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Category: Vintage Home

Decor ideas from the homes of the 1950’s

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

The Beautiful World of 1940s Linoleum Flooring

This past weekend I attended a vintage event in Toronto at the gorgeous and historic, Todmorden Mills. On site they have an adorable 1940s cottage with the most amazing original flooring from the 40s in their kitchen. The flooring was linoleum and just look at the pattern….wow! So wow that when I posted it on Instagram the ‘Vintage Gal’ commented that it would be a fantastic pattern for an outfit and I00% have to agree with her!

Linoleum floor Todmorden Mills 1940s

I will be honest I did not truly realize how colourful and fantastic 1940s flooring was (I think I was distracted by all the other items to look at in images), and this discovery intrigued me to see what other designs were out there. So Friends……

Welcome to the Beautiful World of 1940s Linoleum Flooring

1940s Linoleum Flooring

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!


Why Linoleum?

Well very simply it was known for being clatterproof, easy to clean, and resistant to stain. So ideal for a room in the house like the kitchen.

Example of Linoleum Designs as seen in Vintage Advertising:

1939 Geometric linoleum patterns.

1939 Linoleum vintage flooring pattern Armstrong

Source: Cooper Hewitt

1941 featured abstract shapes with stars in muted colours.  On side note, why does the kitchen look like it should be outside?

1941 Yellow & Green Armstrong Kitchen

Source: Flickr

1945-Green’s in every shade!

1945 Green Armstrong Kitchen Linoleum floor

Source: Flickr

Can’t make up your mind on which floor style to go with? Why not go with 2 of them?

1940 vintage kitchen decor linolem flooring

Source: About Home

When you have pink polka dots as a design element, then your linoleum floor 100% needs to be less flashy.

1940s vintage kitchen design with linoleum and pink polka dots

Source: Mid Century Home Style

In 1945 the below colour scheme of Burgundy, Grey and Gold was considered a big departure from the old ways of doing things.

1945 kitchen design with linoleum floors

Source: Source: Mid Century Home Style

This kitchen in 1949 with this fun floor could have been yours for only $50 (a lot of money back then).

1949 Bird Linoleum Company vintage 1940s ad

Source: Vintage Caravans

1940 Armstrong’s Linoleum Floors Vintage Ad. This ad is from the June, 1940 The American Home magazine. Look at all the different colours and patterns?!

1940 Armstrong's Linoleum Floors Vintage Ad. This ad is from the June, 1940 The American Home magazine.

Source: Etsy

The Linoleum floor in this kitchen is my absolute favorite. It really is darling, don’t you agree? This kitchen reminds me of the movie Dumbo and the pink elephants for some reason.

Armstrong 1940s Kitchen Design
Source: Hanbury House

Vintage linoleum advertising continues…

“Kitchens to match YOUR LIFE”….

Which style to choose for your kitchen? -1940s vintage ad-

1940s vintage ad for Gold Seal Congoleum - Vintage home decor ad.

Source: Etsy

If your kitchen is all doors and windows here are some style options. 1949 Armstrong’s Linoleum Floors Vintage Ad.

If your kitchen is all doors and windows here are some style options. 1949 Armstrong's Linoleum Floors Vintage Ad.

Source: Etsy

Linoleum was not regulated to only the kitchen. It was also found in other places in the home, like the bedroom.

1940s Linoleum floor ad armstrongs

Source: Etsy

And the washroom / bathroom as seen in the most adorable space ever! I love the “designated” areas for each of the family’s items.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Bathroom Advertising – Be Inspired!

Vintage green and yellow laminate floored bath 1940s

Source: Retro Renovation

1944 Vintage Ad – “We’ll have three babies…a dog…and a heavenly blue kitchen!”.

1940s Vintage Ad for Linoleum flooring featuring a 1940s kitchen

Source: eBay

Green was a very popular colour during the 1940s (1941 Washroom).

1941 Linoleum flooring in bathroom. 1940s vintage ad

Source: Remarkably Retro

Now here is a couple of images from my 1942-1943 Montgomery Ward Catalog of the Linoleum flooring available for purchase (there were pages and pages).

1942 1943 Linoleum Flooring page as seen in a Montgormery Ward Vintage Catalog
1942 1943 Linoleum Flooring page as seen in a Montgormery Ward Vintage Catalog

Here is one more from an Eatons Fall & Winter 1940-1941 Catalog that I own.

1940 1941 Vintage Linoleum as seen in a vintage Eatons Catalog

Phew, that was a lot of colour, patterns and green going on in these rooms (why so much green?). Did you have a favorite style of linoleum from this post or from your vintage travels? Please share in the comments section below.

If you have not checked the website ‘Retro Renovation’ you really should. There are tons of great ideas on how to return your home into a mid-century masterpiece. Especially the piece on 1940s decor which was a great help for this post today.

Lastly, I am NOT an expert on linoleum floor. I just googled the content for this post and then shared it here. So while I wish I could help you age your floor or help you find a matching tile, I sadly cannot. Sorry!!


You can also shop on Etsy. I have put together a collection of 1940s-1960s (Mid Century) Home Decor items. It is updated monthly. You can find it HERE.


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

Liz 🙂