In the UK, the 1950s was a time of great social change. Free from the threat of World War II (apart from rationing, which still affected the early part of the decade) Britons could look forward with a new hope and optimism. The fifties saw the beginnings of the introduction of several 'mod cons' into the home, which began to make family life both easier and more fun - in fact, this was the decade that saw the UK start to step away from the relative drudgery of previous decades and into a new, more modern, era. New gadgets meant that women, who typically took care of the running of the home, benefitted the most. In time, as more and more inventions became affordable for the average family, women would be given more freedom to focus on other things. Fridges were still hugely expensive at the beginning of the decade, so were owned by only the minority. Ten years later, the fridge freezer began to find its way into more and more households, meaning that food could be stored and women no longer had to make daily trips to local shops to purchase groceries. By the end of the fifties, most people had a Hoover. Television was enjoyed by about two thirds of the population at the close of the fifties - watching the Queen's Coronation on TV in 1953 was an exciting social event with multiple families crowded around a single set.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the twin tub washing machine into homes. The twin tub was, of course, rather less convenient than the automatic washing machines we have today. However, it was a great improvement on having to hand wash every garment before putting it through a mangle. Not everyone had the relative luxury of a twin tub, but the changes were being made. The fifties was a decade that saw the gradual improvement of living standards and home comforts as we know it today. It was an exciting decade, paving the way for modern Britain. Even the humble teabag originates from the 1950s, although at the time most people opted for the familiarity of tea-leaves.