I love a pretty vintage magazine rack. I think they come in handy for a load of things and they also look really really good as a vintage home decor piece. Here is mine that I picked up years ago and holds all my vintage magazines, ads etc (oh I need to dust my floor hahaha!).

vintage magazine racks mid century home decor

The history of magazine racks is frankly..unknown. I have searched everywhere to see who started making them, when, how the idea came to be (it’s obvious but I wanted to read about it) and I came up with nothing! So very odd. Something that has been in most people’s homes at one time or another does not even get a wikipedia entry!

So if any of my readers can fill in the gaps on this, that would be greatly appreciated (comment below).

As for today, I wanted to show off a few of my favorite vintage magazine racks from the mid century (I did find one’s that said they were from the early 1900s, so that gives us a bit of insight on how long they have been around) that you can buy right now (as of time of post). Plus I managed to find some vintage catalog pages showcasing styles you could buy and take home in that same time period.

Let’s see what I found!

NOTE! Vintage Shopping for your own magazine rack? I have put together an updated monthly Etsy favourite collection featuring mid-century magazine racks you can purchase (start January 29th,2024). Happy Shopping!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Note: If the item you link that is listed below is no longer available, don’t stress! Just search Etsy or eBay for other like items. They have 1000’s and 1000’s of items being added daily!

Mid Century Magazine Racks

Pictured in this 1955 Spiegal Christmas Catalog are 2 magazine racks. One is a “casually modern “wrought iron and brass” version (Around $27 today). The other is the “New Italian Trend” (would cost around $63 today). Both are really fantastic but I would probably go with the less expensive one if I had to chose.

1955 Sears (Spiegal) Christmas Wish Book Catalog Home Decor Page featuring Magazine Racks.

The photo is from a past post I did called “Decor ideas from the homes of the 1950s“. This awesome vintage snapshot features a wooden magazine rack, sitting under the side table to the left of the photo.

Isn’t this living room and our lovely lady amazing?!

1950s vintage photo of a 1950s living room with an older lady sitting on a chair in 1950s fashion.

Okay this one is NOT Mid Century but it’s to pretty not to share! A 1930s Norman Bel Geddes vintage chrome magazine rack with a bakelite handle (Avail HERE).

Who was Norman Bel Geddes? He was an American theatrical and industrial designer. Bel Geddes opened an industrial-design studio in 1927, and designed a wide range of commercial products, from cocktail shakers to commemorative medallions to radio cabinets. His designs extended to unrealized futuristic concepts (like the below magazine holder, then I’m not sure truly holds much).

Art Deco Norman Bel Geddes Revere Chrome Magazine Rack Holder 1930’s Bakelite

Source: eBay

Smart Home Accessories included things like cup and saucer set AND smoker magazine stands seen in the bottom of this 1957 vintage sears catalog page.

1957 vintage catalog page for 1950s home accessories like cups and saucers and magazine racks.

If you like wicker & green in your home, then look no further then this beauty of a mid century magazine rack (1950s). (Avail HERE)

Metal 1950's Magazine Rack | Wicker Vintage Newspaper Rack | Green and Bronze Retro Rack

Source: Etsy

Mid Century Modern brass coloured vintage wire magazine rack from the 1960s (Avail as of July 13th, 2022 HERE).

Source: Etsy

Absolutely gorgeous German Mid Century magazine rack & table.

This elegant 1950s magazine holder has a brass frame and table top of black-painted perforated metal mesh. The table is foldable for storage and is from Germany. Love it (avail HERE)!

German MID CENTURY Magazine Rack with Wire Mesh Table Top

Source: Etsy

If you love that mid century / atomic style of design then this kitschy 1960s magazine rack is for you (avail HERE)!

Mid century Retro Vintage plastic strings Magazine Rack Magazine Newspaper rack Magazine stand Design Black Metal wire 1960s

Source: Etsy

Another smoker stand and magazine racks but this time for a 1957 Simpson-Sears Canada Christmas Catalog.

Beautiful magazine rack or newspaper holder made of full brass in Italy during the 1950s (avail HERE).

Source: Etsy

1950s vintage solid black metal magazine rack with decorative rattan detail on the handle and all 4 corners (avail HERE).

Source: Etsy

1959 Sears Christmas Wish Book, catalog page featuring a vintage brass plated metal magazine rack.

1959 Sears Christmas Wish Book, vintage catalog page featuring a vintage brass plated metal magazine rack.

Here is a similar version of the holder pictured above I found on Etsy. Vintage Hammer Brass Magazine Rack from the 1960s.

Source: Etsy

A wonderful mid century modern (1960s) vintage find! This brass magazine rack with a wood handle. The basket of the rack is open with leaft detail, a performated metal base and scrolled feet and scrolled metal along the top (Avail HERE).

A wonderful mid century modern vintage find! This brass magazine rack with a wood handle. The basket of the rack is open with leaft detail, a performated metal base and scrolled feet and scrolled metal along the top. Is great for storage or home organziation

Source: Etsy

Extraordinary 1960s Bamboo Magazine and Magazine Stand. LOVE THIS! (Avail HERE)

Source: Etsy

Question time! Do you own a magazine rack? Do you store what it was meant for inside or do you use it for something else. Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Thanks for stopping by friends!

Liz

I don’t know about some of you but I am struggling to stay focused and motivated these days, especially as my city of Toronto has entered another lockdown. I want to blog so much because I love sharing fun content with all my readers, but I am just finding it hard. BUT today…I struck jackpot while mindlessly, sort of looking for blog ideas on the web….A 1940 Montgomery Ward Interior Design Catalog for Wallpaper.

1940 Interior Design Wallpaper ideas vintage catalog

Source: Archive.org

I LOVE looking at how people decorated their homes in the past. Sometimes it seems super busy and sometimes it just works. Everyone’s style is different and some of these wallpapers featured in this very detailed catalog might just be something that you might want to have designed for your own home (or go on the hunt for).

Even if it’s not something you want, trust me when I say it’s fun to see what was stylish and popular in 1940 (especially since we were in the middle of a war).

Let’s open it up and see what we find……

Vintage Wallpaper Ideas from a 1940 Montgomery Ward Catalog

First up! What is the “1760 Women create Wards” all about?

Well according to the page above Montgomery Ward conducted a Wallpaper survey to understand what housewives tastes were. Members of MW staff went into their homes with a 300-pattern sample book. From it, women selected papers in favorite colours and designs and said why they liked them. They told the staff that there was “Wallpaper WANTS” and this is what they all agreed on:

All women want:

Savings
Quality that gives dependable service
Papers harmonizing in colour and design with each other and with furnishings.

Montgomery Ward then took these ideas to the best designers and colorists in America. The result is Wards 1940 Wallpapers created by women just like you (well 1940s you). And on each of the pages you will see how the “Wants” have been used.

Here are 3 Qualities to choose from when picking your wallpaper in 1940:

31% wanted Fadeproof paper
44% wanted Fadeproof, Washable paper
25% wanted Fadeproof, Washable paper that is Embossed or Calendered.

Side Note: I’m going to be honest..while I love this winter wonderland wallpaper I’m not 100% sure if its practical for a room all year around. Share what you think in the comments section below!

1940s Wallpaper. What qualities to chose when picking your wallpaer.

More Tips! How to use Color and Design when designing your room:

Keep color schemes simple-a room in good taste has two predominting colours with accents of one or two others.

Wards show 5 basic colours: Blue, Green, Beige, Cocoa and Rose. You can mix or match them in everthing from draperies to paint. You then chose a Companion paper (which will be the examples I show below), harmonizing in colour and design.

The 2 pages below are three harmonized room schemes featuring companion paper.

How to use colour and design in your rooms when decorating. As seen in a 1940s wallpaper catalog

To Keep Adjoining Rooms Harmonious…Choose a Companion Paper (as discussed above).

1940s Vintage Wallpaper pattern-floral pattern

Oh I love a good tropical print (“A Smart New Design” to be exact). Here is the 1940s version of the palm leaves wallpaper you see on some many Instagram accounts these days.

1940s Wallpaper-Tropical Palm Leaves Wallpaper

1940s Wallpaper pattern- Tropical Palm Leaves Wallpaper

Quaint Design, Sparkling Color-A Delight to Every Eye! Pretty floral wall paper design for your bedroom.

1940s Vintage Wallpaper pattern-Floral Design

Do you have kids or maybe grandkids? How about this Mother Goose themed wallpaper? Featuring Peter Rabbit, Jack and Jill with a puppy, mary and her lambs. It’s sure to bring some fun to a child’s bedroom or playroom.

1940s Vintage Wallpaper for kids. Mother Goose themed wallpaper

1940s Vintage Wallpaper pattern for kids. Mother Goose themed wallpaper

A Paper Reminiscent of Yesterday-For Your Modern Kitchen. The yesterday being plate-rails with quaint flowered plates and pots of trailing ivy. Banjo clock, clipper ships and old leather-bound books.

1940s vintage wallpaper for your modern kitchen.

1940s vintage wallpaper for your modern kitchen. Wallpaper pattern features an old grandfather clock and grapes.

Warm Colors and Picturesque Scenes: Make Halls Say “Welcome”.

1940s Vintage Wallpaper pattern-farmhouse and field

Smart, Practical and Economical-A New Varnished Paper. The colours in this wallpaper are of the popular kitchen combination of red, gray and black. This pattern reminds me SO MUCH of a blog post I did on 1940s Linoleum flooring.

1940s Wallpaper-Varnished Wallpaper. Smart, Practical and Economical-A New Varnished Paper. The colours in this wallpaper are of the popular kitchen combination of red, gray and black.

1940s Wallpaper pattern-Varnished Wallpaper. Smart, Practical and Economical-A New Varnished Paper. The colours in this wallpaper are of the popular kitchen combination of red, gray and black.

Anyone interested in some Scrubbable Wallpaper? You can scrub it like tile! This is very handy especially in those places like around the stove that get stained alot. I like it.

Scrubbable Wallpaper. 1940s vintage wallpaper catalog

How to pay for all this wallpaper? Simple! Use the Time Payment Plan. $2 down and the $2 monthly payment. Enjoy while you pay!

How much did wallpaper cost in 1940? See the price in a vintage 1940 interior design catalog for wallpaper designs

Please make sure you check out the rest of the Catalog yourself because there is 161 pages and I cannot possibly share everyone of the wallpapers featured (even though I really really wanted to!).

Share your favourites in the comment section below.

FURTHER READING: Check out my archive of ‘Vintage Home Decor’ Posts HERE.

Stay Safe Friends!

Liz

Tag: vintage home

For the Vintage Styled Home: Mid Century Magazine Racks

Mid Century Magazine Racks

Vintage Wallpaper Ideas from a 1940 Montgomery Ward Catalog

Vintage Wallpaper Ideas from a 1940 Montgomery Ward Catalog