1950s House Has Planks That Pull Out of the Bedroom Wardrobe — What Are They For?
If you’ve ever stumbled across a 1950s or mid-century home and found planks that slide out from a wardrobe, you might have paused in curiosity — or even suspicion. What are these mysterious boards? Are they structural? Decorative? Some kind of secret storage?
It turns out, these ingenious mid-century design features were actually purposeful and clever solutions to everyday household needs. In this guide, we’ll explore what these planks are, why they were included in mid-century homes, how homeowners used them, and why they fell out of fashion.
1. The Mystery of Mid-Century Pull-Out Planks
Many people discovering a pull-out plank in a wardrobe immediately wonder if it’s:
A hidden ironing board
A makeshift desk
A secret compartment
Or something completely else
In fact, these features are part of a broader trend in 1950s home design, where space efficiency, multifunctional furniture, and hidden features were highly valued. Post-war homes needed clever solutions to make everyday life more comfortable and practical.
2. The Historical Context: 1950s Home Design
A. Compact Living Spaces
After World War II, many families moved into smaller suburban homes. Bedrooms often had limited floor space, so furniture had to do double duty. This is where pull-out planks or folding boards became useful.
B. Emphasis on Practicality
Mid-century designers focused on efficiency, simplicity, and functionality. Homes built in the 1950s often included:
Built-in wardrobes with multiple compartments
Hidden storage to reduce clutter
Multipurpose furniture for small rooms
A plank that pulls out of a wardrobe fits perfectly with these principles.
C. The Rise of “Convertible Furniture”
Furniture that could transform or extend for multiple uses was trendy. Think Murphy beds, fold-out tables, and extendable desks. Pull-out planks in wardrobes were part of this same design philosophy — an elegant solution for temporary, utilitarian tasks without cluttering the room.
3. Common Uses of Wardrobe Pull-Out Planks
While their exact purpose might vary by home or builder, historical records, interior design guides, and vintage catalogs suggest several common uses:
A. Pull-Out Ironing Board
This is perhaps the most frequent use.
The plank could be folded out horizontally to form a small ironing surface.
It saved space in compact bedrooms and allowed for quick ironing without dragging out a bulky board.
Often positioned at waist height for ergonomics.
Tip: Check if the plank has a smooth, heat-tolerant surface — it might confirm it was an ironing board.
B. Temporary Desk or Vanity
Some planks were intended for:
Writing or reading desks
Vanity tables for grooming or makeup
A pull-out plank allowed a person to create a workspace quickly, then fold it away to reclaim the bedroom’s floor space.
In homes where bedrooms doubled as study areas, this was especially useful.
You might even see small hooks or cutouts to hold stationery or grooming items.
C. Folding Clothes or Laundry Station
Another common historical use:
Folding laundry directly in the bedroom
Organizing freshly laundered clothes before putting them away
It was a practical solution, keeping clothing and linens close at hand.
D. Storage or Display Extension
Less common but still plausible:
Pull-out planks sometimes extended shelving space
Could be used for temporary display of folded items or shoes
Some homeowners placed trays or baskets on these boards for organization
4. Why These Features Are Rare Today
If you’ve seen a 1950s house with a pull-out plank, you may notice that most modern homes don’t include them. Why did this feature fade away?
A. Larger Bedrooms
As suburban homes grew in the 1960s and beyond, bedrooms became larger. Homeowners didn’t need space-saving tricks as much.
B. Specialized Furniture
The market shifted toward standalone, specialized furniture:
Free-standing ironing boards
Vanity tables and desks
Modular shelving systems
These pieces replaced the need for multi-purpose wardrobe planks.
C. Changing Aesthetics
Mid-century “hidden features” fell out of fashion as interior design shifted toward open layouts, minimalist lines, and sleek cabinetry. Pull-out planks looked quaint or old-fashioned.
5. How to Identify the Original Purpose of Your Plank
If you find a plank in a vintage wardrobe, here’s how to deduce what it was for:
A. Check the Height and Orientation
Waist height: Likely an ironing board or folding station
Low to the floor: Could have been a temporary desk or display area
Horizontal vs. vertical alignment: Horizontal pull-outs were common for ironing or folding, while vertical boards sometimes functioned as privacy panels or shelves
B. Inspect the Material
Heat-resistant wood or laminate → ironing board
Smooth, polished surface → vanity or writing desk
Slight indentations or grooves → possibly designed for clothes, trays, or other accessories
C. Look for Additional Features
Hooks or brackets → might have held small items
Notches or cutouts → could indicate stationery or grooming use
Wear marks → repeated use areas can suggest practical functions
6. Pull-Out Planks in Today’s Renovations
Interestingly, these hidden planks have become vintage conversation pieces and functional retro elements in modern renovations:
A. Decorative Showcase
They add mid-century charm to restored homes
Can be repurposed as display shelves or plant stands
B. Functional Retro Use
Modern homeowners still use them as small ironing surfaces or laptop desks
Handy for folding laundry or organizing craft supplies
C. Collectible Furniture
Homes with intact mid-century features, including pull-out planks, are sometimes highly sought after by enthusiasts.
7. Other Hidden Mid-Century Wardrobe Features
Pull-out planks were part of a broader trend of ingenious, hidden features in 1950s wardrobes, including:
Sliding shoe racks
Pull-out jewelry trays
Fold-down sewing tables
Secret compartments for valuables
These features reflected a time when furniture had to be both beautiful and multi-functional.
8. DIY Ideas for Modern Use
If you have a vintage wardrobe with a pull-out plank, here are some ways to incorporate it today:
Ironing Board – Restore it as originally intended, using a heat-resistant cover
Laptop Desk – Pull out the plank for temporary work-from-home space
Vanity Table – Add a small mirror and a tray for cosmetics
Craft Station – Fold it out for sewing, painting, or scrapbooking
Plant Display – Showcase small potted plants without sacrificing floor space
The versatility is part of what made mid-century wardrobes ingenious.
9. Historical Appreciation: Why These Planks Were Genius
Design historians point out that these features were revolutionary for their time:
Compact living: Maximized small spaces
Multifunctionality: Furniture could serve multiple roles
Hidden aesthetics: Useful without cluttering the room
DIY convenience: Simple, intuitive pull-out boards saved time and effort
In short, mid-century architects and furniture designers were solving everyday household problems with elegant engineering.
10. Conclusion: The Legacy of Pull-Out Planks
Pull-out planks in 1950s wardrobes are more than just a curiosity. They represent:
Innovation in furniture design
Practical problem-solving in small homes
Aesthetic and functional balance that modern furniture sometimes lacks
Whether you use them today as an ironing station, folding board, laptop desk, or decorative display, these planks are a window into the creativity of mid-century domestic design.
So next time you discover a hidden board in a vintage wardrobe, you can appreciate it not as a mystery, but as a brilliant design solution that made life easier for homeowners over half a century ago.
