Over the last century, our homes have changed dramatically in both their appearance and function. From decorating styles to new technology, not to mention architecture, the timeline of house design has been constantly evolving.

So, whether you're a 1950s baby boomer or 1990s first-wave millennial, click or scroll to take a trip down memory lane...

The 1940s were dominated by the Second World War. The average British home was far from affluent. 'Make do and mend' was the order of the day, rationing and shortages still widespread, and homes still bore the hallmarks of the previous decade's style.

As the war ended, the demand for housing increased rapidly. The Government began to build over 1 million new homes between 1946 and 1951. Many were council houses, built by the local councils, to be rented by families.

There was a rise in prefabricated houses, known as prefabs, for a quick solution to the housing shortage.

The war ended in 1945, but interiors throughout the decade were still similar to the previous one. Floral prints, old-fashioned homewares, and traditional dark wood furnishings remained as it was hard to afford updates.

The family would gather in the living room listening to the radio or a record player. Material shortages from the war meant that upholstery and soft furnishings would be repaired and maintained, rather than replaced.

In the 1940s home, the kitchen was likely small and simple in comparison to what we’re used to today.

Food rationing throughout the war meant meals prepared were simple. Fridges and washing machines were not common, and even by 1948, 86% of UK households were wired with electricity, but only 2% owned an electric fridge.

Cabinetry was often painted in bright pastel colours to cheer up the room.

The 1940s house often had both an indoor toilet and a bathroom. However, for most families, bathtime was in the kitchen in a tin tub, with water and soap rationed from around 1942.

It was also encouraged to have a first aid kit in the bathroom to treat minor injuries caused by the bombing, especially in London homes.

Linoleum was the exciting new floor covering of choice in the 1940s, and the classic black and white chequerboard pattern was especially popular.

In bedrooms of the 1940s, furniture was often simple and came in matching sets. That's likely because, in 1942, the Utility Furniture Scheme (UFS) was introduced, with an emphasis on good quality and economical use of materials.

There were 22 items of essential furniture for families to choose from, and they were made in three designs and two qualities. You chose your set and could order either via the catalogue or from local shops. You could use your rationing vouchers to pay for items.

The 1950s were a boom time for industry and consumer wealth, which spurred great leaps in terms of design and modern tastes.

Pre-war styles, such as mock-Tudor half-timbered façades, were now considered drab and dingy. Instead, architects embraced modernism, experimenting with boxy silhouettes, flat rooflines, and minimalism.

There was very little ornamentation, and the outdoor space became more polished.

The 1950s living room is where you would have listened to music, watched TV, spent time with your family, and entertained guests.

The space was far more colourful than its 1940s counterpart, and patterned accessories, like the zigzag cushion pictured here, were making a debut.

A kitchen in the 1950s was a busy place for most households. The rise of technology and new gadgets meant that laundry and cooking could be done quicker and with far less effort.

Common style points were Formica worktops, and cabinetry and accessories in pastel hues. As in the 1940s, linoleum was still a common floor covering.

A popular hue for vintage bathrooms, the pink suite his something many 1950s kids will remember. And the colour didn't stop at the sanitaryware.

Colour coordination was a must, so you'd find bath mats, towels, and accessories in a similar shade. Wipeable tiling found its way onto countertops and bathroom vanities, making keeping the room clean a breeze.

Comfort was paramount in the 1950s, and could be afforded by more families post-war. In some homes, like the one pictured here, this took the form of cheerful rugs, colourful curtains, and plenty of soft furnishings in the bedroom.

Elsewhere, in more affluent neighbourhoods, you may have seen gilded wallpaper and a rise in kitsch furnishings, previously thought of as tacky, but now a fun way to add character to a room.

If you grew up in a 1960s house, you may have lived in a property like this.

The designs of homes began to borrow from the traditional styles of the past, but with more families able to afford at least one car, many came with a driveway or garage, sometimes both.

The 1960s were a time of cultural revolution and change, reflected in a vibrant new interior style. The decade borrowed from numerous ideas from across the world and decades, which meant you'd often have a rebellious, if confusing, mix of décor in just one room.

Modern Danish furniture was in vogue, which influenced the architectural shape of these sofas and chairs of this particular living room, but you may also see murals, bold wallpaper, and Pop Art-inspired pieces.

Kitchens from this decade would have featured sleek unfussy cabinets and laminate or Formica worktops, with lots of new-fangled kitchen appliances for entertaining, such as an electric coffee maker.

Though this black and white photo makes it hard to tell, 1950s colourful kitchens remained popular as well. Nothing about the 1960s kitchen was subtle.

Bold colours continued into the 1960s bathroom. Showers, as well as baths, became a more common choice for homeowners.

Quirky features such as pendant lighting, built-in shelving units, and other decorative accessories meant this decade was truly the time for people to start expressing their style through their home.

A huge variety of materials was used in the 1960s bedroom, from smooth natural woods to plush velvets.

This vintage bedroom shows matching, Scandi-style furnishings, wall-to-wall carpet, and a complementary stool, which create a streamlined interior scheme that appeared throughout the decade.

As homes expanded, so too did the luxury of built-in storage. Massive bespoke wardrobes with mirrored doors would allow the homeowner to keep their growing clothing collection in check without losing that streamlined style.

Houses built in the 1970s featured big rooms, large windows, and plenty of outdoor space. It made them fabulous family homes, but some of the decorative touches are now considered far from desirable.

There was a rise in open-plan living with a lot of wood panelling, and few ceilings were spared the Artex popcorn treatment, which sometimes contained asbestos!

Wood panelling, shag pile carpets in vibrant colours, and orange and brown hues were all major trends in the 1970s living room.

Although this picture is in black and white, we see plenty of patterns and smaller, more frivolous items of décor, as people continued to show personality in their homes.

Laminated kitchen cupboards and Formica worktops were a staple of the 1970s kitchen, while some, like this one, also featured groovy wallpaper or curtains in garish patterns and colours.

Plenty of storage, plus the latest appliances, including the first domestic dishwashers, became the new norm in the heart of the home.

Here, a blue version of a 1970s classic, the brightly coloured bathroom suite, is paired with blue and beige patterned wall tiles. Ceramic tiling was now a common choice for bathroom flooring.

The most common colour for a bathroom in the 1970s was actually avocado green, which was often styled with a carpeted floor and bright accessories.

Bedspreads with floral patterns like this one were a popular trend in the 1970s. Plastic was now a regular choice for furniture production, as was teak wood, seen here.

Thick carpet, often in loud colours or prints, was common, with flouncy accessories like lace curtains or floral artwork to bring the look together.

The 1980s saw the rise of the yuppie, a term meaning 'young urban professional'. A boost in the global economy saw luxury housing and city apartments pop up across Britain.

But for the average family, as this wealth also trickled down to the growing middle classes, their homes grew in size and cost.

Kerb appeal became important, so houses had manicured front lawns and plenty of space for one or two cars.

The 1980s saw the return of pastel colours and chintzy fabrics from the 1950s. This living room combines rose, peach, and cream, with a faux fur rug overlaying the patterned carpet below.

Most living rooms featured both a fireplace and a small television, as can be seen here, with plenty of smaller knick-knacks and figurines along the mantelpiece.

Tiled worktops came back with a vengeance in the 1980s, while appliances – from fridges to washing machines, and dishwashers – were typically all-black or all-white.

Oak cabinetry became a popular design choice, although these still have a slightly vintage feel to them. Tiled floors, like the brown one here, also came into fashion to accompany the worktops. 

Cutting-edge bathroom design finally turned away from garish colour towards the end of the 1980s. Clean lines and more neutral shades were being reintroduced, meaning white tiles and beige suites were once again in fashion.

However, avocado green remained a popular choice for many bathrooms, including the one pictured here. A hangover from the 1970s!

Softer, cottage-core looks were in style for the 1980s bedroom, frequently augmented by patterns or frills. Just look at that dust ruffle around the bed!

Bedrooms became a more romantic space, with chalky pastels and dried flowers taking over from bolder colours and patterns.

Tech really started to take off in the 1990s, filling homes with entertainment systems, satellite and cable TV, and games consoles.

It was also the era of home makeovers: TV shows inspired us to tackle bigger renovation projects than ever to add value to our homes during this property boom period.

From the outside, a 1990s home looked clean and simple, with an emphasis on kerb appeal in the form of tidy and colourful gardens.

Living rooms in the 1990s showed off their impressive array of home entertainment devices in specially built shelving units, including big TVs, CD players, and large stereo systems.

Faux wood floors with a healthy shine and leather furniture became trendy must-haves, and bright primary colours made a comeback in art and accessories.

The focus on individual style saw the 1990s kitchen decorated in themes as varied as old English farmhouse to minimal concrete spaces with hidden appliances. The choices were multiple.

As a rule, wood became paler than in the 1980s; pine and dark wood went out, and pale ash and budget-friendly MDF were in. Colours were muted and had names like Magnolia or Earth.

In fact, the 1990s signified the rise of beige, even in bathrooms. The brigher suites of the 1970s and 1980s were fading out.

This space offsets beige tiles against, you guessed it, beige walls. Corner baths were another must-have home feature, although many homes opted for a combined shower and bath to save on space.

Plain white walls, stripped pine floors and eclectic area rugs, this room's minimalism perfectly encapsulates some of the decade's biggest trends.

A typical 1990s bedroom could lean slightly bolder in some homes, and might have included a wallpaper border or stencilling, a canopy bed or a beaded curtain for a touch of bohemian flair.

The financial crash of 2008 stopped the property development boom, and saw a return of people buying houses as homes rather than investments.

Thanks to the rise of the internet, new architectural styles were afoot in the average house. Climate change and our carbon footprint went from political to social concerns, and eco house design reflected that with sustainable building methods and a focus on renewable energy.

This living room has a beige carpet and sofas, a colour that showed no signs of dwindling popularity from the 1990s. Wooden furnishings became chunkier, and open-plan living was still sought after.

Pops of colour made an appearance, with futuristic metallics, soft blues and purples, but the focus of a 2000s living room was the TV as super-sized screens and speakers came into fashion.

A classic kitchen style from the 2000s, white cabinets team with black shiny worktops and stainless steel appliances in this traditional scheme.

Kitchens were now big enough to have islands, usually with plenty of built-in storage for crockery. The tech boom led to many interior design elements reflecting technology, such as metallic surfaces and silver accents, like the handles on the cabinetry here.

Bathrooms were particularly varied during the 2000s, although they tended towards the clean and simple. The popular trend for hardwood floors began creeping into bathroom spaces instead of tiling or linoleum.

Matching white sinks, toilets, and tubs were popular, as were beige tiles, like those pictured here.

Bedrooms in the 2000s continued to be where we were at our most adventurous when it came to decorating. Storage was key, and walls of wardrobes like those pictured here became popular.

Homes were now for work and play, thanks to the introduction of personal computers and home offices. Many bedrooms would also include a TV and a DVD player.

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