Here's What the American Home Looked Like the Year You Were Born
You'd have to be pretty brave to install this kind of kitchen. Yes, red is still very much a thing in 1978.
The first half of the 1940s were defined by World War II. Because many materials were unavailable during the war, decor stayed relatively static—this 1940 living room has classic '30s hallmarks, including damask curtains.
Still, evidence of the technological advancements of the 1930s made their way into the residential design world. Here, the curved lines of the furniture have a Streamline Moderne quality about them—the design movement was inspired by aerodynamic design.
In the early 1940s, radio was still the primary form of living room entertainment. Though televisions had been invented, they were far more expensive than radios, which were found in more than 80 percent of American homes at the time.
The beginnings of the midcentury modern design movement started to take root in the 1940s. But it didn't flourish until after the end of World War II.
Art Deco and Art Nouveau were still popular in the first half of the 1940s. The geometry of the wall hanging is very Deco in nature, while the organicism of the headboard is more Nouveau.
In the 1940s, kitchens were quite compact. They did, however, benefit from modern appliances.
Florals were definitely popular in the 1940s, especially in upholstery, though they'd soon make way for more modern design. As with all design trends, however, they come back!
The '40s were a transitional period. Here, a TV set makes an appearance in an otherwise pretty traditionally decorated living room.
Chinoiserie might've been more of a 19th-century fad, but it made a strong comeback in the 1930s. And its presence continued well into the 1940s, especially as international travel and trade opened up in the postwar years.
Patterned wallpaper was quite popular in the 1940s. Instead of a traditional floral motif, this one in a bedroom features a more abstract design.
By 1950, televisions were becoming more popular in American homes. But that didn't stop people from continuing to decorate with a more rural style—take, for instance, this gingham-upholstered chair.
The Butterfly chair, officially called the Hardoy chair or the BKF chair, was developed in Argentina in the 1938, but it became a huge success in the U.S. in the 1940s after it was produced by Artek-Pascoe and Knoll. But once the design entered the public domain in 1951, its popularity exploded, with some five million copies produced within a decade.
Tropical motifs like this curtain were all the rage in the 1950s, not only in interior design, but also fashion. The fringed armchair, however, is left over from the 1930s and 1940s.
Tiled fireplaces were on-trend in the 1950s—they were a revival of an Art Deco stylistic choice. And wallpapers, especially geometric patterned ones, were also going strong.
Open floor plans took off in the 1950s. They became a signature of midcentury modern homes.
Nothing says "1950s" like a black-and-white checkered linoleum floor. But here, it's paired with country details, including Shaker-style chairs and painted porcelain jars.
Kitchens began to grow in size in the '50s, in part because of the need for extra space for all the new appliances being developed and added into homes. In this house, there's a dishwasher and a garbage disposal.
Pastel colors, particularly mint green and baby pink, were two of the most popular colors for interior design. Interestingly, they were often paired with red accents.
Truman Capote had an unabashed flair for maximalism, which was losing out in popularity to minimalism by the late 1950s. Still, Capote's home has touches of other popular '50s trends, like Chinoiserie, patterned wallpaper, and a red palette.
It's not always about incorporating all of the latest and greatest trends into your home. This simple living room stuck to the basics when it came to furnishing, though the colors are decidedly 1950s.
Curved fridges are Smeg's signature these days, and in 1960, the appliance's silhouette was found in kitchens across the country. Check out that Formica table, too.
The matching curtains and bench upholstery have a funky pattern that feels very '60s. But there's still quite a bit of traditional decor here, like the two oval framed portraits.
Slate floors, often with different colored stones, became very popular in midcentury homes. The chair in front of the fireplace is an Eames Molded Plywood Chair, designed in 1946 and named by Time magazine as "The Best Design of the 20th Century."
Within open floor plans in midcentury homes, room dividers provide some distinction between rooms. This one takes on a Chinese-inspired pattern.
It's not always about the über modern in the 1960s. Socialite Ann Bonfoey Taylor's Vail home shows how traditional decor was still en vogue.
Lighting design changed greatly in the 1960s. Fixtures became far more sculptural in form.
Open floor plan, large kitchen, vaulted ceiling—this house checks all the midcentury modern boxes. (It's the Los Angeles home of singer Dean Martin.)
Now you can see the multicolored slate flooring in its full magnificence! The material was used throughout the house, from the kitchen to the living room to the patio.
This basement showcases some of the bolder design trends of the late '60s, namely the Op art on the wall and the colorful chair. But it also showcase some of the more neutral, like the wood-paneled walls.
Though most American households wouldn't have such a complete set of modern furniture, this photo shows some of the more minimalist yet avant-garde works of furniture design from the period. Take note of the acrylic chair—you almost can't see it.
Monochromatism was a bit of a big deal. Patterns and textures help to break up the overwhelming pinkness of this room.
Ah, who could forget about shag carpet? It's a hallmark of the '70s.
By 1972, glass-topped coffee tables had been around for some two decades, and they're still used today. Glass tables—or any clear furniture for that matter—provide the illusion of more space.
Philanthropist Mrs. Donald Harrington shows off her traditionally-decorated parlor, which seems rather timeless. But the piece of furniture that firmly places these photos in the '70s? That scalloped ottoman.
Kitchens are getting more and more modern by the mid-'70s. Black cabinets, white appliances, and red counters are a bold design choice—and one that is perfect for the decade.
By 1975, florals are back. So are matchy-matchy sets, like a canopy and a comforter, as shown in Betty Ford's bedroom.
It's not all about pinks and reds. Teal was another trending color in the '70s.
The blue bookshelves in this library could be very 2020s, but it's the batik slipcovers on the sofas that date this room. (And the tie of Osborn Elliott, then the Newsweek magazine editor and former New York City deputy mayor.)
Paisley, pinks, and reds—this is certainly a '70s bedroom. It belongs to businesswoman Helen Gurley Brown, who was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan (House Beautiful's sister magazine).
The floral-meets-plaid wallpaper is a pretty retro design choice. Paired with wood cabinets? Well, now that's going to take some work to update.
If you're curious about the quintessential American home, look no further than the White House. With each new president comes new decor. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy epitomized the early '80s with floral wallpaper, white sofas, and pastel pink carpet in their living room. (See the White House interiors through the years here).
In the early 1980s, open concept floor plans were all the rage. In terms of kitchens, that meant it was time for peninsulas and islands to shine.
Forget the floral sofas of the '70s. Contemporary couches in the 1980s were low-slung and deep-set—ideal for reclining, as socialite Mollie Wilmot models here.
But it wasn't always about super-modern design. Rusticity still had a place in '80s homes. Here, Harrison Ford shows off his woodworking talents with a dining set he made himself.
While pastels were popular in the '80s, so were brighter color choices. Many homeowners had no issues combining both.
If you had wealth in the '80s, you probably weren't afraid to show it off with opulent decor, like crystal chandeliers and velvet dining chairs.
There's a double dose of nostalgia in the kitchen of Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg. First, check out those laminate countertops, which were an '80s staple. Second, look at those colorful fridge magnets—sure to take you right back to childhood.
The rise in popularity of stainless steel led to more contemporary kitchen aesthetics, as seen here in the home of Mike Tyson and Robin Givens. But the subway tile countertops can stay in the '80s (imagine cleaning all that grout!).
Geometric patterns and pastels could be found throughout the entire home in the '80s. And, yes, that includes the kitchen—what a backsplash!
This photo doesn't show a true American home, but a set from Saturday Night Live. It does, however, capture a true American furniture staple of the '90s: A pastel patterned sofa, paired with floral wallpaper and a patterned rug.
Tile was everywhere in the '90s, and that included pretty much every surface in the bathroom. But don't forget to add some wicker furniture to change up the texture.
Slipcovers were an essential part of '90s-era furniture. Pierce Brosnan gets in on the trend with two white sofas and a bold floral one.
The '90s introduced the "all beige, all day" concept. A little blah? Most definitely.
But it wasn't just beige that took over '90s decor. Warm Mediterranean hues—think rust red, sage green, and sunshine yellow—were also popular. Another '90s trend: sponge-painted walls.
This home has a mix of many '90s decor tropes. Let's start with the striped, plaid, and floral upholstery, then move to the built-in entertainment center, and finally end with the wood-cabinet-white-appliance combo in the kitchen.
Home technology was becoming more popular by the second half of the '90s, and teenagers' bedrooms were the place to see all that tech in action. This photo originally ran in the Los Angeles Times with the caption, "Chris Parnell, 16 years old, lives in Mandeville Canyon area of West LA and has a keyboard, stereo, computer and printer, television, VCR and a telephone in his room."
Despite the tech boom, '90s decorators couldn't deny the allure of the countryside. Kitchens often took on a bucolic style, complete with faux flowers and produce.
Home offices, however, took on a darker look, often with deep brown furniture. There's that textured wall painting again.
Old World flair also made an appearance in the '90s, with tapestry-like upholstery, leather ottomans, and even Renaissance-style still life paintings.
At the turn of the millennium, bedrooms—especially for teens—took a turn for the bright and bold. The move wasn't just in terms of color choices. Patterns and painting ceilings were also common.
1978
You'd have to be pretty brave to install this kind of kitchen. Yes, red is still very much a thing in 1978.
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