10 Decades of Vintage Color and Design: The 1940s

This is the fifth post in our series 10 Decades of Vintage Color and Design. Welcome to the 1940s.

American patriotism was high in the 1940s. Made in the U.S.A. became a popular incentive to buy. Locally crafted furniture and accessories were an easy way to show American pride. Early American-style furniture in solid heavy wood including maple, walnut, and pecan was in vogue. Floral patterned textiles created a warm homey look. Victory Gardens outside and using scraps of fabric to create braided rugs and patchwork quilts for inside were one way Americans helped out with the war effort by making do with less. 

The 1940s brought about gingham checks, farm animals and fruit tree decor, and floral patterns in bark cloth and chintz. The look was playful in direct response to the cruelty of the war raging overseas. Material shortages due to the war meant designers had to be much more creative, making plastic a go-to material as it was cheap and plentiful. Kitchen and vanity items in brightly colored pastel shades were an inexpensive way to add pops of color.

Wall colors moved away from primaries into more subtle and muted shades of soft pinks and blued greys. Wallpaper was a popular way to add punch to a room using a floral pattern to bring together the colors in a room and add a focal point. The shades of plants in the garden found their way indoors and lent themselves to the interior decor. The clean lines and geometric patterns of the mid-century era were introduced towards the end of the decade.

Bathrooms were colorful. Sinks, toilets, and tubs were made in pastel shades of pink, green, blue, and yellow. Bathroom sinks were freestanding and often had thin chrome legs. All of this was a holdover from the last decade as remodeling was (and still is) costly. During the war years, this was not an option for most households. The long bathroom counters that we now have were not yet in fashion, so often there was a dressing table in the bedroom as a place for cosmetics and hair accessories.  This idea lent itself to the idea of dressing rooms in wealthy larger homes.

 Period inspired wallpaper is a great way to get the look of the 1940s, as are pastel wall colors. Long draperies in a bolder shade with matching pillows and complementary colored wall-to-wall carpeting or a braided rug complete the look. Adding accents, like American art pottery from makers like McCoy and Shawnee or floral art from the era helps build the mood. And don’t overlook vintage 1940s lamps. They are often inexpensive at estate sales and thrift stores. For the cost of a rewiring and a new shade, you can have a statement piece that your friends will envy.

There is an abundance of wooden furniture from the 1940s making its way into the secondhand market currently as the older generation downsizes and gives up pieces they may have received when their parents downsized decades before. Be on the lookout for vanities in particular, they were common in the 1940s which means there are lots of them out there now. It may need a coat of paint to freshen it, but it will add 1940s charm that can’t be beat.

Get the Look of the 1940s:

Notes: Here are more ideas from the woman who designed bedrooms for Armstrong Floors throughout the 1940s.  

This article from Retro Renovation has some great points for recreating the look of the 1940s.

If you are interested in learning how to braid a rug of your own, check out: DIY: Learn how to make a beautiful braided rug from old fabric

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