A Century of American Life and Home Design | Schlage

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A lot has changed in the 100 years since Schlage’s founding. The types of homes we live in, not to mention décor and the technology that makes our daily lives run, have gone through countless transformations. Expand each section below for a snapshot of life in the U.S. during the last century.
1920s art deco living room.
From Flappers to Art Deco to the birth of Betty Crocker, the 1920s had plenty to catch our eye. And with the growth of indoor electricity, we could actually see it.
Chrysler Building
1930s Fiestaware on shelves.
Even with the Great Depression, we created bright spots in our homes. Fiestaware and The Wizard of Oz brought color to our lives.
1930s dishware.
1940 home exterior.
Wartime was tough, but our sacrifices paid off later in the decade. A postwar boom saw the rise of suburbia and the return of the American Dream.
Group working on victory garden.
Pink 1950s bathroom.
Television changed everything, including what we ate, where and with whom. If we weren’t in front of the tube, we were enjoying our luxurious lawns.
1950s phone and radio
1960s style kitchen.
Cultural change rocked our world and, in some ways, that brought us back to the traditional. Julia Child and Jackie Kennedy showed us that classic is always in vogue.
1960s style white chair with floor lamp.
1970s wallpaper and entryway table.
It was a decade with a distinct look as earthships, macramé and the Brady Bunch set the tone. Oh, and don’t forget shag.
1970s shag carpet.
1980s master suite
Technology wasn’t new, but it was making its home debut in many instances. The space age had come to the living room and in some of the brightest colors yet.
1980s Memphis style decor.
1990s style kitchen.
Inspired by different TV shows, many homes took on the quirky style of Friends or the more refined look of Fraser. We hadn’t embraced minimalism entirely, but we were getting there.
1990s sponge paint.
2000s suburban home.
The Great Recession gave rise to multigenerational homes and quickie renos. Being hip and unique on a budget was the name of the game.
2000s suburban bathroom.
Entryway with Schlage smart lock.
Vintage is the new now, and upcycling has never been hotter. It was a decade of reviving the best parts of past styles while adding our own modern twist.
2010s farmhouse modern style kitchen.

For more design inspiration, including how to incorporate Satin Brass and Polished Nickel finishes into your home, visit Schlage’s Style Center. You’ll find design guides, home renovation tips and more information about all of Schlage’s styles, finishes and products.

 

Select sources

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1Daily Life in the United States 1920-1940: How Americans lived through the 'Roaring Twenties' and the Great Depression, by David E. Kyvig
 

2Daily Life in the United States 1920-1940: How Americans lived through the 'Roaring Twenties' and the Great Depression, by David E. Kyvig
 

3The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think is Normal, by Tom McBride and Ron Nief
 

4Daily Life in the United States 1920-1940: How Americans lived through the 'Roaring Twenties' and the Great Depression, by David E. Kyvig
 

5America in the 1920s, by Edmund Lindop with Margaret J. Goldstein
 

6Daily Life in the United States 1920-1940: How Americans lived through the 'Roaring Twenties' and the Great Depression, by David E. Kyvig
 

7The Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects, by Richard Kurin
 

8National Geographic Almanac of American History, by James Miller and John Thompson
 

9The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think is Normal, by Tom McBride and Ron Nief
 

10The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think is Normal, by Tom McBride and Ron Nief
 

11The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think is Normal, by Tom McBride and Ron Nief
 

12The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think is Normal, by Tom McBride and Ron Nief
 

13The Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects, by Richard Kurin