This post is a resource of kitchen colors through the years 1950, 1960, and 1970
As a photography props source, we always need a great resource of what colors came from which decades. I was looking around the internet and there was a lot of info out there, but none of it was super cohesive. I thought it would be fun to have somewhere I could always go to find everything about the kitchen colors all in one place.
Pre 1950s
Prior to 1950 there were few choices in kitchen colors. Appliances, cabinets and accessories were more utilitarian and plain. White and natural metals were the standard.
1950 – Kitchen Colors
In the 1950s kitchens started exploding with color. Maime Eisenhower Pink was a standard of pastel loveliness!
Having sold houses in the Florida area, I know that that pink bathrooms were legion!
That said, colorful kitchens were the norm. It seems weird to us to covet a turquoise blue kitchen, but that was truly high style in the 1950s.
Kitchen Colors:
- Petal Pink
- Turquoise Green
- Stratford Yellow
- Canary Yellow
- Cadet Blue
- Woodtone Brown
- Sherwood Green
Some things that were popular in kitchens of the 1950s were:
- Copper bottomed pans
- Animal cookie jars
- Colorful pyrex
- Stainless steel coffeepots with glass tops
- Silver and silver plate
- Copper tea kettles
- Cane backed chairs and wooden shutters
- Colorful canisters with prints on them
Additional 1950s Color Resources
1960 Kitchen Colors
The 1960s carried on at least three of the pastels including pink, yellow and turquoise. Added that was Coppertone, a dark brown, Harvest Gold and Avocado, a muddy green.
Kitchen Colors:
- Pastel Pink
- Pale Yellow
- Turquoise
- Harvest Gold
- Avocado
- Coppertone
Some things that were popular in kitchens of the 1960s were:
- Teak wood cutting boards
- La Cruet heavy pots
- Glass vases
- Heavy wrought iron decor
- Colorful laminate countertops
- Colored plastic silverware trays
- Plastic canister sets
- Pleather Furniture
The sixties were the bridge between the twee colors of the 1950s and the 1970s super bold and graphic prints.
Additional 1960s Color Resources
1970 Kitchen Colors
The 1970s kitchen colors started out bold and only got bolder. Harvest Gold, Avocado and Coppertone were still in the mix, with a little bit more saturation. Poppy red was added to the mix and bright orange made an appearance too.
This was the era where I started noticing decorating. My mom made her dream kitchen around Avocado appliances, dark green wood cabinets and Harvest Gold pressed glass inserts. Our second bathroom had gold foil wallpaper with a bold flower pattern.
The 1970s were all about bold colors and big patterns!
Kitchen Colors:
- Harvest Gold
- Avocado
- Coppertone
- Poppy Red
- Orange
Some things that were popular in kitchens of the 1970s were:
- Colorful wall paper (orange and yellow)
- Foil wall paper
- Colorful canisters with designs on them
- Mushrooms, kitsch, limes, lemons, fruit
- Pyrex with patterns
- Flower power anything
- Wooden plates and bowls
- Linoleum patterned floors in the decades colors
Additional 1970s Color Resources:
Additional Resources
- A Brief History of Kitchen Appliance Color Choices
- Kitchens of the 1980s – House Beautiful
- Mid Century Home Decor Trends
- Vintage Colors Appliances
Tara’s “tell it like it is” personality combined with her 100 miles per hour presentations have earned her the title “The Queen of Marketing Ahhh’s” from her raving fans. Check out her marketing courses and products at her Etsy Store, 
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