Decorating When Living at Home With Your Parents

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Close your eyes and picture your parents' house when you were growing up. Was there one giant TV that everyone gathered around? Shag carpeting? A wall clock ticking away? Today, these items can more commonly be spotted at a garage sale or flea market than in modern homes. But we'll always have a place in our hearts for these delightfully charming, nostalgic, and sometimes tacky decor pieces that were once incredible popular.

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Shag Carpeting

There was a time not so long ago that this extra-furry carpet covered the floors of every room in the modern home. From rust to bright yellow to lime green, the hottest interior design trend basically looked like a kaleidoscope.

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Answering Machines

Before voicemails, before texting, there were answering machines. Did you record an outgoing message as a family that made you groan with embarrassment? Do you remember walking in the door and hearing that beeping sound? There was a time that even owning an answering machine was a luxury.

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Retro TVs

The phrase "watching the tube" has kind of lost its meaning in today's world. With flat-screen TV's galore, those big, bulky TVs with the literal tube inside are a thing of the past.

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Sunken Living Rooms

We don't really know why sunken living rooms were a hit in the 70s, but we sure don't see them a lot now. How many times did you trip on the step as you walked out?

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Hand Mixers

With today's KitchenAid gizmos, mixing by hand is pretty much an extinct kitchen activity. But there's a good chance you used one when you were little as you were making cookies.

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Fax Machines

Okay, so some people still use fax machines (your doctor's office, for one), but they're rarely seen in people's homes anymore. They made so much noise that you could hear it receiving a fax from clear across the house.

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Videotapes

Do you remember staring at your library of Disney videotapes in awe? There may still be a few lying around your mom's basement, but long gone are the days in which "Be Kind, Rewind" was a way of life.

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Striped Wallpaper

There's some striped wallpaper out there today that's cool and modern, but for the most part, the ornate wallpaper you saw in your parents' house is no more.

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Wall Clocks

Every once in a while, you'll spot a wall clock but they're becoming more and more uncommon (thanks, smartphones!). Raise your hand if your family had a wall clock that chimed multiple times a day!

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Old-School Lamps

Lamps with thick fabric shades and kooky colors and details? You probably remember them sitting all over your childhood home. But today, you're more likely to spy one in an antique store.

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Floral Sofas

You've seen this sofa in your parents' house—and maybe a college dorm or two when it was scored secondhand for a few bucks. This flowery, can't-miss-it piece was a fixture in lots of homes back in the day.

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Rotary Phones

When presented with a rotary phone, most youngins nowadays have no idea how to use it. But we bet there was one attached to the kitchen wall in your parents' house!

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Porcelain Collectibles

We're betting that your mom had a cabinet filled with her beloved porcelain dolls and other treasured collectibles.

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Toilet Rugs

Oh goodness. Yes, toilet textiles were in vogue for a while, with a seat cover and accompanying floor rug that could be purchased as a set. Although it would keep your tootsies warm, these rugs weren't exactly hygienic.

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Teapots

We think that collecting vintage sets is so adorable, but when you were growing up, your parents used teapots for real in the days before Keurigs.

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Ashtrays

In this day and age, we are all know better. But way back when, nearly everyone smoked, so your parents were always ready with an ashtray when guests stopped by.

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Alarm Clocks

Did you have an actual alarm clock in your bedroom growing up? You're likely remembering that clanging noise right now that noisily started your school days.

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Yarn Crafts

There are some sewing DIYs nowadays that are super-cool and current (like a dip-dyed wall hanging). But in your parents' house, those yarn crafts probably showed up in the form of flamboyant blankets and owl wall art.

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Tinsel

Tinsel used to festoon virtually every Christmas tree, and you thought it made the tree look magical. Fast-forward to current times, when tinsel is seen as a safety hazard, especially to little ones and pets. It's hardly used anymore, but it sure looked pretty back then.

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Rolodexes

Nope, back in the day, you couldn't search your contacts on your smartphone. Your mom and dad probably had a prehistoric version of your digital address book in the form of a Rolodex.

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Typewriters

There are still people who use typewriters for their nostalgic value, and we certainly like to decorate with them, too. But it's uncommon to see a frequently-used typewriter sitting in someone's home office.

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Perfume Trays

If you picture your mom's vanity, you're likely seeing a mirrored perfume tray showcasing her favorite scents. Today's aromas aren't usually displayed in a place of honor like this, and instead, rest on bathroom counters or are tucked away in drawers.

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Plastic Flowers

It's a great idea in theory: Flowers that will never die and don't need water or sunlight. But there's something about them that looks oh-so-cheesy, and we're kind of glad this trend disappeared decades ago.

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Candy Dishes

At your parents' house (or even your grandparents' house), it was always exciting when that fancy candy dish was filled with sweet treats. Candy dishes are sought-after at flea markets, but you hardly ever see a brand-new one on a store shelf today.

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Brown Everything

Why was brown ever such a popular color? People loved covering their homes in it. We're all for a monochromatic look, but we'll skip the floor-to-ceiling tan that you undoubtedly saw at your parents' place.

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Record Players

We love that a new generation listens to records (and it's hip to own them!), but as Bluetooth speakers and Amazon Echo play our fave tunes, it's increasingly infrequent to see an actual record player.

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Doilies

Even though Great Britain's royal family may still use a doily or two, in everyday households you just don't see them anymore. But we're guessing that your mom loved them and put them out during special occasions.

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Rabbit Ears

"Here, turn it this way. No, that way. Bend it over there." If these sound like familiar phrases to you, your family TV likely sported a pair of rabbit ears to achieve good reception—or at least good enough reception.

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China Hutches

A hutch can still look charming in vintage-inspired interiors, but in modern homes, they aren't seen too much anymore. They were great for spotlighting your parents' best china though.

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Handkerchiefs

Ah, yes. Handkerchiefs. The primitive version of tissues that people used to carry around in their pockets. You may remember seeing a stack of these on your parents' dresser.

Decorating When Living at Home With Your Parents

Source: https://www.countryliving.com/life/g31705920/parents-house-decorating-trends/

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