Seafoam green was a very popular color for cars, appliances, and home decor items in the 1950s and 1960s. The pale green hue with hints of blue and grey embodied the sleek, futuristic aesthetic that was popular after World War II. There are several reasons why seafoam green became so trendy during the postwar period.
The influence of industrial design
After World War II ended, America saw a boom in manufacturing and consumption. Many consumer goods like cars and household appliances that were not mass-produced during the war years now flooded the marketplace. This led to increased emphasis on the industrial design process, making products more attractive to consumers through styling. Seafoam green was widely used by industrial designers for its fresh, clean look that connoted modernity. Compared to drab military greens, seafoam green had a soothing, uplifting effect that appealed to Americans’ aspirations for the future.
The influential industrial designers Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss embraced seafoam green and featured it in many of their appliance and transportation designs. For example, Loewy styled Frigidaire’s first refrigerator model with rounded corners in a seafoam green color called “Frigidaire green.” Henry Dreyfuss implemented seafoam green in his iconic Hoover vacuum cleaners as well as his designs for locomotives, ocean liners, and the Princess telephone. The prolific use of seafoam green by these prominent industrial designers demonstrated the color’s versatility and helped popularize it as a modern, fashionable shade.
Use in automotive design
One major area where seafoam green was extensively used was on automobiles in the 1950s. Car manufacturers offered seafoam green as an exterior color on models like the Chevrolet Bel Air, the Ford Thunderbird, and the Plymouth Cranbrook. Pale green vinyl or cloth upholstery was also common. The color matched well with chrome trim features that gave cars a space-age feel.
| Make | Model |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Bel Air |
| Ford | Thunderbird |
| Plymouth | Cranbrook |
Besides looking sleek and modern, seafoam green also cleverly hid dirt on vehicles. At a time when roads were still mostly unpaved and muddy, seafoam green did not show dust as readily as darker colors. This practical advantage made it appealing to car shoppers.
Seafoam green’s popularity in the auto industry influenced other transportation design. Many boats, airplanes, and even public transit vehicles like buses and trains sported seafoam green exteriors or upholstery. This expanded the public’s exposure to the color and cemented its futuristic image.
Use in home appliances
The 1950s saw rapid growth in the American consumer appliance market. Seafoam green again featured prominently as the color for many new refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines that hit the market after the war.
Brands like Frigidaire, O’Keefe & Merritt, and Westinghouse released refrigerators in various seafoam hues with model names like “Seafoam Frost” and “Seafoam Green.” These pale green refrigerators stood out brightly in kitchens compared to the more common neutral colors. However, seafoam was seen as calming and pleasant, suiting the home environment.
| Company | Product |
|---|---|
| Frigidaire | Refrigerator |
| O’Keefe & Merritt | Stove |
| Westinghouse | Washing machine |
Rounded corners and simplistic style that was easy to clean made seafoam home appliances epitomize mid-century modern design. They delivered on the promise of technology making household work faster and easier. Seafoam green again carried connotations of streamlined futurism that aligned with postwar optimism.
Use in home decor
Beyond appliances, seafoam green permeated 1950s and 1960s home decor in furniture, accessories, textiles, and architecture. Pastel hues like seafoam green, pink, and turquoise represented the shift away from the drab austerity of the war years. They also aligned with influences from tropical motifs and Polynesian design that became popular themes.
Seafoam green tables, wall paint, carpeting, kitchenware, clocks, telephones, and more brought a dash of color and whimsy to home interiors. Seafoam green was often used in bathrooms where its cool, watery tones created a soothing oasis. The simplicity of mid century modern furniture also perfectly complemented seafoam green fabrics and finishes.
| Room | Use of seafoam green |
|---|---|
| Living room | Sofas, carpets, wall paint |
| Kitchen | Appliances, tableware, curtains |
| Bedroom | Bedspreads, lamps, artwork |
| Bathroom | Tiles, fixtures, towels |
Seafoam green bedsheets by Marimekko and tableware by Russel Wright captured the playful, casual attitude of mid century style. The colorful vintage timepieces, telephones, and jukeboxes produced by the Industrial Design firm Telegiraphone also showcase seafoam green’s popularity.
Use in architecture
The Postwar building boom also fully embraced seafoam green as an exterior color. Entire tracts of homes erected in the late 1940s through the 1960s featured seafoam green paint or siding. Larger apartment complexes like those designed by architect Eero Saarinen also prominently used seafoam green on their facades. The lightweight, airy feel of the color perfectly suited the minimalist forms and abundant windows of mid century architecture.
Commercial and civic architecture similarly embraced pale green color schemes. Schools, hospitals, government buildings, and corporate office spaces all painted their walls or tiled surfaces in varying tones of seafoam green. The color appeared hygienic and mentally stimulating, qualities believed to enhance learning and healing environments. Seafoam façades became standard components of the sleek, forward-looking architectural aesthetic promoted after the war.
| Building Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Residential | Suburban homes, apartments |
| Institutional | Schools, hospitals |
| Commercial | Offices, banks |
From private homes to public institutions, seafoam green was universally applied to create bright, cheerful, and efficient spaces for the postwar era.
Psychological theories
Beyond just fashion and design trends, the popularity of seafoam green also ties to emerging psychological theories in the 1950s regarding color and human behavior. Designers and architects were increasingly interested in how different hues impacted mood and performance. Pale green shades were believed to promote relaxation and mental clarity in various settings.
Research suggested that seafoam green had a number of positive psychological effects:
- Calming and non-stimulating
- Reduced eye strain
- Lowered blood pressure and heart rate
- Increased concentration and focus
These qualities made seafoam green seem ideally suited for the home as well as commercial spaces like offices, healthcare facilities, and schools. Quieter than bright yellows or reds, seafoam green promised to bring out the best behaviors in any environment. Psychological insights reinforced designers’ instincts to use this pleasant, soothing shade everywhere.
Cultural associations
On a cultural level, seafoam green also evoked the consumer optimism and focus on leisure that prospered after WWII. Its cool, oceanic hues conjured up refreshing cocktails, poolside relaxation, and tropical vacation fantasies that gained widespread appeal in the postwar years. Seafoam green conveyed a breezy, carefree attitude that flourished in a more peaceful and prosperous time. Paired with sleek, pared-down design, it represented escape from the stresses of Depression-era scarcity and war.
The name “seafoam green” itself paints images of shorelines, sailboats, pool water, and surf. These aquatic associations no doubt boosted seafoam green’s popularity in the Beach Boys-serenaded, tiki culture-obsessed 50s and 60s. Its soothing, cool nature feels intrinsically linked to the laidback leisure and recreation that prospered during this era.
Aviation influences
Some cultural historians also link the popularity of seafoam green to the rapid growth of aviation after WWII. Many aircraft, especially propeller planes, featured seafoam green interiors and exteriors. As air travel became more mainstream in the postwar years, seafoam green began to symbolize new horizons and modern experiences. The public’s increased exposure to seafoam green planes via air travel helped drive its adoption in cars and appliances to evoke those futuristic associations. The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air in particular was supposedly inspired by the aviation colors of the era, solidifying seafoam green as the quintessential 50s car color.
Conclusion
In summary, seafoam green emerged as the defining color of the 1950s and 1960s due to:
- Its use among influential industrial designers like Raymond Loewy
- Associations with space-age streamlined objects like cars and appliances
- Pairing well with mid century architecture and home decor
- Psychological theories regarding pale green’s positive effects
- Cultural links to tropical vacationing and aviation
For a few decades, seafoam green represented the ultimate in modern innovation and leisure. Its cool, pleasant personality symbolized the postwar generation’s aspirations. While seafoam green may have faded from prominence after the 1960s, its impact on design and culture remains indelible. The next time you sip a cool mint cocktail or picture a swinging bachelor pad, think of seafoam green epitomizing the carefree attitude and atomic-age aesthetics of the era.
