When art nouveau was showcased first in Paris and then in London, there was outrage; people either loved it or loathed it. Within the style itself there are two distinct looks: curvy lines and the more austere, linear look of artists such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Some aspects of art nouveau were revived again in the 1960s.
Style
sinuous, elongated, curvy lines
the whiplash line
vertical lines and height
stylised flowers, leaves, roots, buds and seedpods
the female form - in a pre-Raphaelite pose with long, flowing hair
exotic woods, marquetry, iridescent glass, silver and semi-precious stones
Influences
arts and crafts - art nouveau shared the same belief in quality goods and fine craftsmanship but was happy with mass production
rococo style
botanical research

Arts and crafts (c.1860 to 1910)
The arts and crafts movement was made up of English designers and writers who wanted a return to well-made, handcrafted goods instead of mass-produced, poor quality machine-made items.
Style
handmade
simple forms with little ornamentation
beauty of natural materials
copper and pewter - often with a hammered finish
stylised flowers, allegories from the Bible and literature, upside down hearts, Celtic motifs
Influences
-medieval styles
-socialism - the ideas of John Ruskin and early Marx, especially the dehumanising effects of industrialization
-the Orient - the pared-down quality of Japanese art

1960s
Pop art and op art both had a firm footing in the 1960s. Artists such as Andy Warhol and David Hockney with their pop art references to mass culture (soup cans, comic strips, images of icons like Marilyn Monroe) crossed over into interiors, and on to murals, wallpaper and posters. Similarly, op art with its use of pattern and colour to simulate movement found its way on to everything from furniture to wallpaper. Artists such as Bridget Riley, who works predominantly in black and white, became the vogue. Whether you choose the hippy ethnic look or plastic space age, it will be far out.

Style
plastic and PVC
disposable, throwaway
multi-purpose furniture
low-level
revivalist
fun, witty

Influences
art nouveau - the whiplash lines and stylised flower shapes were revived in the 1960s and metamorphosed into psychedelia
space age - capsule and pod-shaped furniture
travel - ornaments, rugs and anything brought back from hippy pilgrimages to India and especially Morocco
cinema - the line between fantasy and reality is blurred as rooms were based on film sets; scenes from films such as Help! and Barbarella were recreated in magazines like House and Garden, showing readers how to get the look

1950s
Open plan - make your house as open plan as possible. If you can, knock through walls but always consult a structural engineer first to check if it's a supporting or load-bearing wall. Mezzanine levels are also typically 1950s.
Floor - lay a chequerboard vinyl floor in black and white, red and white, or yellow and white. Use floor tiles rather than one continuous sheet because, if a section of floor gets irreparably damaged, they're far easier to replace.
Fitted kitchen - in your fitted kitchen, choose Formica tabletops. Spray paint the doors and fittings. Some companies sell original reconditioned kitchens or sell new ones in a similar style and you can sometimes pick up cabinets in junk shops.
Chairs - go for the diner look in the kitchen with chairs in chrome and vinyl in day-glo colours. Give a table a new lease of life with a Formica or Fablon top. Other typical 1950s furniture are basketweave chairs in a primary colour and white or 'Butterfly' chairs (a canvas sling on a metal frame).
Fridge - a gigantic fridge is essential, especially in a bright colour. They're all over the high street or you can get original reconditioned ones.
Appliances - fill the kitchen with big chrome appliances: blenders, toasters, and swing bins in chrome or plastic.
Shades - choose between bright colours such as red, lime green, yellow, black, and delicious ice cream shades such as pistachio green, bubblegum pink and pale blue.
Fireplaces - rooms generally don't have fireplaces. Abandon the dado rail, paper and cornice division of walls.