41 retro homewares that will fill you with nostalgia

The ultimate throwback homewares of yesteryear

From inflatable furniture and lava lamps to toilet roll covers and thick sofa skirts, retro homewares seem to have a special place in our hearts. Over the years, many of our treasured items have fallen into obscurity, lost to car boot sales and eBay listings... until now. We’ve journeyed through the past to rediscover the best vintage homewares, along with some modern reimaginations of these timeless classics.

So, dust off your Walkman and read on to take a delightful trip down memory lane...

Shaggy carpets

Colour, pattern and texture weren't always just for the walls. High pile rugs with extra-long and loose fibres added experimental texture and inviting comfort to homes of the past, giving them a shaggy look and hence their nickname. Perfect for conversation pits and cosy dens, they became a huge trend in the 1960s and 70s.

Striking chevrons and geometric patterns in colourways such as marmalade orange and cucumber green were popular. In fact, the brighter the better – a far cry from today's minimalist flooring.

Rotary telephones

With so much technology at our fingertips, there is something about the classic sound and slow manner of the manual dial telephone that infuses calm. They're also stylish, so it makes sense they have seen a resurgence in popularity.

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.

Fringeing

Fringed furnishings have always brought tangible embellishment to home décor. At one time fringed edging was on almost every piece of homeware created. Lighting, soft furnishings and sofa skirts all shimmied with a fine finish of silky tassels.

To repeat the outlandish fringe trends of the past, get the look with a super-chic lamp or draw the eye to glamorous cushions. Or, for a subtle take, fringes work well on rugs and throw blankets.

Animal ornaments

From glass elephants to snake lamps and ceramic cats to brass birds, the 20th-century home often took a walk on the wild side when adding an ornamental flourish.

Brave decorators housed big cat sculptures large enough to place on the floor as a statement piece while others opted for sets of animal-themed decorative pieces small enough to display in cabinets.

Crochet cushions

Crochet cushions gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s when handcrafted home décor became a hallmark of Bohemian and eclectic interiors. Often made by home crafters, they featured vibrant colours, granny square patterns and textured stitches that reflected the era’s love of DIY and retro aesthetics.

You’d likely have seen crochet cushions adorning sofas in cosy living rooms, brightening up bedrooms, or adding charm to outdoor furniture in suburban homes. Favoured in both the UK and the US, they were staples of homes embracing a relaxed, personal style during this period.

Lava lamps

British manufacturer Mathmos invented the lava lamp in 1963. These vibrant, playful objects held a special place in our hearts and our homes. Available in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes, lava lamps were top sellers throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s when children and adults alike snapped up their eye-catching designs.

As modern tastes changed, our appreciation for the novelty lights went out. However, recent interest in retro trends has seen lava lamps return to homes with new funky designs and energy-saving alternatives.

Lava lamp available from Mathmos.

Toilet seat covers

The 1960s saw carpet creep into every room of the house. Even our bathroom floors and walls weren't safe! At some point, carpeting even travelled, somewhat questionably, into our kitchens and bathrooms.

Luckily, we realised how unsightly, not to mention unhygienic, fabric toilet seat covers are. However, looking back they still have a certain 'old school' charm.

Dried flower arrangements

From country baskets filled with colourful grasses to decorative bunches of lavender, dried flower arrangements were once a popular décor choice. Tables, sideboards and even fireplaces were adorned with displays that lasted long after real blooms would have withered and died.

In the 2020s, dried meadow flowers are making a comeback, so why not fill your hearth or sideboards up with a modern bouquet? Just remember to dust the display regularly.

Dried arrangements available from Essentially Hops.

Wallpaper borders

When floral curtains, bedspreads and wall coverings weren't enough, a wallpaper border would frame and finish the look. The border would usually be applied to the top of the wall or mid-height to separate two different designs, often with a pattern on the bottom half and a plain complimentary colour above.

Popular prints ranged from fresh fruit and rose motifs to dashing damask and pretty paisley prints, particularly in the 1980s and 90s.

Iconic artwork

Some artworks become iconic to their generation, from Andy Warhol's Campbell's soup to Henri Matisse's Blue Nude II. In the 1950s and 60s, South African artist Vladimir Tretchikoff's Chinese Girl (also called The Green Lady, pictured) and J. H. Lynch's Tina were hugely popular pieces of pop culture and hung proudly in living rooms across nations.

While the original painting sold for £982,050 ($1.2m) in 2013, you can still pick up reproductions at car boot sales and online listing sites today, and our appreciation for these iconic prints has endured.

Crocheted toilet roll covers

It was not unusual to spot a homemade toilet roll cover in households during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It is believed the craze started in a crafting magazine.

Daniel Agnew, an expert in dolls and toys at Special Auction Services, confirms this, telling BBC Norfolk: "They were designed for ladies crafting and had tie-holes in their bases. Most UK homes had boxes of nasty waxy paper or cut sheets of newspaper until the 1960s. Hiding your spare toilet roll under a dolly must have been created in a woman's magazine, or crochet pattern book."

Sputnik chandeliers

The celestial-style light, first designed by Gino Sarfatti and named after a famous satellite, was once seen as an ultra-contemporary lighting option. This style of chandelier has since been copied and updated all over the globe and is hard to beat when creating a statement ceiling.

Swirl 10 light ceiling light available from Dunelm.

Decorative cookware

From Pyrex to Le Creuset, the oven-to-table style of cooking meant that pretty cookware was seen in most homes filled with bubbling hot servings of meatloaf, stews and casseroles.

As the years went on these became old favourites and were even passed down like family heirlooms. We would give anything to have our grandmother's set like this!

Geometric wallpaper

Inspired by the bright colours of pop art and patterns that trick the eye, bold wallpaper was everywhere in the 1970s in earthy colours that defined the decade.

This wallpaper print with eclectic spiral patterns in green, brown and blue could have been made 50 years ago ago but still creates a fresh look.

The Hippie Shake wallpaper available from Lust Home.

Starburst clocks

No stylish 1950s home was complete without a striking starburst clock or sunburst mirror as a statement piece. Inspired by the Atomic Age, the star shape referenced space travel and similar patterns would have appeared in everything from motel signs to make-up bags, wallpaper and ceramics.

Lately, we've seen an explosion of circular-shaped mirrors adorn on-trend walls, so we don't think it will be too long until designs with surrounding rays of light rise in popularity too.

Flying ducks

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, UK.

By the 1960s and 70s, these beloved treasures had made a home for themselves in hallways and living rooms all over the world. Although the originals are mainly second-hand shop spots, they haven't flown the nest for good as contemporary versions are still being produced.

Beaded curtains

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 without reduced airflow (and keep flies from entering the house), beaded curtains are memorable for their jazzy patterns and their distinctive sound.

The Teasmade

If you can't get the day started without your morning hot drink, this throwback alarm clock is for you. Launched by British manufacturer, Goblin in 1936, the bedside gadgets featured a kettle and analogue clock (and sometimes a lamp) all in one.

It would have your tea ready 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.

Vinyl records

The first LP (Long Play) vinyl record, as we recognise it, was introduced in 1948 by Peter Goldmark. Measuring 12 inches in diameter and running about 21 minutes per side, it revolutionised the music industry, shifting the focus to the album-centric format that artists still embrace today.

Perhaps you remember them playing at your parent's house or started collecting them second-hand, but the large-scale album artwork and their warm sound have seen them make a huge comeback in recent years.

Tupperware

If you claim not to remember this iconic Tupperware range, we’d find it hard to believe! Many children in the 1970s and 80s drank homemade lemonade from practical orange jugs or enjoyed cake kept fresh in a sturdy, bell-shaped tub.

Primarily sold through the famous ‘Tupperware parties,’ these colourful containers were so well-made and durable that you might still spot one or two original designs at your grandparent's house.

Stand mixers

The food mixer that 'does it all' revolutionised kitchens as far back as the 1920s and has been a standard feature for many decades since.

Award-winning design means they remain virtually unchanged, making an ideal small appliance investment for retro kitchen fans. They come in some pretty colours too, from 50s-diner baby blue to pastel pinks.

Radio alarm clocks

An ingenious way to wake up to your favourite radio station in the morning, these handy gadgets came in a range of shapes and sizes, usually featuring a light-up clock face and a manual tuner so you could set it to your favourite station.

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, even the crackle of static that's missing from modern digital radios.

SodaStream machines

Although the brand has been around for more than 100 years, SodaStream hit the mass home market in the 1970s with a range of machines that allowed you to make carbonated water at home.

It was their brown and beige ranges, designed to match the most popular kitchen colours of the time, that saw this home gadget go from upper-class toy to mainstream appliance. Now we're moving away from single-use plastic, these retro appliances are making a huge comeback amongst the eco-minded and have been updated in a range of more modern shades.

Hi-Fi music systems

Following the commercial release of CDs in the mid-1980s, 'High Fidelity' music centres and stereo systems became essential home devices, adapting to the new digital format while still featuring tape decks and turntables.

With their sleek, metallic designs, these systems represented cutting-edge technology and modern living. However, with the rise of streaming platforms like Spotify and iTunes, these once-prized music centres—and our CD collections—have largely become relics of the past.

Corner baths

Corner baths really took off during the 1970s. Along with bold colours, standard sanitaryware was switched out for statement tubs with some added extras. Gold taps and Jacuzzi-style fittings offered a luxurious whirlpool experience at home, and were all the rage from the 1960s through to the 90s.

Most homeowners ripped out these relics in favour of more modern styles, so finding a corner bath at a hotel or Airbnb is always a throwback treat.

CD storage

How we listen to music is forever developing but back in the 1980s, the compact disc was a revolutionary advance from vinyl records. Within a few years, family homes were filled with little piles of CDs and practical storage was needed.

No music fan's bedroom or living room was complete without plenty of lined-up stacks of super-slim, floor-to-ceiling CD storage, the taller the better.

Bean bag chairs

The 1970s was the golden era of the bean bag 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.

Ads like the one pictured, taken from a 1970s catalogue, show the numerous options for fabric and colour, but their popularity dived after a few safety issues with the filling. However, as soon regulations were put in place, homes were filled with comfy sacks of polystyrene pellets once again.

Inflatable furniture

Which 90s teenager didn't lust after a novelty blow-up chair for their bedroom or hangout? Cheap to produce, their bright colours and 'no-assembly required' ethos made them one of the iconic pieces of the 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. That being said, lounging around on an inflatable chair seems to be cool again as manufacturers are making budget-friendly, modern versions for the masses.

Inflatable chair available from B&M.

Tiled worktops

Tiled countertops were first popular in the 1920s but they really became a huge trend in the 1970s and 80s, offering a wide range of colours, sizes and finishes to customised kitchens. But the day-to-day impracticalities such as uneven surfaces, the frequent grout stains and a move towards laminate and marble saw it fall out of fashion.

Now it's come full circle again, and tiled worktops are having a resurgence with interior designers favouring rustic textures and hand-cut designs to add a relaxed but bold look to modern kitchens.

Tissue box covers

Pointless or practical? You decide. Often touted as an easy-to-achieve craft project, these covers were designed to hide the ugly printed outer cardboard box of your preferred tissue brand.

Stylish tissue box covers are still sought-after today. A quick online search will bring up many attractive options, with covers in an array of materials and textures to suit lots of different design schemes. Or you could just make your own!

Sofa skirts

Now considered a little too fussy, large fabric-covered sofas with rolled arms and skirt surrounds were once considered the epitome of home comfort.

Arm covers and sofa skirts were also practical for cleaning, stopping dust and debris from getting into hard-to-reach places. Some proud owners also added vinyl slipcovers to protect prized furnishings from wear and tear. Simply wipe clean any accidental spills, leaving your expensive furniture box fresh!

Salad spinners

It's rare to find a salad spinner in today's modern kitchens. For those too young to remember, you wash the food in a colander which fits inside another container then turn a handle in the salad spinner's lid to whiz the lettuce around, dispelling water into the outer bowl.

The result is a crisp, practically dry salad, ready for tossing with your toppings and dressing of choice. We're not sure why something this practical went out of style!

Bedroom posters

According to the BBC, products began being marketed specifically at young people in the 1950s, "so the right posters, the right music on display, the right ‘markers’ means that the teenager is declaring their tribe, whatever that is". It really took off in the 80s and 90s, when magazines started printing them to suit every kind of interest from popstars to planes.

Covering the walls of a bedroom with posters is still an inexpensive and fun way to add personality to your space. While we made do with drawing pins and sticky tape, nowadays we're more likely to frame our favourite prints in a gallery wall setting.

Patchwork quilts

Often a family heirloom, the traditional style of a patchwork quilt adds timeless charm and homespun warmth to any room.

A genuine patchwork quilt takes time, love and craftsmanship to create. So, it's no wonder such a well-loved and personal homeware item still gets pride of place over a bed like this one.

IKEA icons

During the 1980s and 90s, we all went mad for IKEA (aren't we still?). Affordable flat-pack furniture became a familiar feature in many homes and a few well-designed pieces proved so popular that IKEA has never discontinued them.

Nostalgic designs such as the KLIPPAN sofa (pictured) and POÄNG armchair have been top sellers for almost half a century.

"Both KLIPPAN and POÄNG represent more than just furniture; they symbolise our commitment to creating long-lasting designs that truly improve people’s lives and homes over the years," said Johan Ejdemo, Global Design Manager at IKEA of Sweden.

Novelty phones

From hotdogs to bananas, telephones once came in a plethora of playful designs. Of all the funky-themed phones of bygone decades, the 1970s hamburger is perhaps the most recognisable.

Thanks to TV shows like Clarissa Explains It All, novelty devices remained popular merchandise until the late 1990s, before the Nokia 3210 and other mobile phones took over and conquered the market.

Cassette tape players

'Rewind' a decade or two: remember taping weekly music charts on Sunday afternoons with your portable radio cassette player? Cassette culture overtook vinyl as soon as the revolutionary method of sharing, mixing and transporting music became mainstream.

Those who grew up in the 1980s and 90s will tell you that receiving a mix-tape of cherry-picked tracks was the ultimate romantic gesture.

Flip-up bread bins

These countertop heroes have been in kitchens for as long as we can remember. They were originally designed to protect bakery items from heat, light and any pests that might be around in the days before plastic packaging.

Nowadays, a quirky and colourful vintage bread bin makes an intriguing and unique kitchen addition, like this one at a charming Airbnb apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark. The tidy worktop storage can still help to keep your loaf fresh for longer.

Old box-style TVs

Before slim and sleek wide plasma screens were introduced, TV sets were bulky square-shaped boxes that needed a sturdy sideboard or entertainment unit to sit on. They used Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology to project the moving images and came in a range of wood-effect finishes in the 1970s and 80s.

Extra points for those who remember arguments about who should get up to change the channel as remote controls were yet to come...

Paisley prints

Paisley's tear-drop-shaped pattern is centuries old and stems from Persian culture. Its distinctive shape is known as ‘boteh’ or ‘buto’, the Persian word for flower. However, its Western name comes from the town of Paisley, Scotland, UK, where paisley print shawls were mass-produced in the 19th century.

Curvaceous and intricate, paisley became a symbol of Bohemian style during the 1970s and 80s. During this time the distinctive print could be found on everything from upholstery to ceramics and wallpaper. This classic bedding (pictured) shows the hold it had on our interiors.

Graphic bedlinen

Over-the-top designs were once a theme for every surface in our homes.

Psychedelic and abstract prints of the 1970s and early 80s morphed into magnificent motifs such as neon 'Memphis-style' geometrics and familiar pop-culture favourite characters as we headed into the 1990s and 00s. We still think this is a fun addition to a bedroom, don't you?

Retro graphic 70s duvet cover available from Weirdstock.