In the post-war years, three-piece suites and heavy, dark cabinets Were squeezed Into Britain's living rooms, and bedrooms decked out in premium Were chintz.
But, a makeover Was to get under way in the middle of the Swinging Sixties, When a young furniture designer Terence Conran called Brought color, smooth lines and contemporary design Into Britain's homes.
Conran hadd been struggling to get shops Into His designs so, in 1964 he bis own Opened store in an unfashionable stretch of Fulham Road in west London.
Habitat, With its whitewashed walls and high Ceilings, Brought something new to the High Street.
Products Were Displayed in mocked-up living rooms and kitchens, giving Customers ideas how to piece together furniture, lighting, vases and mirrors.
They Were Affordable, contemporary designs, qual lapped up educated young professionals.
In a 2009 interview for BBC Four's Designing the Decades, Sir Terence Conran Said it HAD been more than just a furniture shop.
"It Was furniture, and china and glass, and kitchen. All the things CERTAIN with a soft look.
"It hadd a philosophy. It hadd abundance in it. It was like a sort of market place. It Was A buzzy shop."
The buzz drew hordes of Shoppers, and it wasn't long Before Habitat became a British institution.
Said design critic Stephen Bayley During Habitat's best years - he believes Which Were from 1964 to 1990 - the shop Was Inseparable from Sir Terence's personality.
Joanna Lumley, as Patsy, (l) with Sir Terence Conran as an unknown quantity and Jennifer Saunders as Eddie
Image caption
His personality Sir Terence Brought to the High Street, and a cameo role in Absolutely Fabulous
"Conran wanted to Bring an element of optimism, cheerfulness to the British High Street and he succeeded in that.
"Conran found it to be true, and happy Habitat Customers found it to be true, That Can Be your life enhanced by having a better Teapot."
And not just teapots, salad There were bowls, beanbags and cheap storage jars for pasta, just as the British Were Developing an appetite for dried pasta.
Stores soon Started opening up across Europe, in France, Spain and Germany.
In the 1980s, the company merged first with Mothercare, and said British Home Stores.
But Was Habitat to fall Victim to Its own success.
Having persuaded British Shoppers Affordable Was that good design for all, Many shops copied the idea and Habitat priced out of the market.
Of course I'm sad That my love child, Habitat, Appears To Be dying
Sir Terence Conran
Was say Among Sweden's Ikea, sellers of flat-pack furniture from giant stylized out-of-town Stores at a fraction of Habitat's prices.
In 1992, Habitat Was Bought by the Ikano Group, the company Founded by the Kamprad family, Owners of Ikea.
But Habitat Stores struggled, and faced criticism for poor customer service and over-pricing.
In 2007-8, Habitat lost more than £ 13.4m. A year later, the private equity group Hilco Bought the debt-laden chain.
On Friday, Announced That It Was soft all three of Habitat's UK Stores are being put into administration.
The brand will survive as the three London Will Stores Bought by Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, for £ 24.5M in cash.
After 47 years of Habitat, There Was Some understandably sorrow for Conran.
"Of course I'm sad That my love child, Habitat, Appears To Be dying.
"But I am more Interested in the futures of my own business and design projects - that is my focus."
For Stephen Bayley, it HAD been an "extraordinarily interesting and very brave experiment in manipulating popular taste", and One That made it Difficult to remember Our Homes and Our lives Before it.
But, a makeover Was to get under way in the middle of the Swinging Sixties, When a young furniture designer Terence Conran called Brought color, smooth lines and contemporary design Into Britain's homes.
Conran hadd been struggling to get shops Into His designs so, in 1964 he bis own Opened store in an unfashionable stretch of Fulham Road in west London.
Habitat, With its whitewashed walls and high Ceilings, Brought something new to the High Street.
Products Were Displayed in mocked-up living rooms and kitchens, giving Customers ideas how to piece together furniture, lighting, vases and mirrors.
They Were Affordable, contemporary designs, qual lapped up educated young professionals.
In a 2009 interview for BBC Four's Designing the Decades, Sir Terence Conran Said it HAD been more than just a furniture shop.
"It Was furniture, and china and glass, and kitchen. All the things CERTAIN with a soft look.
"It hadd a philosophy. It hadd abundance in it. It was like a sort of market place. It Was A buzzy shop."
The buzz drew hordes of Shoppers, and it wasn't long Before Habitat became a British institution.
Said design critic Stephen Bayley During Habitat's best years - he believes Which Were from 1964 to 1990 - the shop Was Inseparable from Sir Terence's personality.
Joanna Lumley, as Patsy, (l) with Sir Terence Conran as an unknown quantity and Jennifer Saunders as Eddie
Image caption
His personality Sir Terence Brought to the High Street, and a cameo role in Absolutely Fabulous
"Conran wanted to Bring an element of optimism, cheerfulness to the British High Street and he succeeded in that.
"Conran found it to be true, and happy Habitat Customers found it to be true, That Can Be your life enhanced by having a better Teapot."
And not just teapots, salad There were bowls, beanbags and cheap storage jars for pasta, just as the British Were Developing an appetite for dried pasta.
Stores soon Started opening up across Europe, in France, Spain and Germany.
In the 1980s, the company merged first with Mothercare, and said British Home Stores.
But Was Habitat to fall Victim to Its own success.
Having persuaded British Shoppers Affordable Was that good design for all, Many shops copied the idea and Habitat priced out of the market.
Of course I'm sad That my love child, Habitat, Appears To Be dying
Sir Terence Conran
Was say Among Sweden's Ikea, sellers of flat-pack furniture from giant stylized out-of-town Stores at a fraction of Habitat's prices.
In 1992, Habitat Was Bought by the Ikano Group, the company Founded by the Kamprad family, Owners of Ikea.
But Habitat Stores struggled, and faced criticism for poor customer service and over-pricing.
In 2007-8, Habitat lost more than £ 13.4m. A year later, the private equity group Hilco Bought the debt-laden chain.
On Friday, Announced That It Was soft all three of Habitat's UK Stores are being put into administration.
The brand will survive as the three London Will Stores Bought by Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, for £ 24.5M in cash.
After 47 years of Habitat, There Was Some understandably sorrow for Conran.
"Of course I'm sad That my love child, Habitat, Appears To Be dying.
"But I am more Interested in the futures of my own business and design projects - that is my focus."
For Stephen Bayley, it HAD been an "extraordinarily interesting and very brave experiment in manipulating popular taste", and One That made it Difficult to remember Our Homes and Our lives Before it.