With their shag-pile carpets and padded leather recliners, most people share similar memories of a much-loved grandparent and their distinctive home. Maybe it's because we were young but their houses are strongly imprinted in our minds; filled with their quirky collections, endless books and homewares harking back to a bygone era. Take a trip down memory lane and see how many of these intriguing items you remember...

A practical addition to your sofa or armchair, furniture covers keep kids’ grubby fingers away from smart fabric and are an easy way to freshen up a tired couch. The curious thing about the covers at your grandparents’ house is that they all seem to incorporate some kind of skirt. Whether this is a hangover from the Victorian preoccupation with covering chair legs or merely a decorative feature, it remains one of life's little mysteries.

From stamps to glass animals to novelty teaspoons, many grandparents have a collection or two displayed around the home. And when special thimbles were created by British manufacturers to commemorate the 1851 Great Exhibition, they quickly became a popular collectors’ item too. Despite the fact that no-one really needs more than one thimble, these quirky displays still add a certain je ne sais quoi to a living room or hallway.

One of the most charming aspects of older houses is the prevalence of homemade and hand-sewn furnishings. Long before the days of IKEA and Pottery Barn, many women spent months laboriously cutting, sewing and basting patchwork squares to make quilts. The result was these beautiful bedspreads, destined to become treasured family heirlooms.

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If your grandparents have a conservatory or deck, they almost certainly have a set of cane loungers. Exuding a subtle tiki vibe and padded with floral cushions, these rustic chairs tend to creak somewhat ominously any time anyone sits down. When the sun is shining, one or other of your grandparents can probably be found relaxing in one of these precarious wicker chairs with the Sunday paper.

Whatever happened to fridge magnets? Many of us can remember being tasked with picking out a novelty magnet for the grandparents when off at the beach or in the country. Taking pride of place on the kitchen fridge, these colourful (and adorably tacky) souvenirs are a reminder of past trips and quality time spent with friends and family. Such is the breadth of some of these collections, it’s a small wonder the fridge door doesn't fall off...

Perfect for spying on the neighbours, these decorative lace panels adorn many a sash window in your average grandparents' home. While they were originally something of a status symbol due to the expense of fine lace, the proliferation of machine-made synthetic fabrics meant everyone could take their curtain twitching to the next level. Whether in the bathroom, bedroom or living room, a lace curtain is sure to lurk somewhere in your grandparents' house.

From intricately patterned satsuma ware to blue-and-white glazed Delft pottery, almost every grandparent has a collection of matching crockery displayed in a glass case or dresser. But, only brought out for the most special of occasions, these ornate cups and saucers tend to be neglected in favour of their more practical ceramic counterparts. You were in big trouble if you were caught playing house with these teacups when you were a kid too.

Derived from the Hindi word chīnt meaning ‘spotted’ or ‘variegated’, the term originally referred to heavy calico fabrics printed with intricate floral designs. In the 20th century, the definition widened to include any kind of dense, floral decoration. From the tasteful to the gaudy to the downright florid, you’re sure to have spotted the odd chintzy furnishing at your grandparents’ place.

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Chiming loudly on the hour, the antique clock is the noisy family heirloom that makes its presence known no matter the time of day. Featuring confusing Roman numerals on their yellowing faces, these clocks often have elaborate chiming sequences that mimic those of famous churches and clocktowers around the world. If you’re not sure where your grandparents’ clock is today, just listen out… you’re sure to hear it.

A relic from the 1970s, the electric fire makes up for its lack of style by producing a furnace-strength heat. Whilst recent trends have seen more sympathetic restorations of original fireplaces, in your grandparents’ time most people boxed in the chimney and purchased an economical electric heater. Although this model has probably seen better times (RIP to the silver cut-and-loop carpet as well), it still conjures up cosy images of evenings spent relaxing with family.

First popularised towards the end of the 1800s, these humorous garden ornaments were originally a preserve of the wealthy – but by the late 20th century everyone and their grandma had a gnome or two dotted around the garden. Whether keeping guard over a crop of prize cabbages or relaxing by the pond, you’re sure to have spotted one of these figurines at your grandparents’ house.

A constant source of intrigue and entertainment, the serving hatch was one of the highlights of a trip to your grandparents’ house as a child. From playing peekaboo to scaring oblivious passers-by, this retro kitchen feature was so much more than a means to serve dinner. Absent from most contemporary homes, it’s clear that life is a little more dreary without the humble serving hatch.

Before the days of apps, there was still a way to gauge the weather without going through the tedious process of opening a window. Enter the barometer, a vital addition to any pre-digital household and a delightfully decorative item to boot. Available in a range of weird and wonderful designs, these contraptions measure air pressure and can predict the forecast for the immediate future. You may well find one mounted to the wall by the front or back door at your grandparents' home.

As tea parties faded into obscurity, so too did the humble tea cosy, superseded by flashy electric kettles and coffees to go. However, this quirky knitted accessory can still be found at your grandparents’ house, primed and ready to keep your teapot hot and your tea hotter. From novelty knits to cosies with bobbles on top, these insulating covers will give you that warm and fuzzy feeling.

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One of the few sewing trends to have experienced a revival in recent years, cross-stitching was all the rage back in the day. Who doesn’t have a grandparent who agonised over an intricate floral border or heart-warming message during nights spent in front of the television? Such was the labour-intensive process, it's only right that these embroidered works of art took pride of place over the mantelpiece or above the telephone table once they were finished.

Whether or not your grandparents are partial to the odd glass of whisky, a set of crystal glassware is often a permanent fixture on the sideboard or on top of the drinks cabinet. Consisting of a cut-glass decanter with a faceted stopper and at least six whisky glasses, this set only really makes the rounds at Christmas, but remains surprisingly free of dust. Bonus points if your grandparents have their names or anniversary date engraved in the glass.

 

A miscellaneous collection of hand-knitted toys, threadbare teddies and slightly creepy china dolls is generally a staple of any grandparents’ house. Often carefully arranged on an accent chair or guest bed, they keep an eerie watch over the home and occasionally seem to move of their own accord… Why are they there? Not even your grandparents seem to know.

If you ever tired of exploring the intriguing nooks and crannies of your grandparents’ home as a child, the games table could provide hours of entertainment. With delights such as ludo, backgammon and monopoly on offer, there was no greater pleasure than an afternoon spent vainly trying to beat granny at scrabble. Anyone up for a rematch?

A symbol of social mobility in the years following the Second World War, the traditional crocheted doily was soon replaced by a cheaper paper model that even the poorest of families could afford. Originally designed to protect wooden furniture from scratches and spills, the doily proved extremely versatile and was used for an array of functions. Likely to be found beneath a tray of cakes or a vase of flowers, these lacy mats were a staple feature of any grandparents' home.

The pelmet is an interesting invention, a furnishing devoid of almost all practical usage save the task of hiding unsightly curtain poles and blind mechanisms. Made of or covered with fabric that matched that of the drapes, these decorative features often boast intricate tassels, ruches or braiding. The pelmet is no longer a common household item due to the fact that it does, well, nothing.

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They kind of look like they could be edible and, let’s be honest, many of us considered sampling one of these colourful dried petals at least once as a child. Along with lavender sachets in underwear drawers, this is one of those trends that has sadly fallen by the wayside.

Designed to mimic everything from wooden boards and panelling to bricks and tiles, these mock papers could be found embellishing the walls of many a 1970s house. Whilst the following decade saw a move towards painted plaster, your grandparents’ house may still have the odd faux-wood wall.

A grandparent’s pantry is a real treasure trove, chocked full of dusty homemade preserves, vintage biscuit tins and glass jars of unidentifiable substances. Get lucky and you may find a moist slice of fruitcake or a chocolate biscuit – unlucky and it's more likely to be a stale cracker from last year’s Christmas party. However, if you're baking a cake or a decorating a tray of biscuits, a grandparent’s larder is your best friend.

Last but not least is one of the most bemusing furnishings to ever grace a grandparent’s home. Transforming your lavatory into a comfy and enticing seat, these fluffy covers are equal parts entertaining and perplexing. Whilst no-one really seems to know why they exist, the fact that they can still be found hugging the toilet seats of grandparents across the globe can really only be a cause for joy.

Many a happy hour would have been while away gently swaying on this garden staple. There was nothing better than stretching out under the shade on a hot day, while one of your grandparents rocked it for you, perhaps with a sibling perched at the other end.

No living room would have been complete without one of these retro magazine racks tucked away somewhere to hold the TV guide and Women's Weekly. Frankly, this is one retro trend we wish would make a comeback as we could definitely put it to good use!

Before the internet and the advent of Wikipedia, there was another source of knowledge. No matter what question you might have about the world, your grandfather would be able to answer it by turning to his prized collection the Encyclopedia Britannica. You'd have been hard-pressed to find a house without one! 

Roof needed mending? Broken down car? Looking to buy a TV? From French polishers to specialist bookshops, this trusty telephone directory was the place to find anything and everything you might need. Our grandparents would always have kept a copy next to the phone.

From dolls dressed as fancy ladies to woodland creatures and everything in between, no Nanna's bathroom would be complete without a handknitted cover to hid the toilet paper. No one knows why they they were deemed necessary; nor why they have disappeared from our homes. 

What's orange, weighs a ton and is covered in knick-knacks? Well, if you're talking about our grandparent's living room then it must be the TV display cabinet. Not only somewhere to house the entertainment system (by that we mean the VCR!), it held family photos, your granny's porcelain figurines and probably old bills and board games stuffed into the cupboards.

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