In 18th century America after the Revolutionary War, people started to obsess more and more about their outward appearances. People were judged by society based on the possessions they had in their homes. This led to conspicuous consumption and more money spent on extravagant luxury goods. People started to purchase things that they didn't think was necessary before, like statues and paintings and other lavish home decor and furniture. For the first time, Americans began to care more about their social status and how they appeared to other people. Men and women started wearing more makeup, more wigs and more jewelry, and they most importantly began to decorate their homes with as many luxury goods they could afford. Parties were thrown to show off a family's wealth rather than for hospitality. Furniture started getting more ornate, and when people couldn't afford to have real gold or real marble, they faked it. Many people would commission painters to depict them as being more attractive, slimmer and more wealthy. People would hang their portraits in their living rooms to show their descendants what they looked like, and these portraits would hang on the walls for generations. Home decor started increasing in popularity, and American society took interior design inspiration from English and French royals. Today, through looking at home decor from the 1800's to the 1900's, we can have a glimpse of what life was like back then.