It can be interesting to imagine what your home interior might have looked like 25, 50, 100 years ago. Thankfully, many design books and catalogs have been digitized and so are available online for anyone curious about the topic. 

When you begin searching through digitized resources and archives, make sure to check out your local library or historical society. Online collections can be helpful as well – so check out the Library of Congress, the Internet Archive, and the Hathi Trust Digital Library and others that are available. 

The information below comes from materials and booklets printed in the 1900s-1950s. Please keep in mind modern painting procedures and safety regulations that may not have been around when the information below was printed. Check out our Painting Your Old House page for more information about painting your home today.