The post-war years led to a boom in home ownership and consequently a generation of fanatical do-it-yourself home improvers. This programme charts how DIY transformed the interiors of British homes.
In the 1950s, walls were knocked down, windows enlarged and open-plan living rooms built as an antidote to post-war gloom. The colour, light and space of this 'contemporary look' changed the way that British people lived forever.
After rationing ended, Britons were suddenly able to fill their homes with electrical goods. The third programme in the series of documentaries charting the changing face of British interiors over the past 50 years looks at how interior designs took on the style of the American model, and the consumer society was born.
The furniture and decor of the 1960s, which was mainly adopted by many young people as they gained their independence and moved into bedsits and flats. Plus, a look at space age influences, Eastern styles and psychedelia on the new homes of the decade.
The end of World War Two marked a shift away from the practical nature of horticulture stressed by the Dig for Victory campaign, and once again flowers bloomed in Britain's domestic gardens. As gardens became more decorative, magazines and radio programmes turned their attention to the new hobby, while labour-saving devices and garden centres helped make the garden a place to relax in and enjoy.
The final programme in the series looks at why we became obsessed with furniture and architecture from the past. In the 1950s, people were desperate to be modern and old attitudes were bulldozed away. But, during the 60s, objects thrown out as junk by previous generations were suddenly in demand for the young and fashionable. Now the rage for nostalgia has spread to homes located all over the country.
