What are the key elements of 1940s interior design? What colors, designs, patterns and “feel” did we generally see? And why? To my mind, based on the advertising illustrations and magazine articles that I’ve seen from the period, typical designs from the immediate postwar 1940s – say, starting with 1946 – through to about 1953, had this variety of characteristics: innocent, sentimental, sunny, sanitary, patriotic, traditional, Hollywood glamour, and carryover streamline-deco-jazz age from the prewar period. Special thanks to: Bradbury & Bradbury, which made this slide for me. It also showcases one of their 1940s reproduction wallpapers.
A number of readers asked if I could share more details about the content of my recent home show talks. I did not videotape them, because they are 30 minutes long or longer — and that does not make for good video. So over the next while, I instead will break the talks down into digestible, illustrated chunks. During my talks, I pretty much always strive to put mid-century design into historical context as I display vintage illustrations. And, I usually start at the beginning: the 1940s. Disclaimer up front: I don’t have a degree in this – I’m a passionate observer, who is still “putting all the pieces into place.”
In the immediate wake of the war’s end, there was a tremendous housing shortage. I’ve read that we needed to get 6 million homes built as quickly as possible. And I’ve even seen references indicating that the government was concerned that if we didn’t deal with the housing (and jobs) situation quickly enough, America’s young men would become restless and political – in a bad way. So we built houses as fast as we could. Usually: Very small houses by today’s standards, no more than 1,000 s.f. There were material shortages given all this construction… as evidenced in the 1946 Aladdin Homes customer letter, above. I also swear I’ve read somewhere that there were prohibitions on building more than one indoor bathroom at some point… I need to find the source.
Also, in terms of design, in this immediate postwar period, the “look” still tended to be similar to that of the late 1930s and wartime period. There had also been material shortages during the war, so manufacturers had put all their new-design work on hold. A good example: After the war, when Heywood Wakefield retooled its factories to again produce furniture, its Riviera line was really just the same, but with new handles, as the Rio line produced earlier.
Because of the shortage and ramping up from 1946 until 1952, these years are generally viewed at more “40s style” than “50s style.” (In his terrific book Populuxe
Innocent: When I look at some 1940s design, I see a real sweetness. We still were a nation in which the masses did not have a lot of material affluence. No clutter, far less excess. Thanks to Kohler for this 1949 image from their archives.-
Sentimental: When the war ended, the nation was immensely grateful to have their men and women all back home. It had been five years of tremendous sacrifice. I see a lot of ads like this one, that celebrate the simple pleasures in life. Wallpaper is sweet, flowery.
- Sunny: Kind of same as above. There was so much to be grateful for, that we did not necessarily need “more stuff” to be happier. One other thought is that we still were a nation with a lot of farmers and apartment dwellers – the spaces were small, money was tight, and as a result, interiors and their decorative appointments were simpler.
Sanitary: White kitchen cabinets, or wood. Remember, we still were a nation concerned about vermin and disease, including polio. When your kitchen is white, you can see the dirt. 
Patriotic: I see a lot of red-white-blue kitchen color combinations. In generally, I think I see richer colors – full-on primary colors and jewel tones – than in the later 1950s pastel period. I’ll attribute this to carryover 1930s preferences and to the influence of Hollywood, but there may have been other factors — there often are, often related to technological innovation.
Traditional: My mom, who grew up in the 40s, says the furniture was all dark wood where she lived in Pennsylvania – the influence of Europe, she recalls. Of course, we also had Heywood Wakefield blonde – but we also had colonial maple from Heywood Wakefield, Cushman, Willett and scores if not hundreds of small regional manufacturers. The more I explore the history of interior design – of all eras – the more convinced I become that: We are a traditional nation.
Hollywood glamour: Think Nick and Nora and the Thin Man. We did not get television until 1949… before that, our idols were often very glamorous. Remember women’s clothes from the 1940s – their hats and tailored suits and gloves and bags and hose, the whole very put-together thing? That’s the look I think of for 1940s bedrooms and living rooms – formal, very put together. In other rooms, we also may see large prints used on wallpaper and barkcloth pinch pleats, often tropical.
Streamline – deco – jazz age: Through to 1953, I think I see more high-contrast bathrooms. That is: black bullnose (or dark green or maroon bullnose, depending on the field tile color). Post-1953, the bullnose is less likely to be black and more likely to be the same color or a similarly toned contrast color, e.g. pink and mint, pink and robin’s egg, etc.
As part of my recent blog update… and now that I’m back from the home show… I’ll be working to ensure all stories are in the right categories so that they will be easier to search up on the blue navigation bar. Meanwhile,if the 1940s are your thing, take a look at the 1940s stories up in Browse STORIES so far.
![GypsyRoseWool_BW_2010[9117]](http://retrorenovatio.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/GypsyRoseWool_BW_20109117.jpg "GypsyRoseWool_BW_2010[9117]")
Vintage style hooked rugs for your 1930s or 1940s home 
1950s interior design and decorating style — 7 major trends 
1960s decorating style — 16 pages of painting ideas from 1969 Sherwin-Williams 
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Our bathroom had the black bullnose tile, it was built in 1952 and we also had the same sink. I wonder what that extra ‘baby’ sink is for? It’s cute!
hi Leah, the ‘baby’ sink was known and marketed as a ‘dental sink’ — i think it was promoting a second spot so more family members could share the bathroom, it also may have had sanitary implications.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for the rundown. I saw you talk Friday night and wanted to see and learn more about the 1940s homes. My house was built in 1940, and as I paint and generally refresh the various rooms, I’m try to strike a delicate balance: I want to choose colors and textures I like but still honor the historic flavor of the house and bring about subtle improvements (i.e. repair and maintain the original pine beadboard that covers the walls in the original four rooms). The swatches are particularly helpful and cool to see. Thanks again!
Pam, I think I may have ‘lived another life’ in the 1940′s….that era .feels like home to me. My family lives in a 1944 Dutch Colonial. It’s taken us 20 years to recapture its simple, sweet and welcoming appeal. Am now in my second (or more) round of decorating. I so appreciate the effort and research you have done on this period and am devouring the information.
By the way, a family story goes that when my parents married in 1945, they were forced to ‘fix up’ a rather large chicken house to set up housekeeping because of the housing materials shortage.
Many thanks for all posts of the 40′s!
Thank you, handyandy, I know readers want more 40s and even 30s, so I’ll keep working at it. And wow: Starting married life in a chicken coop. I would LOVE to see photos – do any exist? Note my recent post on Hodgson Houses. I wonder if it was one of them, that company — credited with being the first manufacturer of prefabricated housing — started with chicken houses. See the post here, it also has links to a complete 1942 catalog that may interest you: http://retrorenovation.com/2010/02/14/hodgson-houses-the-first-pre-fabricated-homes-in-the-u-s/
hi pam!
10 years ago, my husband and I bought a 1948 cinderblock house in seattle. I really love your website and reading about the post war culture and how it affected the design of the homes and wonder if you have any info on the cinder block homes. we love ours, and your site has really helped me to appreciate the house for what it is.
should add too, that all of the homes in our neighborhood have in floor heating that was original to the house in ’48! this makes them so cheap to heat and we love it (as do our pets!) any insight you might have to why builders used the radiant heated floors rather than forced air or what ever would be wonderful!
Pam,
Thanks so much for focusing on the 40′s for this post. Our house was built in 1949, has a coved ceiling in the living room, scalloped crown molding in the kitchen along with the china hutch with my newly added shelf paper you posted a photo of a while ago. I just love my little house!
Kathy
The childhood home that I strive to recapture was a family cottage on Lake Huron. Built in the 20′s, it evolved every decade, with the 40′s being especially influential. I love that the decor was layered, year by year.
Anyway, my family was pretty frugal, so updates tended toward new textiles, dishes, and accessories. (Imagine the rooms above, except with formal turn-of-the-century furniture!) It’s a fun look to recreate.
The decorating details of the 40′s seem subtle to me, so I really appreciate the review. Thanks again for the post!
Would love to know where on Lake Huron you used to visit. I live in a town right on Lake Huron. My husband and I just bought a 1945 Cape Cod home in the town I grew up in. Very few historical homes where we live, the entire town minus a few buildings burned down in 1911. I have always loved older homes, and this is the first older home to be for sale at a time I was looking to buy.
Pam, thank you SO MUCH for this excellent post! Our home was built in 1951, but it definitely seems to have a very 1940s ‘feel’ about itself. Thus, despite my love for MCM, more ‘traditional’ things often seem to fit better in some rooms, so we’re going for a mix.
It’s funny seeing the red, white, and blue kitchen schemes so often here; our kitchen’s walls are turquoise, the cupboards glossy white, and all of the accessories & small appliances are red (my favourite colour). The effect really is quite cheerful, and everyone who comes in just loves it. We have a vintage 50s chrome-legged and Formica-topped table that is red, white, and beautiful; once we get the legs re-chromed it will look beyond fantastic. (Too bad our taxes jumped up, have to keep saving!)
What a great article! I have one question though … in the very last image, do you have any idea what’s up with the big sink and the little sink? I’ve never seen anything like that before … wondering if this is a house for the three bears, and Mama Bear’s sink isn’t in the picture. LOL
Back in the day, sink manufacturers tried to promote a smaller “dental sink”. I think this may have had to do with (1) the fact there generally was only one bathroom and (2) concerns about hygiene and spreading disease.
Pam, just wanted to tell you how delighted I am to see our little house in one of your blog posts! We live in a 1941 Aladdin kit home–but never would have known it if not for this lovely illustration! It’s the exact outside footprint with alterations made to the interior floor plan!
Cool, Becca! Be sure to see this post: http://retrorenovation.com/2009/06/12/46-years-of-aladdin-home-catalogs/
Hi, I am excited to discover your site–yes, through the NYTs article. My husband and I own a house built in 1948. It was rented for 50–yes 5 0–years because the children thought they would return to live in it someday. Consequently, little has been done in the way of renovation. We are currently repairing windows and plaster. Your article explains why it has an odd combination of 1940s and 1930s fixtures; there must have been fierce competition for resources after the war. The kitchen was built on the fast and cheap: plywood cabinets, red and black linoleum tiles. The counter, appliances, sink, and faucet have been replaced in the last decade or so with rental quality items. We are trying to decide how to renovate and whether or not to open it up to the dining room in the current style or reinstall the swinging door, which is still in the basement. Advice welcome!
Hi Pam,
I grew up in the 1940s and 50s. What one must remember is that the vast majority of houses in existence in at the end of the war in 1945 were built in the 1930s and before. Unless people had a lot of money, (and we did not, although we were not poor by any means) they bought a house, perhaps painted inside, and brought whatever furniture they had with them. Then adding things as needed, money permitting. Our furnishings were an eclectic mix of family pieces, including pieces bought over time, some of grandmother’s antiques, and our house in no way looked like a 1950s retro style. OK, we did get a formica and chrome kitchen table set, but that was about it. (Wish i had it now!) The look was overstuffed 20s/30s to begin with, and as my parents could afford it, gradually morphed into something akin to Virginia colonial revival. The fact is, I cannot recall any of my family or friends having a 100% 40s or 50s style as we know it today.
It is easy to put together a style once it has been defined, but when it was happening – that’s another thing entirely. Years down the road, someone might put together a 2010 style house/blog etc. How many of us are living in a place like that now? Likely less than 1%. Certainly not me! I am working on a 1930s updated style kitchen with colonial revival/beach/cabin casual in the rest of the house. Oh, I so need a designer to pull it all together!! LOL
It was also very true that building supplies were extremely hard to come by during the first year after the war was over. Drywall, for instance was almost impossible. My father worked for a manufacturer, and made some good deals with people because he could get some.
Great site! Lots of fun!
Richard
Kent, Washington
Thanks for an inspiring site for me, who’s looking for typical 40s interior, colors and decoration for our home. I really like the 40s “red-lips-color”, and is thinking of that in my kitchen. Since I also love teak-furniture from the 50s, I’m trying to match it if possible. Regards from Sweden!!