Colours of the 1960s

A decade of radical change, rebellion, vibrancy and a desire for freedom – of any sort.

After the post war 1950s oatmeal, cream and strong clear pastels inspired by the new plastics fashion was all about bouffant hair, stiletto heeled shoes, Jackie Kennedy and Elvis Presley and a few intellectual types who were Beatniks and then very quickly swung over (Swinging 60s) to a decade of radical change, rebellion, vibrancy and a desire for freedom – of any sort.

A kitchen and dining room with a 1960's inspired colour palette

To view more of this project see "Arty retro."

Young people were called teenagers – either style conscious Mods or leather clad Rockers and Rock and Roll music, the Twist, the Limbo & Go Go dances, TV changed from black and white to colour and the Beatles were the epitome of a ‘happening’ world. Skirt lengths were either mini or maxi length, young girls wore white French inspired boots.

PVC and plastic in bright colours was used extensively, laminated furniture, wallpapers moved from Anaglypta, low impact off white textured papers and grass paper to mirror reflective foils, velvet flock, and large swirling multi coloured patterns and very optic geometrics featuring black and white. Fabrics and flooring embraced psychedelic patterns and followed where wallpaper led.

As the era advanced to its end, longer hair for men was the norm, chemical substances were investigated socially and women ironed their long hair and burnt their bras and society embraced anti-war, Ban the Bomb and anti segregation and an ethnic Indian influence in embroidered muslin clothes, love beads, paisley patterns, mystic religion and meditation in a Hippy sub culture.

› Information thanks to Carolyn Atkinson