Depression-style homes, or homes that speak to this singular architectural and design movement that became fashionable during the Great Depression of the 1930s, were quite a creation of the economy. Their minimalist, functional, and resourceful nature spoke much about the economic times then. With scarce budgets and a concentration on utility, home owners and builders …
Depression-style homes, or homes that speak to this singular architectural and design movement that became fashionable during the Great Depression of the 1930s, were quite a creation of the economy. Their minimalist, functional, and resourceful nature spoke much about the economic times then. With scarce budgets and a concentration on utility, home owners and builders had no other choice but simple designs, space usage, and minimalist decor.
Here, we are going to discuss the typical Depression-style homes, their characteristics, and key design features. We’ll be referring some of the methods in which you can add such long-lasting features into your DIY projects for decoration.
What Are Depression-Style Homes?
Depression-style houses mainly attracted the economic condition of the 1930s. During the period, many families were seriously facing economic stress, and the styles started orienting themselves more towards practical, simple, and low-cost housing schemes. Simplifying, with practicality, and on low-cost materials, an eternal style is crafted by builders, which still attracts people to this date.
Characteristics of Depression-Style Houses
Architecture and Layout
Simple Architecture and Layouts
They tend to use straightforward designs when it comes to their depression-style houses. Their houses were usually small to medium-sized, using simple rectangular or square configurations. The outside features of these homes were usually not decorated at all, focusing instead on building the abode practically and making use of provided space for usable spaces within.
Rational Use of Material
In this time, house builders were aware of the “waste of resources.” They opted for cheap but very durable material such as wood, brick, and concrete. Simple designs are often what describe a Depression-era home: internal beams sometimes visible or plain walls abound.
Practical Furnishings
This generation needed multi-purposed furniture in homes. Some common furniture was folding beds, wall units, and dining tables that could be used as a desk. The designs of the furniture pieces were pretty minimal at times even built from hardwoods like oak and pine, with minimal ornamentation.
Home windows were very few, and by that, so little natural light entered the rooms.
In Depression-style homes, slim windows were common mainly because energy saving was very crucial. The art here was to utilize natural light strategically so as to lighten up rooms without saving much energy.
Neutral Shading Schemes
Besides that, the color schemes of most of the houses were mostly neutral and relied heavily on shades of beiges, browns, and greys. Partly because paints came in so scarce portions in all colors that a lighter approach toward elegance was preferred.
DIY Tips to Achieve that Depression Era Feel in Home Decoration
Less is more
Get rid of every bit of dust in the rooms and de-clutter the rooms. Go for clean-lined furniture and no cumbersome ornaments. Use built-in storage that’s like an extension of the architecture.
Functional furniture will be more desirable
Old furniture or Do-It-yourself, such as fold-out tables or a sofa turns into a bed, will also help you save space and show off the practicality of the age.
Make Use of Reclaimed or Natural Materials
You can recreate the old Depression-era ambiance using reclaimed wood and vintage metal accents on brick walls. Some other DIY projects are creating rustic wooden shelves, exposed brick features, or building a simple wooden coffee table, all recalling this style.
Subtle patterns and neutral coloration can adorn the place.
To make it simple, you can have a neutral color palette which goes out to earthy hints, simple florals reminiscent of the 1930s, or even any simple geometric prints. Make use of these patterns to stitch some DIY pillows, curtains, or even DIY art to be hanged on the wall.
DIY Craftsmanship
Other characteristic features of depression-style houses included: at a time when people needed to be more resourceful than their predecessors, embracing those DIY projects like handcrafting furniture, a simple hand-woven rug, or decorative accessories from repurposed material can actually be felt.
Conclusion: A Timeless Budget-Friendly Design
What depression-style homes have been offering is a glimpse into an era of perseverance and ingenuity. Their simple design, neutral colors, and multi-functions stand the test of time and are a great inspiration for modern homeowners. With simple DIY home decor projects that saluted the ingenuity of the 1930s, you can easily recreate this vintage-yet-practical look.
So if you’re one of those who love olden architecture, or just like the minimalist approach with a history, then embracing the core of Depression-style houses can give you that comforting and timeless atmosphere in your home. Happy decorating!
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