New methods of manufacture meant new materials were being used, such as fibreglass, Formica and plastic, and fitted kitchens were the new ‘must have’. While most new houses were semi detached properties, bungalows and flats were also appearing more than ever before.
Although the outside of many 50s homes were basic and without overt detail – shying away from the excessively detailed exterior architecture of previous periods – inside homes were bright and shiny, with the US providing a large influence for British designers. Flat roofs appeared more and more, but, aesthetically, the average property to emerge from the 1950s is not regarded as one of the most visually attractive from the timeline of our architecture – with their large picture windows, plain basic brick work or fascias, non-existent roofs and chimney-less exteriors.
The living area of many homes no longer featured furniture grouped around a fireplace – in fact, many houses did away with fireplaces altogether – for those with televisions, this became the centrepiece of a room. Open plan homes, complete with mezzanine floors, all-new fitted kitchens and merged eating and living areas living rooms, were popping up all over the country during the 50s.
If you want an authentic look, you might just have to consider knocking walls down – assuming they are partition and not load-bearing or supporting walls. Always consult a structural engineer first.
Picture rails, dado rails and wall paneling were certainly a thing of the past, as were cornice divisions of walls. Primary colours around the home were very popular for wallpaper was out and paint was definitely in. Walls were adorned with free-standing units.
Hardwood flooring was still popular, but chequerboard vinyl flooring was a fashionable choice in the kitchen area. Flat pile carpet carpets was also in plenty of homes.
Fireplaces were largely abandoned, and rooms generally lacked the elaborate ornamentation that many homes had retained as a legacy from Victorian times.
America was a huge influence on domestic living and chrome appliances were all the rage, plus new materials, including rubber and aluminium, revolutionized many aspects of the modern 1950s home. Formica worktops, painted cupboards and chrome appliances were a far cry from the ordinary functional kitchens of earlier decades. And, for your own 1950s fitted kitchen, a gigantic fridge is essential, especially in a bright colour. They are available in high streets or you can still buy authentic and original reconditioned ones.
Furniture was now being made in innovative foam rubber, shaped into the all-new low-slung armchairs and recliners, creating the modern lounge – together with the ever present coffee table, and stacking furniture made an appearance for the first time.
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