If you are looking to add a touch of the 1950’s to your home decor, the best way to do this is by scouring vintage photos. Why? Well clearly its the best example of how people ACTUALLY dressed up their homes (as opposed to what you see in the magazines). So for today’s post I have searched the internet for these images so that those who are interested, can begin decking out their homes in true 1950’s style.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy and eBay daily!

Decor ideas from the homes of the 1950’s

The Vintage Photos…

Lets begin with Gladys of Sioux City in her front room-June, 1956.

First up Gladys is cute as button. Her mirror on the fireplace is fantastic and the flower stand by the window is outstanding and very mid century.

1950s vintage photo: 1956 photo of an older woman in her living room. fantastic Mid Century Interior Design Inspiration.
Source: Flickr

Family Dinner. Lots to look at in this photo. From the dishware to the fridge to the cute border on the kitchen curtain, it’s all so very 1950s.

1950s vintage photo of a family eating dinner in their kitchen at the table. Super 1950s kitchen decor / interior design inspiration.
Source: Etsy

1953 Dance Party. The colour in the curtains match part of the flowers in the wallpaper (good job!). Also can we take a moment to admire the dresses in this post. According to Flickr , Patrick Q the lady in the green dress was his grandmother and she held onto that dress until the day she died around 40 years later.

1953 Dance Party vintage image-The vintage 1950s photo is showcasing 1950s evening dresses and mens wear.
Source: Flickr

The fiberglass lamp shade is amazing!

February 1, 1958 a young woman on the phone her 1950s gown before heading to the dance.

Before the dance, 1958 girl in a fancy 1950s gown in her livingroom vintage image
Source-Flickr

Cute Baby alert in a 1958 living room. The chairs and table are so mid-century cool and coveted pieces in today’s modern world.

1958 Baby in livingroom vintage photo
Source: Flickr

You can never have enough lamps….apparently. Not sure if I would adopt this look in my home though.

1950s photo of a livingroom with lots of lamps and big furniture.
Source: Etsy

A flower couch and shiny flower wallpaper is the backdrop for this young 1950s couple posing on their couch.

1950s photo of a young couple on a couch in 1950s fashions.
Source: Etsy

1950s/ Mid Century Modern Vintage Photo of Mom and Daughters Standing in Kitchen, View From Living Room. SO much home decor inspiration in this photo!

1950s/ Mid Century Modern Vintage Photo of Mom and Daughters Standing in Kitchen, View From Living Room. SO much home decor inspiration in this photo!

Source: Etsy

A nice streamlined 1950’s interior design look (I’m really digging the couch and the pillow).

1950s photo of a woman on a couch wrapping a christmas present
Source: Etsy

Mid Century Kitchen, with the coolest floor (see my vintage post on Linoleum Flooring HERE).

vintage photo of a mid century 1950s kitchen
Source: Etsy

The brown bathroom with a pink tub and double sink.

1950s photo of a bathroom vintage image
Source: Etsy

Birds and sunflowers shower curtain.

1950s woman in the bathroom brushing teeth vintage image
Source: Etsy

Mental Note: Take photos of your child’s first communion in front of your first TV so you can remember them both fondly. Mix and match curtains and wallpaper again.

1950s vintage image of young girl and television -First Communion.
Source: Etsy

Young boy in his bedroom -1955.

1955 Kodacolor Print Vintage Snapshot Photo Boy in His Bedroom
Source: Etsy

1955 Bedroom Interior.

Bedroom Interior, 1955: Vintage Snapshot Photo
Source: Etsy

Well friends, I hope you enjoyed taking a look at true 1950’s decor and if your redesigning your home in an authentic 50’s style, I hope it helped!

Question time: Do you like 1950’s decor? Or are you a fan of other era’s? Share in the comments below.

FURTHER READING: Check out my archive of ‘Vintage Home Decor‘ Posts HERE.

Liz

16 Comments on Decor ideas from the homes of the 1950’s

  1. I love the photo of the ladies all dressed up and having a party in someone’s house. I have a few like that of my parents and their friends from the 60s. I love that they got so glammed up! xx

  2. I’m growing to appreciate the 50s furniture, but nothing could make me love a brown bathroom! I’m still so happy to have gotten rid of our dodgy 70s/80s brown and green bathroom decor. What a relief!

    The kitchen photo reminds me a lot of one of my dad and his family in their childhood home! That would have been in the 60s so probably still the 50s style!

    • Nope to the brown as well! I’m not a fan of the pink that is super popular but I would take that over brown any day lol!

      My friend said the kitchen reminded her of her grandparents home, so it must of been a popular style šŸ™‚

  3. Thanks for this post! I came across your site while doing an image search for 1950s kitchen decor. I recently moved into an 1880 home which has a 1950s kitchen complete with metal Geneva cabinets. So Iā€™m trying to decorate it to the time. Looks like kitchen decor was pretty sparse then. I love the kitchen towel calendar in the one picture. My grandmother always had those and I forgot about them!

  4. This makes me wistful. Those were much better times in many regards, although a lot of terrible things happened – wars, Jim Crow, fear of atomic bombs, the Cold War. However, even through all of that, it was still somewhat of an age of “innocence,” of family, and of hope for a better future — all of which is long gone in today’s insane world of political division, fanning the fires of hatred, and rise of evil in the world (which will be defeated yet again, but at what human cost!).

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