12 Things That Were Almost In Every Household Back In The 1980s

Remember cassette tape cabinets?

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• July 6, 2022

The ‘80s were definitely a strange time—but almost all in a good way. Things were a lot funkier back then, and while everyone seems to go minimal nowadays, everything in that decade was just the opposite.

We’re not exactly complaining, but if we had the chance to turn back time, the ’80s would definitely be at the top of our list. Thanks to shows like Stranger Things, people nowadays, especially ones born at a later time, are nostalgic for an era that they may or may not have ever experienced.

There were a lot of memorable things from this decade, especially since it has provided us with a lot of monumental events and products, especially in the entertainment industry, and everyone, like as it has always been, seemed to have jumped on every trend there is back then. And that includes things that were rampant in home trends back then, like how Nordic furniture and minimalism are a trend in our homes now.

There definitely wasn’t a specific theme, but there are just a lot of things that scream everything 1980s, and while most people have seen these things in their homes in the ‘90s or in the early 2000s already, all credit goes to the great ‘80s decade for giving us such distinct items that were almost in every household back then. Just take a look at some of the most memorable ones and see if your memory doesn’t fail you!

1. Frosted glass animals

We can't explain it, but collecting figurines and ornaments seems to have been such a thing back then, even if they didn't really make sense. Among those are these frosted glass animals that most parents insisted on displaying back then—but let's be honest, they did spice our homes up in a good way!

2. Dome clocks

Honestly, dome clocks shouldn't have gone out of the mainstream, just look at how mesmerizing they are! The pendulums definitely entertained us for hours on end, and the overall design is just magnificent.

3. Cassette tape cabinets

Yep, when Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and all other streaming platforms were non-existent back in the day, families had to record their favorite films on TV via VHS tapes, and when there was no Spotify or Apple Music for songs, music cassettes were used. But as you can guess, it did take up a lot of space so homes had these cassette tape cabinets as an essential.

4. Slide projectors

Slideshows back then were shown using these slide projectors—families had to insert their photos into the slots of this projector, and it would spin at a press of a button.

5. Nest of tables

Nested tables are perfect for big families, and they're a perfect home staple for those who want to eat their meals in front of the TV!

6. Knitted toilet roll covers

Crochet and knitting are actually having a comeback at present time, but back in the '80s, people actually had a fun time dressing up their toilet rolls with knitted dolls. Maybe they just wanted to keep them warm, who knows?

7. Clock radio coffee machines

Coffee enthusiasts who are, at the same time, music lovers, would dig this item. It makes you coffee, it tells you the time, and it lets you listen to the radio!

8. Cartoon bedspreads

Yep, this was definitely the aesthetic back then—cartoons on literally every fabric you could find, including bedspreads. They weren't exactly ugly, but hey, at least they did keep us safe and cozy at bedtime.

9. Blue Willow pottery

A lot of ceramics and pottery were in kitchens back then, but this iconic Blue Willow pattern definitely takes the cake as one of the most popular designs used for crockery.

10. Black and white TVs

Kids nowadays never had the experience of enduring a black and white TV, but it was definitely a life-saver back then—when it comes to boredom, that is. Televisions now are much wider and flatter, as opposed to these chunky TVs where you had to turn the dial to switch channels, but we definitely miss the latter.

11. Recipe boxes

The Internet was pretty much non-existent back then, or just not as useful as it is now, so people had to keep a tab on everything and archive physical documents on their own. That includes recipes, written on cards that are stored in these wooden boxes.

12. Electric typewriters

Classic typewriters were a lot of fun to mess around with (as long as they didn't get broken!), but these electric versions in the mid-'80s were just as fascinating.

A lot of things have really changed—times have passed, and everything in this list seems to be accessible with just a click nowadays, but one thing's for sure: no decade really does it like the '80s. Everything was just so iconic and memorable, and it's definitely great seeing all these items that take us down memory lane!

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Sophia