02 Oct Paint Colors Through History
Many people today are under the mistaken impression that our ancestors lived in homes painted in muted shades. However, technology-savvy history buffs are using advanced scientific lab techniques to analyze the various pigments used on historic homes of decades past. The paints historians have found are surprisingly bright and vibrant.
If you were to take a trip through the history of colors, you would find that home color trends have evolved over time. Each decade had its own popular hues and highlights. In this post, we’ll explore historic interior and exterior paint colors from each decade of the 20th century.
Historical Home Color Trends
Whether homeowners hired painters to prepare vibrant paints using dry pigments mixed in a liquid media or took advantage of the industrial era’s range of premade cans of colored paint, there has always been a desire to keep the home looking fashionable.
The popularity of different interior and exterior paint colors across the decades of the 20th century reflect influences from fashion, art, music and even world politics.
Paint Colors of the 1920s
The roaring twenties saw a flourish of color. Images like the Chinese Red Dragon or the vibrant blues, turquoises and greens of the peacock were incorporated into both the interiors and exteriors of homes across the United States. These bright shades were accented by light neutrals, grays and bright whites, which spoke to a healthy, disease-free environment.
Paint Colors of the 1930s and 1940s
Most of this era was defined by the Second World War. As a result, the reds, whites and blues of the American flag were seen everywhere in U.S. homes and were even incorporated into interior paint colors. However, these decades also saw the birth of the modern movement, with its simplistic, understated color palette. Exteriors following this movement were painted in muted blues, greens and creamy yellows.
Paint Colors of the 1950s
The exuberance and joy felt during the post-war boom is apparent through the public’s use of paint color. From the pastel accents used to adorn kitchens and living spaces to the exteriors painted in lilac, chartreuse and flamingo pink.
Paint Colors of the 1960s and 1970s
These decades saw an eruption of youth culture defined by peace, love and rock and roll which was reflected in the use of color. This era wasn’t afraid of bright hues like cyan blue, hot pink and orange in interior and exterior paints. People accented their bright walls with paisley designs, geometric patterns and clashing colors.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, people in these decades also used black and white paints to make a mod statement.
Paint Colors of the 1980s
America went mauve-mad during this decade. The pale violet hue was coordinated with baby blue and gray in both interior and exterior paint schemes. As Miami Vice became a fashion icon, pastels dominated paint palettes in many homes.
Paint Colors of the 1990s and 2000s
The 1990s kicked off the digital age, with eye-popping colors like lime green and chartreuse becoming highly popular. However, as the decade came to a close and transitioned into the new millennium, home exteriors and interiors became more subdued — browns, grays and beige neutral colors were accented by golds, soft greens and blues.
Incorporate Historic Paint Color Trends Into Your Home
As a leading painting contractor in Kansas City, KS, we understand the insides and outs of painting historic homes and giving your house paint that captures another era. As you seek to fit your historic house into the timeline of decades past, painting your interior or exterior popular colors from that time long ago will give your home a vintage feel.
For high-quality service from our full-time painting crew, contact Neighborhood Painting today at 913-709-6151. We’d be happy to provide you with a free estimate for your job.
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