Baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, are a fantastic group that’s still alive and thriving to this day. However, as times change, so do societal norms and preferences. As such, there are many baby boomer trends that are starting to fade away.
While some baby booming habits are still alive and well, like collecting vintage records, there are many other fads that are going away. Here’s a look at 18 outdated baby boomer trends that have seemingly lost their luster.
1. Formal Dining Rooms
Once a staple in every home, formal dining rooms are being replaced by more casual eating spaces or repurposed into home offices. Some families don’t even bother eating at the table anymore, instead opting for the living room or bedroom.
2. China Cabinets
Also known as a hutch, baby boomers loved giant, bulky cabinets in their formal living spaces. These cabinets held not only fine china, but knick-knacks usually acquired during travels. Salt shakers, Precious Moments figurines, and souvenirs from travels were commonly found inside.
3. Shag Carpeting
Once the height of luxury, wall-to-wall carpeting is now being replaced by hardwood floors for easier cleaning and a more modern look. Shag carpeting is one of the most popular baby boomer trends. However, some people still like the retro look of a shag rug in their living room.
4. Patterned Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a nightmare to take down, which is why some people avoid buying a home owned by a baby boomer. Floral wallpapers from the 60s and 70s are particularly outdated baby boomer trends, although it is making slight comeback in some circles.
5. Encyclopedias
Why pick up a book when you have the internet? Before we could hop online for information, baby boomers were referring to shelves full of encyclopedias. New editions of these alphabetized books were released each year with the most up-to-date information.
6. Writing Checks
In an era of digital payments and credit cards, writing checks is a rarity, reserved for a few specific situations like rent or large bills. However, baby boomers would write checks for basically every expense they needed to pay. You may even still get a check from your grandmother inside a birthday card!
7. Brass Fixtures
Baby boomers loved brass fixtures inside their homes. There would be brass in the lights, sinks, and doorknobs. This trend is being replaced by sleeker black or silver finishings within the household.
8. Avocado Green Appliances
Avocado green is still a pretty color, but it’s an outdated look inside of modern kitchens. Baby boomers loved this color scheme for refrigerators, stoves, toasters, and even in the backsplashes. Today, avocado green is considered retro at best.
9. Landline Telephones
With the ubiquity of smartphones, the traditional landline is disappearing from most households. The same goes for answering machines. Rotary phones, however, have been getting a new life as conversation pieces rather than functional devices.
10. Manual Transmissions
Chances are, your grandfather or grandmother may have learned how to drive using a manual transmission. Also known as stick shift, these vehicles are now only sought out by car enthusiasts and collectors. Most people prefer a high-tech car, some even starting with the touch of a button.
11. Wrapping Furniture
Many outdated baby boomer trends can still be found at your grandparent’s home. For instance, many boomers loved wrapping their furniture with plastic to protect it from damage or stains. If you concentrate, you may even be able to hear that uncomfortable squeaking noise!
12. Yellow Pages
Baby boomers had to look up phone numbers in the Yellow Pages rather than finding the number on the internet. In a time before social media, they also would have consulted this book of phone numbers to reconnect with friends or family members.
13. Tupperware Parties
Back in the day, baby boomers would gather together at a friend’s house to participate in Tupperware parties. The event was run by a host, and neighbors, friends, and family would gather together to see what was new. With so many people loving meal plans, maybe this is one of the baby boomer trends that needs a comeback!
14. Smoking Cigarettes
Thankfully, some baby boomer trends are becoming outdated for the better. According to Research Gate, more than half of baby boomers have smoked at least one cigarette in their lifetimes. Some are still actively smoking. Today, cannabis and vaping are more common among adults.
15. Address Book
Thanks to smartphones, many people do not have to memorize or write down their contact lists. Sadly, the use of technology has made millennials and Gen Z’ers totally reliant on their smartphones to reach someone. Some people don’t even have their spouse’s phone number memorized!
16. TV Guide
Baby boomers used to “check out the Guide” to see what was going to be on TV later. Now, we just have to pick up the remote and scroll through the endless streaming apps to find something to watch. Many people also watch programming based on what’s trending on social media.
17. Film Cameras
Smartphones basically do everything. With that in mind, we are no longer using film cameras. Baby boomers used to buy film any time they wanted to capture photos on vacations or at events like birthday parties and weddings.
18. Greeting Cards
Our grandparents love to give out greeting cards for birthdays and Christmas. Some even buy a card for random occasions like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Putting a check for $10 inside of the card is also outdated!
Getting with the Times
While these baby boomer trends may be losing popularity, everything has a comeback eventually. Who knows? Maybe we’ll all start using landline phones or decorating our homes with brass fixtures and wallpaper again in the future!
Read More:
Healing Family: 8 Ways Baby Boomer Parents Can Reconnect with No-Contact Millennials
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Alyssa Serio has been a writer and editor since graduating from Aurora University in 2014. In her free time, she loves reading, playing volleyball, and watching any horror movie (even the bad ones) with her husband.