14 Things Every Kitchen Had in the 1970s That Are Gone Today

A family’s story was told through color, sound, pattern, and habit in the 1970s kitchen. Avocado refrigerators, harvest gold stoves, electric can openers, rotary phones, and bubbling percolators made the room lively. Before screens and sleek appliances, these objects supported cooking, conversation, storage, and family routines. Most disappeared as technology, decorating tastes, and kitchens simplified. Each item was easy to remember because it saw everyday moments like rushed breakfasts and holiday baking. They recreated a time when kitchens were colorful, coordinated, hardworking, and homey.

1. Avocado Green Refrigerators

Avocado green fridges were a feature of many kitchens in the 1970s. They were more than tools. They were part of the room’s character. Many of these colorful models were sold by Whirlpool, General Electric, and Frigidaire, among others. Their big doors often displayed family schedules, grocery lists, and children’s artwork with decorative magnets. The color complemented the popular kitchen décor from curtains to countertops to flooring. Visitors would see them the moment they entered the room. As tastes changed, white, black, and stainless steel finishes were all the rage. The fashionable green went out of the shops. Today, these refrigerators mostly live in old houses, in old photographs, in nostalgic memories of everyday family life.

2. Built-In Bread Boxes

The built-in bread box was a staple in many 1970s kitchens. Usually built into cabinets, they kept countertops tidy and held loaves, rolls, and pastries. This made it possible to have dedicated storage as families bought fresh bread three or four times a week. The roll-top doors swung up easily and became familiar parts of the daily routine. The kids would come bursting in after school, looking for a snack. Unlike today’s kitchens, with pantry shelves or plastic containers, these built-in spaces had a purpose. As kitchen designs changed and storage habits evolved, bread boxes slowly became a thing of the past. Today, surviving examples are charming souvenirs of a more specialized age of kitchens.

3. Harvest Gold Stoves

Harvest gold stoves warmed up and brightened 1970s kitchens. This signature yellow-gold color was everywhere from ranges to ovens to complementary appliances. Brands marketed coordinated kitchen sets, inviting homeowners to adopt a singular look. They made thousands of family dinners, holiday meals, and weekend breakfasts. Their bright look captured the decade’s decorating trends, when bold colors ruled interior design. Often, the visual center of the room was a harvest gold stove. The color fell out of favor as tastes shifted toward neutral shades and sleek, modern finishes. Today, these stoves remain iconic symbols of a decade defined by expressive, unforgettable home design.

4. Electric Can Openers

Permanent counter space was claimed by electric can openers in many 1970s kitchens. Models from brands such as Rival and General Electric opened cans of soup, fruit, and vegetables with a loud mechanical hum. Families often used canned ingredients, so the appliance received daily attention. The lid was held by a magnet, and the blade went round the rim, and then a small lever released the can. The children would sometimes watch the process like a little machine show. Limited counter space and modern pull tabs have slowly made these devices less necessary, as have safer manual openers. Electric can openers are still around today, but rarely occupy the proud, central place they once had.

5. Wall-Mounted Rotary Telephones

Wall-mounted rotary telephones were often hung by the kitchen doorway. Someone stirred dinner, checked the oven, wrote down a message; long coiled cords stretched across the room. The Bell System models were beige, or avocado, or harvest gold to match the decor around them. Family members answered each call, not knowing who was waiting on the line. Nearby, on a pad or taped to the wall, were still important numbers written by hand. Privacy was at a minimum as conversations took place within earshot of all at the table. The kitchen telephone lost its familiar place to cordless phones and mobile devices. An empty wall, still marked, was the end of a household ritual they’d shared.

6. Ceramic Cookie Jars

Ceramic cookie jars sat on counters, happy kitchen sentries. Many were in the shape of roosters, apples, chefs, owls, or smiling animals. Manufacturers such as McCoy and Hull made designs that became popular household decorations. The children tentatively lifted heavy lids, hoping to find homemade chocolate chip cookies, store-bought biscuits, or holiday leftovers. The jar often made a distinct clink, telling nearby grownups. But these jars, unlike sealed plastic containers, prized charm as much as freshness. Smaller counters, airtight storage, and changing tastes have slowly taken their place. Today, vintage cookie jars are mostly seen in collections, antique shops, and kitchens designed to recreate the warmth of earlier decades.

7. Vinyl Tablecloths

In the 1970s, millions of kitchen tables were covered with vinyl tablecloths. Spills and scratches were kept off surfaces by bright flowers, fruit patterns, checks, and geometric designs. Soft flannel backing prevented them from sliding as kids ate cereal, did homework, or helped prepare vegetables. They were practical for busy families, as most messes could be quickly wiped away with a damp cloth. There were seasonal versions for holidays, everyday patterns to match curtains, and appliance colors. Vinyl coverings were no longer the standard washable fabric, and more fashionable placemats and bare wood tables took their place. Today, they live mostly at picnics, craft tables, and in homes that embrace the happy retro look.

8. Metal Flour Canister Sets

Kitchen counters were lined with neat rows of metal flour canisters. Bold lettering typically read “flour,” “sugar,” “coffee,” and “tea” to match the sets. Popular designs were mushrooms, daisies, roosters, or colorful kitchen scenes. Home baking was still the norm, so the largest container was most often opened several times a week. The metal lid seemed hollow and became part of the morning and weekend routines. Brands and department stores sold sets to complete the room’s look. Later, clear plastic containers and built-in pantry storage made measuring easier and improved visibility. The decorated cans slowly faded away, giving way to a more functional symbol of everyday baking and thoughtfully coordinated home décor.

9. Wooden Spice Racks

Small glass jars in plain sight on wooden spice racks. A lot of them were hanging on the wall or standing next to the stove with paprika, oregano, cinnamon, cloves, and other common spices. Companies like McCormick and Schilling sold jars that families would refill for years. The rack brought order to cooking, even when labels faded or spices lost their potency. It had a warm wood finish, perfect for paneled cabinets and earthy 1970s colors. Later, modern kitchens opted for hidden drawers, magnetic tins, and bigger containers from warehouse stores. Open racks fell out of favor as cooks sought cleaner surfaces. Today’s vintage spice racks made me think of kitchens where each spice had a designated, clear spot.

10. Countertop Coffee Percolators

Countertop percolators scented the kitchen with the sharp aroma of brewing coffee. Stainless steel and patterned electric models burbled noisily before breakfast, a sign of the household stirring. CorningWare, Farberware, and West Bend were among the popular versions. The transparent knob on top lets people watch dark coffee rise and fall with each cycle. Adults skimmed newspapers or unpacked lunches, filling cups from thick ceramic mugs. Drip machines became faster, quieter, and easier to control. Then pod systems changed the routine again. Percolators didn’t disappear altogether, but the steady bubbling they made faded from most homes and with it a familiar morning sound.

11. Paper Recipe Boxes

In the 1970s, the paper recipe box was the working memory of many kitchens. Index cards had handwritten instructions for casseroles, cakes, salads, and holiday food. Some recipes had been passed down from relatives; others had been clipped from magazines or copied from product packages. Stains and dog-eared pages, faded ink, all pointed to the most popular dishes. A card like that might include a note from a grandmother or an ingredient change made years ago. Cookbooks, TV shows, and eventually online searches changed how recipes were stored. Today, these boxes are family archives, not everyday kitchen tools.

12. Decorative Kitchen Clocks

Decorative kitchen clocks brought cheer to ordinary walls. Sunburst designs, ceramic fruit shapes, roosters, and smiling chefs presided over mealtimes and chores. Battery-powered models were getting more common, but some kitchens still had electric clocks with cords. Families checked them while boiling eggs, waiting for school buses, and timing television dinners. Often, their designs matched those of towels, curtains, and canister sets, creating a coordinated theme. Later, microwave displays, oven timers, phones, and smart speakers put time everywhere. The clock, decorative as it was, began to lose its practical value. Today, the survivors looked more like vintage art than working equipment, but still evoked the playful spirit of the decade.

13. Grease Canisters

In the 1970s, many kitchens had grease canisters next to the stove. Cooks strained the cooled bacon fat or frying grease through a small strainer and saved it for the next meal. The rendered fat flavored eggs, beans, cornbread, gravies, and fried potatoes. Flour and sugar canisters were often sold with matching metal or ceramic containers to make the practice look neat and intentional. Families did not waste much, and reusing cooking fat was a habit learned in leaner times. Nutrition advice, dietary changes, and the increased availability of vegetable oils gradually eradicated the practice. The dedicated grease canister today is mostly a vintage collectible or a tool used by traditional home cooks.

14. Printed Kitchen Curtains

Curtains printed for the kitchen, framed windows over sinks, and breakfast tables. Café styles often featured mushrooms, strawberries, daisies, geese, or striking orange-and-brown patterns. Short panels allow daylight in but give families privacy from neighbors. Matching valances, towels, and tablecloths made for a coordinated room that felt personal and lively. The windows opened to let out cooking heat and food smells, and shades swayed softly. Many of these patterned fabrics gave way to blinds and shades, minimalist decorating, and bigger modern windows. Today, such curtains are mainly found in retro-style rooms or country kitchens. Their cheerful prints recalled a time when even practical window coverings had a story to tell about the kitchen.