Story: Home décor and furnishings

A 1920s bathroom

A 1920s bathroom

With the advent of the bungalow, bathrooms, once tacked onto the back of the house, became an integral part of the home. They were often decorated to suggest hygiene and efficiency. White tiles on the walls, shown in this example, helped to convey the idea of cleanliness. But this particular bathroom was also luxurious, with comfortable features including a floor rug, dressing table, fancy lampshade and curtains. 

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Steffano Webb Collection (PAColl-3061)
Reference: 1/1-003914-F
Photograph by Steffano Francis Webb

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Home décor and furnishings - Between the wars, 1920s and 1930s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40714/a-1920s-bathroom (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 5 Sep 2013