Explore real 1970s bathroom decor with wild colors, bold patterns and sunken tubs that made home bathrooms totally unforgettable.
Vintage homes & gardens
Explore vintage basement decor from the 40s & 50s—ideas for laundry, hobbies, games and lounging, plus photos and articles to inspire your own basement makeover.
Retro paper plates took off in the 60s and haven’t disappeared since. See how these colorful classics shaped party tables then and now.
In both 1975 and 1978, singer Helen Reddy took national magazine photographers on tours of her California home, which was full of music, plants and country charm. Here’s a look inside!
See how washboards powered old-fashioned laundry days with scrub, soap and skill, plus vintage photos showing them in action.
See how 1950s small home decorating ideas used smart space-saving tricks, clever storage, and stylish details that still work in today’s homes.
From neatly organized tool racks to clever storage solutions, these 1950s (and early 60s) home workshops maximize space and productivity.
Whether plain or fancy, antique kerosene lamps like these were more than home decor – they made it possible for people to work and play late into the night. Find out more here!
Explore the Scholz home story with a look at the Mark 58 design, prefab innovation, and how this model changed mid-century homebuilding.
Here, take a look back at this collection of gorgeous designs and styles of vintage canopy beds that were popular the seventies. Some are some classic and elegant, others modern and breezy, and many fabulously frilly.
Discover how folk art painting uses simple brushstrokes to decorate furniture and home goods, with vintage guides and designs from the 1940s and 1950s.
Ceiling wallpaper made bold statements in the 70s — and it’s making a quiet comeback. See vintage looks and get step-by-step how-to tips from the era.
Remember these vintage above-ground pools – the kind that were big enough to actually swim in, but that you didn’t need to dig a big hole for?
WWII Victory gardens from the 1940s: How people planted them, and how you can grow your own even now
During World War II, people needed to help ease the nation’s burden by growing as much of their own food as possible in what they called Victory Gardens. Here’s how they did it!
Have you ever wondered where products like Formula 409, 7-Up, WD-40 and Preparation H got those famous vintage brand names? Find out here.
Take a look back at these beautiful vintage 1970s bedspreads — cozy designs with retro patterns, bright colors, and added texture from things like quilting, embroidery and fringe.
When post-WWII prefab housing was becoming passe, in the ’50s, a new version of the prefab home emerged – the kind of upper-middle-class home with many mid-century modern design ideas that would become popular over the next decade.
These retro yellow kitchens – in all their buttery, warm and sunny splendor – are here for the midcentury home decor enthusiast to appreciate!
Crystal chandeliers have been a symbol of luxury and opulence since the 18th century. If you’re wondering what crystal chandeliers used to look like, take a peek below at these vintage photos!
Want to know how to make an old rotary phone work? Here’s your handy guide, straight from the 50s!
If you were a mid-century suburban kid you likely had a tubular metal swing set like one of these! Check out this nostalgia trip back to the backyards of your childhood.
Discover vintage kitchen design ideas from the 1940s to 1980s that blended style and creativity — and see why some old trends might deserve a comeback.
Remember these classic 70s things? See the furniture, decor and everyday items that made 1970s homes unique, colorful, and totally unforgettable.
60s bathrooms were bold, colorful and fashion-forward. From sunken tubs to pink sinks, see how these retro spaces made bathrooms a true style statement.
Take a fun look back at the stereotypical perfect ’50s housewife, as she vacuums in heels, washes dishes wearing pearls, and makes everything practically perfect.
Here’s a sweet and pretty way to celebrate spring – with this vintage-style Easter egg tree craft! Here’s how you can make your own.
These 60+ vintage patio furniture sets – charming tables, chairs, chaises and more – were as popular in the 1940s through the 1970s as they are now.
Explore the vintage pink kitchen trend of the 1950s, from pastel cabinets to pink appliances. See what made this retro style such a mid-century favorite.
Dishwasher history starts with Josephine Cochrane, who invented the first automatic model in the 1880s. Her creation changed kitchens forever.
See how 1960s vacation homes were designed for easy living, affordability and style, from simple A-frames to cozy beach cabins and mid-century ranches.
In the 70s, stainless steel or copper cookware wasn’t enough – people wanted retro pots and pans for their kitchen in all of the latest colors and patterns. Take a peek inside those old kitchen cabinets!
See what was cookin’ in home design decades ago by checking out these kitchen islands from the 60s! They combined form, function, and fun, too.
Try your hand at these traditional patterns for Americana quilts – the pride of America’s past, and adaptable for many uses today.
Remember when every girl wanted a Lane hope chest? See 20+ vintage hope chests from the 20th century
Way back when, it’s what every girl wanted: A cedar-lined Lane hope chest for linens and her trousseau. In upper-middle-class homes, giving a teen cedar chest was a longstanding tradition — and practically a requirement for marriage.
Starting back in the ’50s, women were encouraged to start their own businesses, hosting Tupperware parties, and demonstrating how to use those popular plastic containers. Here’s a look back!
Rose Wilder Lane’s 1962 essay on weaving was really a love letter to American independence, stitched together with stories from history and home.
Here’s a look at actor, dancer & singer Gene Kelly’s sweet house in Southern California, as it looked back in 1950, when he lived there with his wife and daughter.
Here’s a look back at 100 years of vintage Fostoria glass – from candelabra to stemware, in clear crystal or a rainbow of colorful hues – that people have been using and collecting for generations.
What did the future look like from the ’60s? See some modernist-style retro futuristic home concepts that captured the midcentury era’s sleek style and space-age optimism.
With a little thought and care – plus the inspiration of these lush holiday table settings of yore – you can create unforgettably nostalgic Christmas table settings that will be remembered for years to come.
Whether you’re a nostalgia buff or looking for Christmas door decorations for your mid century home (or both!), we have some fun and festive ideas!
This collection of vintage Pier 1 Christmas ads shows the great variety of gifts, home decor, and Christmas decorations they had available through the second half of the 20th century.
For decades, it was considered inappropriate for TV or movies to show a married couple sharing a bed. But did married couples really sleep in separate beds back in the ’50s?
On these pictures of Christmas trees in the 70s, cuddly creatures, lace, ribbons, flowers, Santas and toys, were all radiantly spotlighted with the gleam of shining ornaments. Take a look back here, and get a little retro inspo for your holidays!
Years ago, old-fashioned clock radios like these were on pretty much every bedside table around America, both lulling us to sleep with music and radio shows, and getting us up for work in the morning.
Inside the gorgeous Thomas Edison house: A glimpse into his unique 1916 home life at Glenmont Estate
The Thomas Edison house in New Jersey housed both new inventions and priceless antiques – and was where his children were born, and where he died.
Adapted from an article that ran in Better Homes & Gardens print magazine back in December 1970, this cute craft how-to for “colossal Christmas balls”
The melted plastic Halloween decorations popular in the ’70s were ‘delightfully different’ and ‘captured the happy Halloween spirit.’
Here’s how to craft creative salt dough ornaments for Christmas! It’s easy to stir up a batch, and makes getting into the holiday spirit extra fun.
Ever wondered what home redecorating was like back in the early 1900s? Here, see some popular Edwardian wallpaper styles and home decor color combinations!
Back when cheap Halloween party decor was a distant dream, people had to make their Halloween decorations the old-fashioned way: by getting creative. Ghoul School 1919 is now in session!
These retro Christmas ornament craft ideas may be more than 50 years old, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less festive than you’d expect to see today! Take a look at how easy they are to do.
From all these beautiful old-school Bigelow carpet styles, celebrities Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz chose their dream carpet to decorate their home.
The vintage home of Clancy Collins White and her celebrity parents Mary Ann Mobley & Gary Collins in Beverly Hills was steeped in southern charm – and you can see it right here.
Biltmore is a huge private estate and tourist destination in Asheville, North Carolina with 250 rooms spread over four acres of floor area, and it has 43 bathrooms and 35 bedrooms. See it here!
Mr Whipple: Please don’t squeeze the Charmin! 20 years of legendary TV commercial toilet paper drama
Discover the story of Mr Whipple and his famous “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin” commercials, one of the most memorable ad campaigns of the 20th century.
These beautiful antique kitchen ranges from the 1920s & 30s were huge and heavy. See vintage ads and photos that showcase these unique appliances!
Here, look back at the rediscovered art of stenciling, plus see dozens of examples of traditional stencil patterns from throughout history!
Millions of cute ’70s kitchen accessories like these appeared in homes from all across America back in the day.
Here are a few authentic old-fashioned ways to make homemade soap, with directions from the olden days in Nebraska back in 1908!
Whether new or classic, millions still love vintage Corelle dishes from the Corning company (also behind Pyrex & Corningware). See some of the dish patterns available during the ’70s & ’80s!
Whether wet-look vinyl or fur-look polyester, these vintage ’70s toadstool ottomans & gull-wing chairs were the epitome of budget home style for trend-followers.
Monsanto’s Home of the Future at Disneyland – set in the futuristic year 1986 – was built almost entirely of plastic, either alone or in combination with traditional building materials.
Here’s a look at our collection of vintage 1950s table settings – direct from magazines that came out between 1950 and 1959.
Remember having fun in vintage playhouses & forts like these? Take a look back at some of these retro play structures through the decades, from the ’50s through the ’80s!
This charming upper-middle-class home – a vintage 1970s designer dream house in Denver – was compact and neatly designed, the surfaces were hardy, the wallpapers were bold… and the style was so very seventies.
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion is filled with 999 retired spooks and spirits who have taken up permanent residence at this California theme park. Sneak a peek!
See how gazebos became one of America’s favorite outdoor retreats with a look back at some vintage styles and backyard designs!
Actress Leslie Uggams’ name is widely recognized, but in 1970, she was in the spotlight for something different — her home decor. We have that scoop!
See several sets of authentic paint sample cards that feature Victorian house colors, showing how people back in the 1800s decorated their home exteriors!
These vintage tips to identify antique silver come from the 1940s – and include diagrams, descriptions and photos of lots of vintage silverwork.
Step into the past with this 1950s dream house — a nostalgic paradise featuring an indoor pool, spacious living areas and other comforts unique to the era!
Colorful retro 60s kitchens, when it was an exciting new trend in appliances – an idea that’s been growing ever since the first tame departure from clinical white to pale pastels and subdued browns.
See what retro inspiration you can get from the ’60s and ’70s with these kitchen cabinet facelift ideas that are perfect for the DIYer.
Vintage bean bags were so popular in the 70s because they were fun and super comfy – filled with pillowy-soft polystyrene beads. Here’s a look back at dozens of old-fashioned styles and retro fabrics that were available back in the day.
Explore the charm of 1950s vintage Pyrex — discover the colors, patterns and history behind these treasured kitchen classics.
The old-fashioned Dymo label maker was easy to use and affordable – which meant that these colorful plastic sticky labels used to be seen almost everywhere and on everything.
With space-age design elements like starbursts and swooshes, and the large backplates, some of the most popular mid-century modern door knobs were absolutely iconic, and easy to recognize.
In the ’70s, the popular choice was shag carpet – with bouncier colors and more interesting textures and originality in designs than ever before.
Take a stroll back to the late 1800s and early 1900s to see some of the grand homes and New York mansions that lined Fifth Avenue.
Liquid soaps like these were still somewhat of a novelty in the 1980s and 1990s, and people were happy to get a break from using bar soaps when they washed their hands. See some of the old brands here!
Take some time to peek back at these vintage clocks, in both traditional & mod designs – classic elements of retro and midcentury home decor styles of the 50s, 60s & 70s!
Vintage oilcloth, a durable material traditionally made by coating canvas or linen with linseed oil to create a waterproof surface, has a storied history for household use, and was especially popular back in the 1940s and 1950s.
Below, in this vintage collection of 1970s kitchen decor ideas, come with us to explore the lively and diverse styles that existed back when bold
Take a trip back in time and see the bright and pastel colors, patterned and plain styles of retro toilet paper – kinds you rarely see today.
Look back at these great examples of more than fifty 1980s bathroom decor ideas – plus retro color schemes – that cover the gamut from elegant to eccentric to extra-dated.
See more than 40 vintage Libbey glasses from the ’70s that you might remember, including colorful tumblers, shaped patterns, stemware & more.
A shag carpet toilet seat cover with matching tank cover sound good? Our counterparts in the ’70s loved their fuzzy toilet covers, and weren’t ashamed to admit it.
Learn how to macrame with the 70s technique to create vintage-style projects – a macrame plant hanger, a belt, basket-style coasters and a macrame owl.
This unusual home in the hills of Oakland, California is tree house – with a modernist design – belonging to Dave Brubeck, known as ‘Mr. Jazz’ to his fans.
A flashback to the 1970s: Take a peek back to the early days of how developers designed sustainable communities.
Explore the history and enduring charm of kitchen pass-through windows, a design trend that transformed home layouts from the 1950s to today.
See more than 60 examples of vintage Libbey glassware from the 1960s that you might remember – and probably would love to see again today!
That characteristic mid-century modern flair — with an abundance of color, clean lines and geometric patterns — translated perfectly in these examples of 1950s Christmas wall decorations
This new, revolutionary wall-mounted refrigerator and freezer that hangs from the wall is a completely new and advanced concept of modern living. Truly, it is the most convenient and magnificent refrigerator-freezer ever produced!
Step back and time and enjoy these charmingly vintage Christmas scenes celebrations from the 1940s through the 1970s, showing holidays that were picture perfect.
Discover a curated roundup of must-see vintage Craftsman house plans. Perfect for those interested in classic design, renovation, or new builds.
See 40 vintage breakfast nooks that brought warmth to kitchen corners, through photos and illustrations from the 20th century – showcasing a blend of nostalgic charm and practical design.
