The twentieth century saw enormous changes in the way we live our lives. New job opportunities for women and the decline of traditional manufacturing swept away our preconceptions about relations in the workplace and within the home. This topic will examine these lifestyle changes by looking at trends in mass consumption as showcased at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibitions, the gradual mechanisation of household tasks, and the growth of the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) phenomenon.
Since 1908, the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition has shaped our aspirations for our living places. During the 1950s, it played an important role in the post-war recovery. > more
Most modern appliances were invented before 1945, and the issue was how to get them into the home. Advertisers played on women’s desire to keep their homes clean and their families entertained > more
The DIY revolution of the 1950s and 1960s was a result of rapid social and economic change. Shortage of skilled labour and a decaying housing stock forced people to do their own renovations and decoration > more