1940s home decor

Table of Content

• Vintage Salzbuchstabe Federwaage Schwarz
• Vintage UNION D.R.Wz. Klemmbügel Holz 40er 50er Klemmleiste für Poster Bild Postkarte
• Stunning Ceramic Cake Or Pastry Plate, Checkered, Villeroy und Boch / Dresden / Germany, Decor Schotten, 1930‘s or 40‘s
• r Vintage French Louis XVI Easy- Stühle in Blauem Damast - ein Paar
• Four 1940s bathroom designs
• interior design — the 8 most popular looks

Furnishing those homes was another goal for many. Four rooms of furnishings was a substantial expense on top of the cost of the home to put them in. This example of a linoleum inlay works with the design and furniture layout of the room. We instantly know that the focal point of the room is the dining table and chairs — because it is in the center of the room and has been “pointed to” with the linoleum inlaid floor. It is only after we have taken in the table that our eyes wander to the red draperies, the pie cabinet and yes — the red ceiling.

Like you said though, all materials were quite scarce, with paint, papering and fabric creations being pretty much all there was to deal with. Fixing up an older house was a necessity — new housing starts were pretty much banned during the war. Also, if you lived near any industrial center, there was a chronic housing shortage — so being able to turn a room or attic into an apartment was really important.

Vintage Salzbuchstabe Federwaage Schwarz

The crenelated, appliqued gold pattern along the table cloth has a definite Grecian flavor. Yet the room designer calls this crenellation a "Chinese fret design." In any case, this dining room's purple-on-gold bold color schemecatches the eye and makes for lively conversation. Public Domain Mark 1.0This uniquely designed kitchen works off of an oval shape to facilitate workflow. Sink, stove, and refrigerator are all within easy reach.

A strange geometric design with the classic rust brown, avocado green in it, along with some black and what was probably cream at one time. It has been quite lumpy to walk on and we sure found out why. The adhesive underneath had disintegrated into black sand.

Vintage UNION D.R.Wz. Klemmbügel Holz 40er 50er Klemmleiste für Poster Bild Postkarte

And, the medium blue paired with chartreuse and just a touch of rose — gorgeous. What are the key elements of 1940s interior design and decorating style? What colors, shapes, patterns and “feel” did we generally see in 1940s homes?

Even fabrics though were scarce, with the War Production boards putting clothing on the “endangered list,” declaring how clothing was to be constructed to conserve fabrics. Even the use of elastics even came under fire when the sources of natural rubber dried up because there were no more imports from the countries that produced it. Shoes came under the sharp eye of the Board, rationing leather, encouraging the fads of fabric sandals and espadrilles, fabric covered heels that were usually wood underneath, open toed shoes and so on. In the past I had bought wallpaper on clearance and found out it was so old the color was not still being used for accessories. I had a devil of a time finding drapery fabric!

Stunning Ceramic Cake Or Pastry Plate, Checkered, Villeroy und Boch / Dresden / Germany, Decor Schotten, 1930‘s or 40‘s

Oh, how we wish we could get this floor — and even more so, the famous #5352 — today. Our attic bedroom, 1940 cape cod attic turned master bedroom suite. Public Domain Mark 1.0In a period when books frequently lined the walls of homes, this 1940s home has a solid wall of books along the staircase. It's a classic look with bright, bold-statement splashes of red against blue that help catch visitors' attention the very moment they enter the home. Public Domain Mark 1.0In this kitchen, linoleum is used not just for the flooring, but for the sink surround and countertops.

Large tempered plate glass found its way into higher-end homes. Some of these curves and scallops began to straighten out. And, unfortunately, the previous owners also remodeled the bathroom and removed a privacy wall and a few other changes which means we have areas with no linoleum. I have scoured the new linoleum and none of it matches so we’re trying to figure out a way to coordinate some pieces to look like it was intentional and not a crappy repair. When they remodeled, they removed most of the original tile as well. The only bit left is the shower floor and the frame for where the shower door is installed.

Edges would be rounded off with a router, sanded down, and lacquered to help smooth them down. Home design in the 1940s, especially in the kitchen, represented a rapid shift. Older styles and materials were quickly replaced. New ideas took hold, and the kitchen was transformed.

Three types of linoleum are combined to form this floor. Remember, we still were a nation concerned about vermin and disease, including polio. When your kitchen is white, you can see the dirt and crumbs — and get rid of them. There was so much to be grateful for, that we did not necessarily need “more stuff” to be happier. 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. Public Domain Mark 1.0This 1940s dining room style is up for interpretation.

The die cut rosettes and scalloped design that are inlaid into the floor are so sweet — to me, the epitome of 1940s decor. Notice how both the flowers and the scallops are repeated throughout the room — making for a cohesive and feminine space. There is an Armstrong linoleum product on the wall — “Linowall” — too.

Here’s another thoughtful bathroom, packed with storage — notice how the tub is pretty much “built in” to the storage in front of it. This actually seems like a pretty darn good idea.