From ceramic flying ducks to luminous lava lamps and plastic couch covers, there's a special place in our hearts for the retro homewares of the past. Over the years, many of our treasured items have fallen into obscurity, lost to car boot sales and eBay listings—until now. Guaranteed to make you smile, we've taken a trip back in time to unearth the best vintage homewares and a few modern updated versions from way back when. Grab your walkman and click or scroll on to take a stroll down memory lane...
No hallway was complete in the 1970s without a striking starburst or sunburst mirror to add a statement. Lately, we've seen an explosion of circular-shaped mirrors adorn on-trend walls so we think don't think it is too long until designs with surrounding rays of light come back out from behind the clouds too.
With so much technology at our fingertips, there is something about the sound and slow manner of the round-dial telephone that infuses calm to those who use it now. Updated with hidden modern tech, they are still widely available and supported by most landline phone exchanges. We suggest using the cool accessory to inject a hit of colour into your retro decorating scheme.
An ingenious way to wake up to your favourite music station in the morning, these handy gadgets came in a range of shapes and sizes, usually featuring a florescent clock face and a manual tuner. While some were decked out in faux wooden detailing, others came in luminous plastic finishes. A regular in second-hand stores, we still have a soft spot for these bedside gadgets.
The box toaster has been a countertop staple for decades, and fundamentally there's not a huge difference between something like this model from Sears and a modern version. This one does have the signature avocado green that was so popular in the 1970s, and that extra shiny chrome finish that looked so modern back then.
Fans of Saved by the Bell will remember how obsessed we once were with loud, geometric prints. Thanks to the designs of the Memphis Group, bedrooms of the 1980s and 90s were packed full of gaudy décor and Aztec-inspired fabrics. The collection of artists and designers enchanted us with their abstract patterns, clashing colours and curving lines, but sadly the fad didn't stand the test of time.
Which 90s teenager didn't lust after one of these novelty chairs for their bedroom or hangout? Cheap to produce, their bright colours and 'no-assembly required' ethos made them one of the iconic pieces of that era, and well into the noughties too. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before a stray hairpin or an overenthusiastic pet gave them a puncture.
After years of being warned about the dangers of mixing electricity with water, the portable waterproof radios that made their debut in the 1980s were a tiny bit mindblowing. Battery-operated, they could tune into AM or FM radio stations so you could listen to the latest pop hits as you got ready for school. So much better than a playlist on a mobile phone, we think.
If you can't get the day started without your morning cup then this throwback alarm clock is for you. Launched by British manufacturer, Goblin in 1970, this model featured a kettle, analogue clock and a lamp all in one and would have your tea already made when the alarm went off. It's one of those inventions that everybody still dreams about, and you wonder why it ever really went away.
The celestial-style light, first designed by Gino Sarfatti and named after a famous satellite, was once seen as an ultra-contemporary lighting option. The designer structure has been copied and updated all over the globe since, but they are hard to beat for creating a statement ceiling.
Inspired by the bright colours of pop art and patterns that trick the eye, bold wallpaper was everywhere in the 1970s. And now the 70s are back in vogue and hotter than ever, US interior decorator, Katie Zamprioli has created this bold 'Frenso' wallpaper in collaboration with Bobbi Beck. The wiggle and stripe pattern in orange and brown could have been made decades ago.
Drinks trollies have wheeled themselves back into living rooms and we love it. Shows like Mad Men and Wanderlust have reminded us that the easy furniture update beats the regular side table in style stakes. Plus, it's on wheels and comes with the promise of booze—so win-win!
It wasn't just telephones that got the novelty treatment. If it is useful and can be mutated into a character then 'why not?' seemed to be the theme of the 70s and 80s. From Care Bear mugs to 'camper van' salt and pepper pots to this colourful 'blue pineapple' ice bucket, no home accessory was safe from transformation.
Back when Alexa was simply a girl's name and had nothing to do with streaming music, we all used and adored record players and turntables instead. Plenty of us still love the feel and sound of vinyl, so it's no wonder there are still many on the market that are themed to look vintage.
Colour and pattern wasn't just for the walls. Retro rugs brought floors alive with striking chevrons and geometric patterns in colour ways such as marmalade orange and cucumber green—the brighter the better.
As television ownership soared in the 1960s, families around the world began eating meals in front of their favourite shows. An essential part of this evening ritual was the TV tray table, which made dinner time easier and much less messy! Up until the 80s, TV trays featured fold-out legs and came adorned with photographic landscapes as well as iconic characters and objects from the era, including The A-Team and ET.
Is there anything more retro than a trio of ceramic ducks? These interior décor favourites were born in the late 1930s, with the original flying duck design created in Stoke-on-Trent, England. By the 60s and 70s, these beloved treasures had made a home for themselves in our hallways and living rooms. Although the originals are mainly second-hand shop spots, they haven't flown the nest for good. These wooden versions are a charming contemporary take on the trend.
The beloved beaded door curtain was a staple in the households of yesteryear. In the 1960s and 70s, Bohemian and psychedelic styles were big, with natural materials such as wood, shells and bamboo entering our interiors. The perfect way to neatly cordon off a room, beaded curtains are memorable for their jazzy patterns and that distinctive sound they made when the beads gently knocked together.
Brown and orange hues rose to prominence in the interiors of the 1970s—from vintage bathroom suites to shag pile carpets, home furnishings came in shades of caramel, terracotta and chocolate. Earthenware and Hornsea Pottery soon became must-have names in crockery, perfectly complementing our dark kitchens and orange-hued living rooms. Now popular collector's items, these ceramics are still found in the homes of vintage décor fans.
Since 1915, Pyrex has been a constant presence in our home when it comes to storage, offering an array of pretty, stackable glass containers to suit every occasion. Surely, everyone remembers some version of a casserole dish making an appearance on the table? They were also great for storing leftovers.
From hot dogs to bananas, Snoopy to Pac Man and Ronald McDonald, novelty telephones once came in a plethora of playful designs. Of all the funky themed phones of bygone decades, the 70s hamburger is perhaps the most recognisable. Thanks to TV shows like Clarissa Explains It All, playful novelty devices remained teenage staples until the late 90s, before the Nokia 3210 took over the reins. Ah, simpler times...
All the rage in the 90s and early noughties, dream catchers were found hanging in teenage bedrooms all around the world. Before it was an interior design trend, dreamcatchers were used by First Nation cultures such as Ontario's Ojibwa people as talismans to ward off bad dreams. Made from willow and heavily embellished with beads and feathers, the 1990s appropriation of it might raise a few eyebrows today but they were hugely fashionable at the time.
Ah, the curtain tassel! Thanks to the popularity of modern minimalist interiors and sleek and simple window dressings, this once-loved tieback has more or less bit the dust. Back in the 1960s and 70s, no curtain was safe from these heavily-embellished beauties. Their popularity only increased in the 80s with the rise of English country décor in the UK and the US, when chintz and heavy fringing became the 'in' thing. How times have changed...
Long before smart home devices and underfloor heating, houses around the world had to make do with a roaring fire. Whether it be coal or wood, our fires needed to be tended and thus brass fireplace sets became an essential purchase. Popular as far back as the Victorian era, these practical tools continued to be common homeware items until the 1970s, when central heating started taking over our homes.
Paperweights have been around since the 19th century but these intricate glass ornaments experienced something of a resurgence in the 1950s, when they became the hottest new travel souvenirs. Available in an array of weird and wonderful designs, homeowners around the world inadvertently started their own colourful collections, many of which now stock the shelves of second-hand shops.
How we listen to music is always developing but back in the 1980s, the compact disc was a revolutionary advance from vinyl records. Within a few years, homes were soon filled with the little silver circles and therefore attractive CD storage was in high demand too. IKEA to the rescue again with narrow floor-to-ceiling CD storage. Its super-slim width meant the box shelving could be mounted in the oddest and awkward spaces—and often was!
Before CDs there were records. Whether you remember them playing at your parents' house or started collecting them second hand, their large scale artwork and warm sound have seen them make a huge comeback. For that reason sets of well-used vinyl in dog-eared cardboard and wax sleeves will always be a heart-warming addition to the retro homewares 'hall of fame'.
What do you get if you cross retro colour and texture with granny chic? Crochet cushions of course. If you want your decor to look like the set of That 70s Show then you'll be 'hooked' on these chunky yarn creations that you can knit yourself.
We don't think there was a desk in the world that didn't have at least one cardboard IKEA magazine rack during the 90s and 00s. Sold flat pack in sets of four at extremely low prices, the handy little files created a simple uniform vibe and kept paperwork organised. Easy storage solutions never go out of style, so these cardboard or MDF boxes are still available now but are often creatively upcycled by IKEA hackers.
Today we are blessed with smart TVs and on-demand viewing but the height of home entertainment back in the day was a VHS video recorder. These big silver boxes were cutting edge technology and meant that it was possible never to miss an episode of your favourite shows again. As long as no one else in the family taped over it!
Although the brand has been around for more than 100 years, SodaStream hit the mass home market in the 1970s with a range of colourful machines that allowed you to make carbonated water at home. From candy floss to cranberry—did you "get busy with the new fizzy" and try every flavour? Now we're all moving away from single-use plastic, these retro appliances are making a huge comeback amongst the eco-minded.
As an incentive to open a junior savings account, the UK high street bank, Natwest had the genius marketing idea to offer each new young customer a piggy bank. The more you saved the more money boxes you could collect from the cartoon style pig family. The children's ornament is so packed with piggy nostalgia that even if yours isn't filled with cash it's probably worth something today.
Sometimes known as a bread bin, these countertop staples were ubiquitous in kitchens for as long as we can remember. Full to the brim with sliced white bread and sometimes cakes and buns, they were originally designed to protect food from heat, light and any pests that might be around in the days before plastic packaging. They can still help to keep your loaf crusty and fresh for longer.
Back in the 1950s and 60s, a drink really wasn't complete unless it was served in a decorative glass. Whether you were a fan of Snowballs or sherry, there was a special glass to accompany your favourite tipple, yet none proved more iconic than the deer-themed glasses created by Babycham. Perfect for a sophisticated cocktail party, this branded glassware is a throwback homeware we can't help but love.
Here's one retro item we think could make a serious comeback! Many people will remember this stowed away in the cupboard under the stairs in their grandparents' house. Eco-friendly and good for quickly tackling quick clean-ups, this Bissell carpet sweeper works through round brushes that were rotated by pushing the box back and forth across the floor.
Throw your mind back to your childhood and chances are you will have seen something like this print hanging on a wall above a mantel. This painting is by the self-proclaimed 'Painter of Light', Thomas Kinkade. His company estimates that at the peak of their popularity between 1995 and 2000s, his painting hung in one in every 20 American homes.
Painted by JH Lynch in 1961, this now iconic work of art emerged in the 1960s and enjoyed unexpected success. Known simply as ‘Tina’, the exotic print seduced homeowners with its mystic charm, quickly becoming a staple of 70s households—it even appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s cult classic, A Clockwork Orange. Still popping up at car boot sales and online listing sites, our appreciation for Tina has endured.
We have no idea why, but in the 1970s and 80s, soup recipe mugs were given away in supermarkets and at petrol stations. From Scotch broth to oxtail, a plethora of designs were available and each came complete with a handy recipe printed on its side, allowing people to whip up the perfect batch of soup with ease. Now a highly prized collector's item, these soup recipe mugs can be found online and still offer a certain homely appeal.
Usually found hanging in bedrooms or in the garden, wind chimes emitted a soft, musical tune that you either loathed or loved. Back in the 1990s and early 00s, we couldn't get enough of them, with moon and stars designs proving especially popular in our homes.
We all remember THE 1980s dinnerware set that almost every household owned. Designed and produced by the Johnson Brothers, the Eternal Beau collection was once an extremely popular wedding gift. Yet, as tastes have changed over the years, we've moved on from this much-loved china and swapped out our dinnerware for something a little more modern. If your love for the Eternal Beau range still burns, you can still source a set online today.
Before sleek laptops and ultra-slim MacBooks, there was the chunky desktop computer. With small screens and disproportionately large casings, these age-old PCs were once cutting edge. Remember the iMac G3? This model was perhaps the most renowned of all old school computers and came in a variety of loud colours, from tangerine to neon blue.
The late 1970s and early 80s saw a huge rise in carpet—even our bathroom floors and walls weren't safe! At some point, carpeting even travelled, somewhat questionably, onto our toilet lids. Fluffy toilet seat covers usually colour-matched the rest of the bathroom and were often accompanied by matching bath and toilet mats. Luckily, we eventually realised how unsightly—not to mention unhygienic—these sets were...
The 70s was the golden era of the beanbag as this new chair alternative was both budget-friendly and versatile. Velvet upholstery and opulent design took them from being easy-chairs in dorms to statement stand-outs in cool and contemporary homes.
Children of the 1980s will fondly remember the interior phenomenon of themed bedding. From My Little Pony and Care Bears to the Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles, there was a linen range to please every little boy and girl. Often coming in an array of pastel colours and paired with matching curtains, lamps and rugs, cartoon bedroom sets were at the top of every kid's birthday wishlist. Those were the days...
Novelty mugs took over our kitchens in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, led by British chocolate brand Cadbury, who launched a highly popular range of collectibles. By the 80s, the firm had released its most enduring themed mug, which came in the shape of a square of chocolate. Fun? Yes. Practical? Not so much. Luckily for retro fans, these nostalgic mugs can still be picked up from charity shops and online marketplaces.
Following the commercial release of CDs in the mid-80s, Hi-Fi and stereo systems became essential homeware devices for playing our favourite tunes. Chosen over cassette and record players, Hi-Fis, with their futuristic metallic designs, were the hottest modern technology in town. Now a rare sight following the introduction of Spotify and iTunes, the Hi-Fi has all but disappeared – along with our CD collections and Walkmans.
British manufacturers Mathmos invented the lava lamp in 1963, and up until the early 00s, these vibrant, playful objects held a fond place in our hearts and our homes. Available in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes, lava lamps were top sellers throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, when children and adults alike snapped up their eye-catching designs. Yet as modern tastes changed, our appreciation for these novelty lights has all but gone out.
Pictured here in New York City's Tenement Museum as part of their Under One Roof exhibit, these squeaky furniture coverings will no doubt bring back fond memories for many readers. Once commonplace in the homes of older relatives, plastic couch covers were all the rage in the 1950s and 60s. Vinyl slipcovers were used to protect prized furnishings from wear and tear—a beloved champagne-hued sofa for example. Simply wipe clean and you were good to go!
The use of copper in the kitchen dates back hundreds of years, and they continued to make an appearance as decorative objects long after plastics and glass took over as the more practical choice for jelly moulds. Maybe you remember a collection arranged on the wall of your grandma's kitchen?
Quite apart from the turquoise drapes, carpet and bedspread, this 1960s bedroom has one relic of home decor that was present in almost every home of a certain era; flocked wallpaper. While the history of this tactile treatment goes back to the Victorian age, it had a huge resurgence in the 50s and 60s in every colour and pattern imaginable.
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