In Bill Bryson's book "At Home: A Short History of Private Life," he observes that during the era of Charles Dickens, the predominant colors for ironwork were notably muted shades such as green, light blue, and dull gray. This color palette reflects the aesthetic preferences and the industrial realities of that time period when ironwork was a common feature in both public and private spaces.

By highlighting these color choices, Bryson provides insight into the historical context of domestic life in the 19th century. The drabness of ironwork captures the essence of the industrial age, where function often took precedence over flamboyant design, indicative of wider societal norms that influenced how people perceived and adorned their living environments.