Furniture from the 50s: a vintage style capable of expressing great happiness and joy. This furnishing style has been transformed over the years into a true modular design philosophy.
A room furnished according to the dictates of the 50's style can only prefer simple and clean lines, the use of simple geometric shapes and the inevitable pastel colour. Let's see together the main characteristics and peculiarities of the furnishing style of the 50s.
Before entering into the subject, it should be pointed out that by '50s furniture style we mean its American or Scandinavian interpretation. The 50s in our country as far as style and design were concerned were still very much linked to the Italian furniture of the 40s, from which they differ only partially.
The 1950s in the United States of America are the postwar years, marked by the economic revival and mass popular culture: among the stylistic and subcultural influences that characterize this decade it is impossible not to mention the Rockabilly style: the latter moves and feeds itself in a context of great renewal and creativity, which only a few years later will also affect Europe (furniture of the 1960s).
The design of the 50s is particularly marked by a great phase of renewal of the materials used for the production of furniture: often and willingly war materials are transformed into real furnishing materials. From this rebirth of materials timeless design icons come to life, such as the famous Lady armchair with foam rubber upholstery. In the 50's a path that led to the birth of the modern design concept began.
Generally speaking, we can say that design and fashion in the 50s were influenced by a climate of optimism and hope that we breathed after the Second World War. This calm and somewhat conservative optimism was to change energetically ten years later with the advent of the 1960s.
The furnishing style of the 50s was undoubtedly influenced by many historical, social and cultural factors. We mustn't forget that in that period we were coming out of the Second World War and also thanks to the climate of general optimism and hope, that period was marked by a sort of economic, creative and intellectual rebirth. The 1950s were the historical period in which the western economy began to grow exponentially and then embarked on the phenomenon known as the economic boom.
In these years the capitalist economy laid the foundations for the birth of the consumer society. However, the change and the great climate of general positivity of the 1950s was still marked by conformism and important conservative principles. The United States became in a certain sense the symbol of the 50's with the great movie icons such as Happy Days and the first big advertising campaigns and illustrations on city billboards. This is the portrait of a happy and carefree America, able to face problems and difficulties always with great optimism.
The designers and the most famous architects of the 50s were influenced by the future and the conquest of space in those years. Another theme capable of influencing the style and design of the time in an impeccable way is the American dream.
The 1950s are undoubtedly marked by the development of technology that also affected consumer goods at that time. Household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, dishwashers and even blenders and coffee machines made their first appearance in the home.
It is unimaginable to try to conceive today how revolutionary the birth of household appliances was at that time, first in America and then in Europe. Household appliances represented for the first time a concrete opportunity to carve out some free time from everyday household chores. The time spent cleaning the house, dishes and clothes could thus be significantly reduced, to the benefit of people.
The 1950s and the furniture sector were also greatly influenced by the advent of rock 'n roll: thanks to the latter, jukeboxes appeared in bars and turntables in homes.
It was in this way that the concept of modern design was born in the 50s, with a view to positivity and enthusiasm, in response to the rigour and moral harshness that had characterised the previous decade.
In Italy, the 1950s were the decade that marked the birth of many successful companies, not only specialised in the production of household appliances or furnishings, but operating in all sectors of industry: just think of companies such as Olivetti, Pirelli or Montecatini, the latter perhaps the most important company specialised in chemical research in Italy at the time, whose work and research will be fundamental to the birth of plastics.
The elements that distinguished the world of furniture in the 1950s, able to combine in an extremely harmonious way, are style and functionality. For the first time, the comfort of furnishings and environments is enhanced by the use of rounded furniture, characterized by soft and enveloping lines. The armchairs have high backrests and are upholstered with extremely soft and fluffy fabrics.
The concepts expressed for the first time by 50s design are modularity, comfort and functionality. In this way, the quality of life increases considerably, even within one's own home and work environment.
In general terms we can say that the 50's are marked by the total predominance of American inspired design, together with Scandinavian style. However, the 50s also represent the birth of the Italian furniture style.
While American design in those years was mainly focused on the aesthetic aspect, Scandinavian design emphasized a concept of furniture able to combine and calibrate the great Nordic artisan tradition with functionality: the Scandinavians used only natural wood and light and soft colours for their domestic furniture since the 50s.
In Italy there were important designers who experimented with mass production for the first time: among the most significant names of the time were Giò Ponti, Marcello Nizzoli, the Castiglioni brothers and Vico Magistretti.
Many lovers of the 50s style, wonder how to furnish a house inspired by the design of the time. In this regard, here is an important suggestion: it is not necessary to engage in assiduous research of 50's or 60's vintage furniture. Of course, if you have one you can dedicate time to its restoration, so as to give it a new life in your home.
If you don't have a vintage 50s furniture, no fear. In this case you should know that today you can choose from a wide range of furniture inspired by the 50's, revisited. For your 1950s nostalgia furniture, choose chairs with a vintage flavour that will make your furniture extremely chic and refined. In a 50s kitchen you will not miss the presence of squared furniture, coloured appliances and, last but not least, coloured metal chairs.
Be careful, however, not to make the environment too heavy: insert a few elements with a vintage character, such as the chairs in the kitchen. In this regard, we can only advise you to buy the fantastic Albavilla Chair: inside a 50s minimal white kitchen, the presence of this furniture is really able to liven up the environment, giving a touch of colour and cheerfulness.
Sedia Albavilla is a piece of furniture with an American style flavour, able to give your space a nonsochè of living, fitting perfectly in total white environments, which are often aseptic and without personality.
