1. Wood Paneling Everywhere
In the 1970s, wood paneling wasn’t just a design choice—it was practically a requirement. Living rooms, basements, and even kitchens were wrapped in those dark, faux-wood walls that gave every home a cozy (if slightly claustrophobic) vibe. It was meant to feel warm and rustic, but often ended up looking like the inside of a rec room time capsule. Still, it was the backdrop for countless family movie nights and shag-carpeted memories.
Today, wood paneling is more of a punchline than a trend. Most people rip it out during renovations without a second thought. It’s been replaced by open-concept spaces, white walls, and minimalist aesthetics. You’ll find it in retro diners or ironic Airbnbs—but not in your neighbor’s living room.
2. A Giant Console TV
These weren’t just TVs—they were furniture. Massive wooden cabinets with built-in speakers and a screen the size of a microwave, console TVs were the centerpiece of the American living room. Families would gather around to watch The Brady Bunch or MASH*, adjusting the rabbit ears to get a clearer picture. Changing the channel meant getting up and turning a dial—no remote in sight.
Today, TVs are flat, wall-mounted, and practically invisible when off. The idea of dedicating half your living room to a bulky entertainment unit feels absurd. And no one’s missing the static or the vertical hold adjustment. The console TV is gone—and so is the patience it required.
3. An Avocado Green or Harvest Gold Kitchen
If your kitchen in the ’70s wasn’t avocado green or harvest gold, were you even trying? These earthy tones were the height of style, showing up on everything from refrigerators to Tupperware. The colors were meant to feel natural and modern, but they aged like milk. Still, they were everywhere—bright, bold, and unmistakably groovy.
Today’s kitchens lean toward white, stainless steel, and matte black. The bold hues of the ’70s are mostly relegated to thrift stores and vintage Instagram accounts. Occasionally, a designer will bring them back “ironically,” but it’s never quite the same. That color palette had its moment—and it’s not coming back.
4. A Rotary Phone with a Long Cord
Every home had one—usually mounted on the kitchen wall with a cord long enough to stretch into the next room. Dialing a number took time and precision, and heaven help you if someone had a lot of 9s in their number. The sound of the rotary clicking back was oddly satisfying, and the phone itself was built like a tank. It was the hub of family communication—and gossip.
Now, landlines are nearly extinct, and rotary phones are museum pieces. Kids today have never experienced the agony of a misdial or the joy of twirling the cord while chatting. Smartphones have made communication faster—but maybe a little less charming. The rotary phone is a relic of a slower, more deliberate time.
5. A Station Wagon with Wood Trim
The family station wagon was the ultimate road trip vehicle—long, low, and often adorned with fake wood paneling on the sides. It had room for the whole family, the dog, and a cooler full of sandwiches. Kids rode in the way-back with no seatbelts, facing traffic and making faces at other drivers. It was freedom on four wheels.
Today, SUVs and minivans have taken over, and safety regulations have made the way-back a thing of the past. The wood trim is gone, and so is the charm of piling in for a summer vacation. The station wagon was clunky, sure—but it had character. And nothing says “’70s family” like a car that looked like a rolling cabin.
6. A Record Console or Turntable Cabinet
Before Spotify and Bluetooth speakers, music lived in a giant wooden cabinet that doubled as a piece of furniture. These record consoles had built-in speakers, storage for vinyl, and sometimes even a radio and 8-track player. Families would gather around to listen to albums like Rumours or Hotel California. It was an experience, not just background noise.
Today, music is portable, personal, and often played through tiny earbuds. Vinyl has made a comeback, but the massive console has not. It took up space, but it also brought people together. Now, music is everywhere—but rarely shared in the same way.
7. A Clunky Fondue Set
In the ’70s, fondue wasn’t just a meal—it was an event. Every family had a fondue set, usually gifted at a wedding or bought during a burst of culinary ambition. Cheese, chocolate, or hot oil—whatever the dip, it was all about the experience. Guests would gather around, skewers in hand, trying not to drop their bread cubes.
Today, fondue is more of a novelty than a staple. The sets are collecting dust in attics or showing up at garage sales. It’s fun, sure—but not exactly practical for a Tuesday night dinner. The fondue craze melted away, and it’s unlikely to bubble back up.
8. A Wall of Encyclopedias
Before Google, there was the encyclopedia set—usually Britannica or World Book—lined up proudly on a living room shelf. They were expensive, authoritative, and often bought from a door-to-door salesman. Kids used them for school projects, and parents used them to settle arguments. They made a home feel educated.
Now, all that information fits in your pocket—and updates in real time. Encyclopedias are obsolete, and most have been donated, recycled, or turned into quirky decor. The idea of flipping through 20 volumes to find a fact feels almost absurd. But there was something satisfying about the weight of knowledge—literally.
9. A TV Dinner Tray Table Set
TV dinners were a big deal in the ’70s—Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and a brownie, all in one foil tray. And every family had a set of folding tray tables to eat them on while watching The Love Boat or All in the Family. It was casual, convenient, and a little bit rebellious. Who needed a dining table when you had Swanson and a screen?
Today, eating in front of the TV still happens—but the tray tables are mostly gone. Meals are more likely to come from Uber Eats than the freezer aisle. And the idea of matching tray tables feels oddly formal for something so informal. They were flimsy, yes—but they were part of the ritual.
This post 9 Things Every American Family Had in the ’70s That You’ll Never See Again was first published on American Charm.
