23 Things Everyone Had in Their House in the ’80s

From gargantuan TV consoles to now-archaic answering machines, there were plenty of things you could find in just about every house during the 1980s. 

Here are some of the most nostalgic and iconic staples.

VCR & VHS Movies

Blu-Ray, DVD — pfft. We had VCRs in the 1980s, and we had to rewind our VCR movie tapes before we could watch the movies again. Those were the days.

Popcorn Popper

Microwaves weren’t necessary for popcorn in the ‘80s. Whether air-popped or made with a hot oil popper, the sight and sound of kernels bursting into fluffy, buttery popcorn became a movie night staple during the decade.

Trivial Pursuit

First things first, just about every household in the ‘80s had a shelf full of board games. But there was one common denominator you could find on nearly every one of those shelves: Trivial Pursuit. The trivia game was released in 1981 and became wildly popular during the 1980s, and it was perfect for playing with family and friends.

Boom Box

These portable, powerful stereos became synonymous with street culture, allowing people to carry their favorite tunes everywhere, from their house to the party down the block.

Microwave Cookbooks

Microwaves became less expensive and more accessible during the 1980s, and as such, microwave cookbooks soared in popularity. Now a laughable concept, back then, these cookbooks offered inventive recipes and tips for making the most of the new kitchen technology.

At Least One Rubik’s Cube

The ultimate cure for idle hands in the ‘80s was undoubtedly the Rubik’s cube. Everyone had one, but not everyone could solve one.

TV Trays in the Living Room

Whether you graced your TV tray with a bowl of popcorn and a cold can of Tab or you used it to eat your dinner in front of the tube, these guys stayed folded up right next to the couch just in case.

Nintendo or Atari

Depending on which half of the ‘80s we’re talking about, you probably either had a Nintendo Entertainment System or an Atari. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Duck Hunt were the go-to guys for home entertainment.

Bulky Home Stereo Systems

Stereo systems and towers were to the ‘80s what record players were to the ’60s and ’70s. That is, they were a living room fixture perfect for entertaining yourself and guests alike with tunes, and they took up a ridiculous amount of space.

Fake Fruit in a Bowl

Because real fruit collected fruit flies, people used to put out dust-collecting fake fruit instead. In the name of ambiance instead of nutrition.

Answering Machines

Stand-alone answering machines were how you “check your voicemail” in the ’80s. Answering machines in the 1980s typically used cassette tapes to record incoming messages. 

When a call came in and the phone wasn’t answered after a set number of rings, the machine would pick up and play a pre-recorded greeting. After the beep, the caller could leave a message, which was recorded onto the tape. To listen to your messages, you’d press a button to play back the tape.

That Wood Grain Alarm Clock … You Know the One!

Still seen today at a stuck-in-the-1980s motel near you, you’ll find one of those black and wood grain alarm clocks with the digital red numbers.

THAT Tupperware

Orange, green, yellow, and brown Tupperware with the intricate white emblem on the outside and the sunburst pattern on the lid had to have been in every ’80s kitchen.

Magazine Holders

You had to have somewhere to stuff all the Cosmopolitan and Rolling Stone mags you subscribed to back in the ‘80s, and end tables with built-in magazine holders beneath them were living room fixtures.

Candy Dishes

If you visited Grandma’s house during the 1980s, chances are you made a bee line for her colored glass candy dish, where you either found an assortment of hard candies, Werther’s, taffy, or Andes mints.

An Encyclopedia Set

We didn’t have Google in the ’80s, but we did have an entire bookshelf that was home to a set of encyclopedias, so we could look up anything we needed to.

Cabbage Patch Kids

These soft, pudgy-faced dolls took over the world in the ’80s and even if you didn’t have any kids in the household, you probably had at least one of these toys just because they were too cute to turn away from and too popular to ignore.

Teddy Ruxpin

In the 1980s, Teddy Ruxpin was a beloved staple in nearly every home with young children. This innovative talking bear, equipped with a cassette player hidden in his back, brought stories to life and became a cherished companion.

Huge TV Console That Looked Like Furniture

Today’s mounted flat-screen TVs are slim and sleek, but the TVs of the ‘80s were the exact opposite. They were bulky, surrounded by molded wood with intricate carvings and handles. These sets were a piece of living room furniture instead of just an entertainment source.

Ashtrays Everywhere

Green glass, mustard-colored glass, rust-colored glass — chances are you had the entire rainbow of ashtrays in your house, whether you used them yourself or put them out for guests.

Waterbeds

Well before Tempurpedic and Sleep Number, waterbeds were all the rage. Instead of riding the wave, you could sleep on it — and adjust the temperature for added comfort. Waterbeds were the ultimate status symbol of the decade.

Kitchen Witches

In the 1980s, kitchen witches were a charming and quirky addition to many homes, believed to bring good luck and ward off bad spirits in the kitchen — why there was bad juju in the kitchens of the ’80s, we’re not sure. These whimsical, often handmade dolls, hung from ceiling beams or above stoves.

Giant Wooden Fork & Spoon Hanging in the Kitchen

The huge, carved wooden fork and spoon were the quintessential kitchen decor of the ‘80s. 

After all, what better way to signify, “This is the room we eat in?” Certainly not with a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign.

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