This Is What the Typical American House Looked Like in the 1950s

The 1950s were a fabulous time in America. World War II was over, the economy was prosperous, and the largest generation in history was born. This newfound sense of hope and potential expressed itself in the 1950s American home. Traditional was out, and Modern was in.

The design elements of the 1950s American home took bold risks. Besides favoring clean lines, 1950s homes often featured space-age, artistic, and experiment themes in furniture, moldings, and more. These houses also incorporated the most vibrant, funky color schemes to tie the rooms together. 1950s homes are a visual feast, so let's take a look at some. (For clothing design, discover the most iconic fashion trends of the '50s.)

To compile a slideshow illustrating what the typical American house looked like in the 1950s, 24/7 Tempo consulted several publications. These include Apartmenttherapy.com and theweek.com. From there, we confirmed aspects of our research using sites like Vintage Virtue and Better Homes & Gardens.

In the 1950s, normal people could afford innovative appliances that made everything from cooking to washing clothes much easier.

The 1950s were a transitionary period, reflected in the style choices in 1950s homes. Some homes were more traditional, while others, like the one pictured above, marked a bold new direction in design.

As the purchasing power of the American family increased, so did their tastes. Stylish and artful interior design pieces made their way across the Atlantic and into American homes.

While televisions existed in the 1950s, not everyone had one. Even rich and famous figures like Frank Sinatra (pictured above) chose a fireplace as the centerpiece of his living room. (For the era's famous figures, discover the biggest icons of the 1950s.)

Before televisions made their way into every American home, the radio served as the primary form of entertainment for families in the 1950s. Audio equipment like the Magnavox stereo/radio unit (pictured above) was something of a staple in many living rooms.

It's not like bedrooms weren't customized before the 1950s. However, the period saw bedrooms take on a new flair. The economic and cultural boom of the post-war era allowed for bedrooms to take on a flavor unique to their occupants.

This photo from 1955 illustrates the strides made in bathrooms. Gone were the days of outhouses and leaky faucets. Instead, many families were treated to stylish, even futuristic bathrooms full of sleek design elements and helpful appliances.

For decades, houses were laid out along similar plans consisting of tight rooms in an adjacent spread. In the 1950s, however, open floor plans were introduced and allowed for large rooms with a variety of purposes. The picture above shows not only an open floor plan including a dining room, breakfast nook, and kitchen, but it also shows the futuristic, Jetsons-like style choices that began expressing themselves in American homes.

The appliance innovations of the 1950s weren't confined to the kitchen. New configurations of washers and dryers allowed for one-stop shops where all food and cleaning needs could be met with ease and style.

Not to be confused with the genus of Ants, Formica is a composite material created by Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1912. In the 1950s, however, Formica's affordable, lightweight consistency saw it flourish in homes across the country. Like wood, but more durable, Formica embodied the great leaps in '50s interior fashions.

As previously mentioned, 1950s houses straddled the old and the new. Houses like the one pictured above, retained elements from the pre-war period that gave rooms a more cozy, elegant feel.

Once the television became more affordable, it became a staple of the 1950s American living room. Nothing says the '50s like a small television surrounded by futuristic chairs of loud, clashing colors.

Rooms were wackier, funkier, and full of color in the 1950s. This fabulous sense of color extended to curtains as well. Typically, 1950s curtains contained abstract, geometric, and fruit-like patterns, giving rooms that extra oomph.

One remarkable element of 1950s houses was their seating. Gone were the comfy but stuffy couches of old. Instead, new European-inspired designs dominated the seating arrangements in living rooms.

If you're in the market for a more vintage place, you'll know the house hasn't been remodeled if the walls retain intense, sometimes clashing colors. In the 1950s, loud-colored wallpaper, often pastel, became all the rage. Furthermore, the colors would incorporate funky and abstract shapes.

Here is another example of the extra bright color schemes in 1950s houses. Even though the silverware of this dining room looks more stately, the burgundy carpet and light blue and pink walls are a dead giveaway for the period.

Much like Formica, another composite material called Linoleum made serious inroads into 1950s homes. Comprised of materials like linseed oil, sawdust, pine resin, and calcium carbonate, Linoleum gave the look of stone and the feel of wood. While it worked perfectly for the funky composition of 1950s houses, it's fallen out of favor in recent years due to its somewhat "tacky" look.

Even celebrities got in on the 1950s design craze. The half couch/half bed that Marilyn Monroe lounges on (pictured above) illustrates the mixture of old and new that came to typify 1950s houses.

The 1950s took homemaking to new heights. Kitchens were made sleeker, and chock full of handy appliances that allowed anyone to make their house into a home affordably, stylishly, and quickly.

Sure, the 1950s saw furniture take on a futuristic flair but let's not forget about the fixtures. Taking inspiration from European design, 1950s houses were populated with artistic, space-age-looking light fixtures. (For more Mid-Century flavor, learn about the history of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.)