The Front Room

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The front room, particularly among the Caribbean community, was a place of pride.

Common features of a front room:

It would contain all of their best furniture, often covered in plastic to keep it in a good condition.
It would showcase photographs, something which at the time were a luxury to have.
A decorated mantel piece was often the focal point of the room

The importance of the front room, and everything which it embodied, meant that it was often the room used to entertain visitors. It was a safe place in which communities could socialise. Typically, it would not be used by family unless to read the bible or carry out a special practice.

Objects in the Front Room

Crocheted Doily

Crocheting was a popular skill among women, particularly among West Indian women. It was a skill which would be passed down through generations.

You would often find these on coffee tables as a decorative piece, or they would be used to stand ornaments on in the front room

Radiogram

A radiogram was a large piece of furniture which combined a radio and a record player. This piece of furniture was of central importance to a Caribbean front room because:

It allowed people to gather with friends to listen to music which was an important part of Caribbean culture
It allowed families to bring the sounds of ‘back home’ into their new life

Paraffin Heater

Paraffin heaters were a common addition to homes during the 1950s and for some of the 1960s. They would heat up a room by burning paraffin oil.

As these heaters were portable, they could be moved around the home, however the most common places for it to be in were:

The Front Room
The Bathroom
The Bedroom

The section below explores some of the items you would typically find in the front room. Hover your mouse over an image to find out more!

Telephone

Telephones were usually placed in the front room where its use could be monitored and, if needed, restricted, as phone calls were expensive.

Sometimes the phone would sit on its own ‘chippie’: a chair with a small table built into it.

In some communities, neighbours would even share telephones due to the expense of them.

Glass Cabinet

Every Caribbean front room would contain a glass cabinet which would proudly display their finest collections of glassware and china.

Items which were often on display:

Glassware
China
Vases
Souvenirs

These were made in a similar style to doilies, but were hung on the backs of sofas and armchairs, as seen in the picture to the left.