Household Basics Boomers Couldn’t Live Without Back Then
Moving into a first apartment was exciting for baby boomers. They got to do up their apartment '60s style! Of course, some of the trends and household objects were better than others. Here’s 20 things every boomer had in their first apartment. Maybe you recognize some of them?
Beanbag Chair
No boomer apartment was complete without at least one beanbag chair. They were cheap, colorful, and somehow managed to work as both a chair and a bed when guests crashed at your place. Beanbag chairs have lasted into the present day, but sadly they’re not anywhere near as popular now.
Milk Crates as Shelves or Tables
Why buy furniture when the corner store practically gave it away? Milk crates were so versatile – they ended up being used as bookshelves, nightstands, coffee tables and more in boomer apartments. They didn’t look great, admittedly, but they did the job.
Lava Lamp
Nothing set the mood in a boomer apartment like the hypnotic glow of a lava lamp. Watching blobs of colored wax float around felt strangely mesmerizing, maybe even relaxing. You just don’t get the same psychedelic look in apartments today, even though lava lamps still exist.
Rotary Phone
Before smartphones - or even push buttons - every apartment had a clunky rotary phone. Calling a friend meant dialing one number at a time, and if you messed up a digit you simply had to start again. They’ve gone the way of the dodo now, but some people still miss them.
Hi-Fi Stereo System
Music mattered a lot to boomers, so they invested in hi-fi stereo systems as soon as they could. And that system was the heart of an apartment, not the TV. Friends would gather to listen to albums together – you just don’t get that nowadays.
Shag Rugs
Shag rugs were impossible to vacuum – a shame, since they trapped a lot of dirt – but they looked so hip at the time. They also came in so many bright colors! For some people, a good shag rug could make or break an apartment.
Ashtrays on Every Table
Back when smoking indoors was the norm, ashtrays were everywhere in reach. They were ceramic, glass, or sometimes in the shape of a cartoon character if you were particularly wacky. Even if you didn’t smoke, you had them for guests – but let's face it, it’s probably a good thing that they’re gone now.
Wood-Paneled TV Set
Boomers didn’t have flat screens - they had giant, wood-paneled TV sets that doubled as furniture. They were heavy enough to require two people to move, and the picture was never as sharp as you remembered. Most people prefer modern-day TVs… but there’s no denying the wood-paneled ones had charm.
Posters Tacked to the Wall
These days, people buy frames for their movie or music posters. But boomers didn’t. They bought them from the local music store and simply tacked them to the walls. Holes in the plaster didn’t matter - boomers weren’t worried about their security deposit. Which was much cheaper back then.
Plastic Houseplants
Not everyone has a green thumb, so fake plants became the go-to decoration for boomers. Plastic ferns and flowers never wilted, never needed watering, and looked sort of real if you squinted. These days people are much more into real plants, but you can still find plastic ones at some home stores.
Waterbed or Futon Mattress
A waterbed was a big deal for boomers. They were trendy, and (most importantly) impressed the opposite gender. If you couldn’t afford one, a futon mattress on the floor did the trick. Waterbeds have had their day now, sadly – people got sick of them leaking all the time.
Fondue Set
Dinner parties in boomer apartments often involved a fondue set. Everyone gathered around, dipping bread into the melted cheese or marshmallows into the melted chocolate. Sure, it was messy, but it was so much fun. It’s time to bring this back!
Macramé Plant Hangers
Every boomer knew someone who made macramé, and those plant hangers showed up in nearly every apartment. Some held real plants, others plastic ones, but either way they gave off the “hippie” vibe. They’re still going pretty strong, though, believe it or not. You can buy them on Etsy!
Hand-Me-Down Couch With Floral or Plaid Print
Nobody bought a brand-new couch for their first apartment. Most boomers inherited one from their parents, a neighbor, or an older friend – and alas, they weren’t the prettiest of things. Most of them had outdated prints that didn’t gel with a boomer’s aesthetic.
Typewriter or Word Processor
Long before laptops, writing papers or letters meant clacking away on a typewriter - or, if you were lucky, a bulky word processor. The sound of the keys and the ding at the end of each line were unforgettable, and many people kind of miss that way of working even though a laptop is much better.
Floor Lamp With Multiple Heads
Every boomer had a tall floor lamp with multiple adjustable heads, often in mismatched colors. It lit up different corners of the room at once and made small apartments (because they were always small apartments) feel brighter. One bulb always seemed to burn out before the others, though.
Kitchenware Mix of Tupperware and Pyrex
A boomer’s first kitchen was never fully stocked, but somehow there was always a mix of Tupperware and Pyrex. The Tupperware might have been borrowed and never returned, while the Pyrex doubled as both cookware and serving dishes. It wasn’t a matching set, but it worked.
Turntable and Stacks of Vinyl Records
A turntable with stacks of vinyl records was practically mandatory in a boomer apartment. Albums leaned against the wall or filled those aforementioned milk-crate shelves, ready for wild house parties. These days, people would just use Spotify – more convenient, but they’ve lost something.
Rattan or Wicker Furniture
Wicker and rattan furniture was what you wanted for a first apartment back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. It was lightweight, cheap stuff, but it didn’t look half bad, especially when decorated with brightly colored cushions.
Clock Radio by the Bed
Before smartphones doubled as alarms, every boomer relied on a trusty clock radio by the bed. They earned a place in pop culture with their glowing red numbers and chucky black buttons. And they lasted a long time – some people still have theirs!
