We might not have invented a time machine yet, but if you want to go back in history, that's pretty much possible through photographs. So, if you've ever been curious about what homes in the United States really looked like between 1940 and 2000, get a glimpse inside them here. Bring on the floral upholstery, patterned wallpaper, and shag rugs!
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1
1940
Chicago History Museum//Getty Images
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.
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2
1941
Jim Heimann Collection//Getty Images
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.
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3
1942
Bettmann//Getty Images
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.
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4
1943
Chicago History Museum//Getty Images
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.
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5
1944
Chicago History Museum//Getty Images
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.
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6
1945
Harold M. Lambert//Getty Images
In the 1940s, kitchens were quite compact. They did, however, benefit from modern appliances.
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7
1946
Bettmann//Getty Images
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!
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8
1947
Bettmann//Getty Images
The '40s were a transitional period. Here, a TV set makes an appearance in an otherwise pretty traditionally decorated living room.
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9
1948
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty Images
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.
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10
1949
Harold M. Lambert//Getty Images
Patterned wallpaper was quite popular in the 1940s. Instead of a traditional floral motif, this one in a bedroom features a more abstract design.
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11
1950
George Marks//Getty Images
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.
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12
1951
American Stock/ClassicStock//Getty Images
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.
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13
1952
Harold M. Lambert//Getty Images
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.
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14
1953
Daily Herald Archive//Getty Images
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.
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15
1954
Denver Post//Getty Images
Open floor plans took off in the 1950s. They became a signature of midcentury modern homes.
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16
1955
Hulton Archive//Getty Images
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.
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17
1956
Keystone Features//Getty Images
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.
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18
1957
Hulton Archive//Getty Images
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.
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19
1958
Slim Aarons//Getty Images
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.
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20
1959
Harold M. Lambert//Getty Images
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.
Stefanie Waldek is a Brooklyn-based writer covering architecture, design, and travel. She's worked on staff at Architectural Digest, ARTnews, and Oyster.com, a TripAdvisor company, and has contributed to Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, Design Milk, and Hunker, among others. When she's not dreaming about midcentury chairs, you can find her re-watching The X-Files, likely in an airport lounge or on a plane.