what that is?" says McCoy. Today, VOCs are part of the dialog regarding paints, fabrics and floor coverings.

"A recent study shows that 52 percent of Americans know that houseplants help purify the air," says McCoy. That's good, because studies from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that levels of indoor air pollution levels can be two to five times (and in some cases 10 times) higher than outdoor air. Some of the best plants to absorb indoor toxins include peace lilies, orchids and ferns.

As mainstream consumers grow food indoors, Garden Media's "Grow 365" report states that "indoor gardening is redefined. Growing clean fresh food is a necessity, not a luxury. "

Indoor gardening stores produced just under $1 billion of revenue in 2015, and the market has grown 8.2 percent.

"People also are seeking plants as a way to find mental wellness," says McCoy. "Plants inside or out help clear the mind, relax, unplug from a 24/7 life. More and more we need to be in touch with nature, find that calm, get centered."

Much of the green style has been coming out of Europe. You can thank Paris-based botanist Patrick Blanc for the living wall. His stunning 40-foot-tall green space on the side of the Quai Branly Museum in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower never disappoints. The vertical garden has been getting a little traction here in the U.S., mostly in commercial spaces, although it's a natural for residential outdoor settings -- especially when space is limited.

Williams-Sonoma was one of the first retailers to introduce a wall-mounted frame with integrated watering capability and a grid for placing a variety of plants. Models have included blackboard, which are super because you can write the names of the herbs in chalk, much like those slate cheese boards on which you can ID varieties of cheese.

Another European transplant is the idea of wall-mounted cubes or bowls, which hang like wall art or light sconces. One intriguing large flat zinc circle at Terrain has an envelope for plants.

The enormous popularity of succulents probably has driven some of the designs. Some of these containers have a textured finish -- an attractive contrast with the smoother succulents. Others are footed, which steps them up from a tabletop. Footed planters for the floor, like the mid-century style containers at West Elm, have a feel more furniture and beautifully suit a modern vibe.

Among the most inventive pieces are those from sculptor Robert Remer. His imagination has sparked everything from sculptural torsos to organic shapes to all-weather tables and chairs, which have pockets for tucking in plants. He sees his work as nature taking root in decoration, rather than "decorating with plants."

"The placement of plants is very deliberate," says Remer. "It's an aesthetic nod to nature."

String or air plants also offer a fresh look. String gardens, popularized by Dutch designer Fedor van der Valk, draw from the Japanese concept of "kokedama," kind of a floating bonsai.

While maintenance of string gardens may require taking down, soaking or misting, the air plant (genus Tillandsia, AKA tilly and tills to aficionados, is more forgiving. Indoors, it requires no soil -- just filtered light, while the humidity from showers in a bath is ideal.

Even on a small scale, a little green goes a long way.

"Nature, with an incredible vista of mountains, valleys, the ocean, has this wonderful scaling quality," says Remer. "There's a similar feeling with a dish with one plant, integrating nature into something manmade."

Sources

-- Atelier 2+ for Greenhouse for Design House Stockholm, www.ateliertwoplus.com

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Opiary, 347-674-9744, www.opiary.com

-- Terrain, 877-583-7724, www.shopterrain.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

-- Williams-Sonoma, 877-812-6235, www.williamssonoma.com

Sidebar

Ready to Grow

Growing your own vegetables and herbs indoors is becoming quite the movement. And along with it come new ideas about how to provide water and light.

Some home builders have begun to install grow lights in kitchens or potting rooms, and it's a natural for kitchen manufacturers to design soffits or "canopies" with LEDs above long shelves that can display potted basil, sage, dill, rosemary.

Several Kickstarter campaigns soon will be enabling products from companies like GrowChef (www.growchef.com), which has an indoor hydroponic system with three-color LED lights that claims to harvest as much as an almost 10-foot-long garden with a daily yield. Another, SproutsiO (www.sprouts.iO), is an app-controlled "Personal Produce" system.

More portable options include lamps that can be assimilated into the decor, an alternative to a bulky standalone. One exquisite example from Czech glass company Brokis (www.brokis.eu) features an elegant rose bowl on a wood stand centered by a lamp that lights the plants that circle it. It's tailored to the needs of specific succulents.

Another category is the mini-greenhouse. Sweden's Design House Stockholm recently teamed with the design group Atelier 2+ to create an architectural piece that looks like a glass house on legs. Its Thai designers felt a need to get closer to nature while living in Sweden, "and to make room inside our dwelling for the nature that surrounds us." Available in ash or charcoal, it makes a fetching architectural statement -- in addition to bringing a lovely mini garden indoors (www.ateliertwoplus.com).