At Home in Winter, in the 1950s - Remembering the Past (2024)

FAQs

How did people keep warm in the 1950s? ›

In the 1950's, hardly any homes had central heating. Most people had a coal fire in the living room and that was all. If it was very cold, people lit the gas oven and left the oven door open to provide a little heat in the kitchen.

The 1950s were the age of the consumer. The post-war boom brought massive changes in the home; it was out with the old and in with the new. Open-plan living was introduced, and the fitted kitchen with its brand new appliances was the housewife's domain.

In the 1950s children often played games in the streets outside their houses. This was much safer, as fewer people owned cars and there was far less traffic. Children also played different types of games, with more simple toys. Instead of computer games, they had footballs, hula hoops, skipping ropes and cards.

What did people have in their houses to prevent cold in winters before there was electricity? Long before electricity was common, people had fireplaces for a home heat source.

Before most homes had televisions, people spent their spare time listening to the radio or reading the newspaper; they played board games rather than computer games; and in place of the selection of fast food outlets we have to choose from, they had a takeaway from the local fish and chip shop.

In the 1950's American homes were traditionally comprised of a mother and a father and their children. The father went to work, and the mother stayed home to take care of the children. The kids would be polite to their parents, obey their rules, and as a result form a close parent-child relationship.

1950. In the span of 10 years, from 1940 to 1950, the average cost of a home jumped to $7,354, according to Census data. That equals $93,602.08 today as adjusted for inflation, FRED reports. Housing prices in 2024 have increased 12.73 times since 1950.

As a child of the 1950s and 60s, I remember the most fun times occurred outside: building snowmen, playing in the creek, hiking through the woods, riding my bicycle, galloping through the fields on my pony, swinging on grandpa's rope swing and playing tag or red rover with my cousins.

1950s Dinners

There was no such thing as the keto diet in the 1950s—meat and potatoes reigned supreme. You'd find hearty main dishes like Salisbury steak, beef stroganoff and meat loaf on a '50s dinner menu, plus scrumptious sides. Casseroles were also popular, particularly those featuring seafood or ham.

What flooring was used in 1950s houses? ›

In addition to linoleum, wood floors were also incredibly popular in the 1950s. And, if you're currently renovating a 1950s home, you'll also know (thanks to lots of blood, sweat, and tears) that they were likely also covered up with carpet or other flooring materials in the intervening years.

Replace doors or enlarge windows.

Homes of the 1950s often had small windows or had windows where today we would put French doors. If your budget allows, enlarging window openings and replacing some windows with French doors can add light and modernize the look of the home.

So why were homes so affordable in the 1950s? Well, for lots of reasons, including the post-World War II economic boom, government policies that encouraged homeownership and building, the rise of mass-produced housing developments, and the simple fact that there was still abundant undeveloped land in America.

In the early 1950s, hydronic baseboard heating systems began to gain traction as an effective and efficient way to heat homes. This heating method utilizes hot water circulated through pipes and fins to provide warmth.

Thick beddings and curtains

And not much has changed from the past—climbing under cozy blankets pretty much transcends eras as the go-to method for keeping warm during winter. Similarly, thick curtains were used to help keep out the cold in bedrooms and the thicker, the better.

Most homes were heated by coal or oil. Levittown's radiant heat was oil fired. A few ways (in major cities) fuel oil, natural gas, liquid propane, wood, and believe it or not, resistive electric heaters.

People wore extra-warm clothes inside and, when possible, stayed by the fire. Woollen coats, scarves and mittens were common. Some lined their winter clothes with fur. Although fur is often associated with luxury clothing, peasants are believed to have lined their winter clothes with rabbit and lamb.