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

The 1980s left behind a trail of home trends that were loud, quirky, and impossible to ignore. From decorative knickknacks to practical gadgets, plenty of items once felt like they belonged in almost every household.

Some of them survived into the 1990s and early 2000s, but their roots were pure '80s. If you grew up around these pieces, the nostalgia hits fast, and if you did not, they still say a lot about how homes looked back then.

Here are 12 things that were almost everywhere in the 1980s, and they still bring back a very specific kind of memory.

1. Frosted glass animals

We can't explain it, but collecting figurines and ornaments seemed to be a trend back then, even if they didn't really make sense. Among those were these frosted glass animals that most parents insisted on displaying—let's be honest, they did spice up our homes 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 simply 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. When there was no Spotify or Apple Music for songs, music cassettes were used. But as you can guess, they took up a lot of space, so homes had these cassette tape cabinets as essentials.

4. Slide projectors

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

5. Nest of tables

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

And if you think frosted glass animals were random, these collectors turned weird household obsessions into full-on collections.

6. Knitted toilet roll covers

Crochet and knitting are actually making a comeback today, but back in the '80s, people 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 also music lovers would dig this item. It makes coffee, tells you the time, and 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 kept 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 today have never experienced enduring a black and white TV, but it was definitely a lifesaver back then—when it came to boredom, that is. Televisions now are much wider and flatter, as opposed to those 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 track of everything and archive physical documents on their own. That included recipes, written on cards 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 break!), but these electric versions from the mid-'80s were just as fascinating.

A lot of things have really changed, times have passed, and everything on 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 to see all these items that take us down memory lane!

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The '80s still know how to spark a little nostalgia.

Before you blame your parents, see how your grandparents navigated “safety was a suggestion” situations.