16 Things Every '90s Family Had Beside the TV

In the 1990s, the space by the family TV often became a small museum of everyday life. Along with furniture and objects of the household, there were VCRs, VHS tapes, TV Guides, cable boxes, antennas, and game consoles. A ringing cordless telephone could break up your favorite program, and a lamp, houseplant, doily, or stack of magazines made the area feel lived in. Loose controllers, cables, coins, and remote controls made for the usual clutter of a busy family room. These objects were inspired by actual technology and habits of the decade, like the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, and popular brands like Sony, Panasonic, RCA, and JVC. Together, they showed the role of television in family routines. That drew many families together when the day was ending.

1. A VCR

The VCR was often the star of the space next to the TV. Families recorded shows, replayed rented movies, and paused live broadcasts with machines such as the Panasonic PV-VS4820 or the Sony SLV series. Friday nights could mean slotting a VHS cassette into the front slot before everyone settled down on the sofa. Sometimes the blinking clock was wrong, because no one had figured out how to program it. The play, stop, rewind, and record buttons were constantly being pushed. The VCR clicked and whirred through its last seconds as the tape finished. Many households found that the machine turned the television corner into a complete home entertainment center.

2. A Stack of VHS Tapes

There was usually a stack of VHS tapes next to the television, bought, recorded, or borrowed. Movies like The Lion King, Jurassic Park, or Home Alone were on hand for quick access by families. Blank tapes had handwritten labels with titles or dates or warnings about what could be recorded over. Plastic cases were used by some households to store tapes, and others put them in cardboard boxes or racks. Then came the movie night and the rewinding, which soon became routine. Kids would sometimes dig into the pile for a favorite scene or episode of a cartoon. The tapes made the television area into a personal library of movies rather than just an area of furniture.

3. A TV Guide Magazine

The TV Guide magazine was usually on the table, shelf, or cabinet near the television. Families would pore over its pages to see when their sitcoms, cartoons, news programs, and movies were on. Before online schedules, printed listings offered a simple way to plan an evening. A parent could circle a program with a pen, while children remembered the exact time for their favorite show. The magazine also featured short descriptions, channel numbers, advertisements, and holiday programming. In the 1990s, issues covered ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX networks. The guide was handy to not have to guess what was on. It helped make TV watching a planned family ritual.

4. A Cable Box

In homes that had expanded channel service, cable boxes were often located very close to or beneath the television. In the 1990s, boxes from TCI or local cable operators revolutionized how families watched television. Viewers would select channels on the box, often with a separate remote, instead of turning a television dial. The box might appear rather serious, with rows of buttons and a glowing digital channel number. If the picture went out, someone usually checked the cable box first. Television became a doorway to a broader world of programming. That glowing number was something familiar in the room.

5. Rabbit-Ear Antennas

Rabbit-ear antennas still seemed familiar next to televisions, especially in homes reliant on over-the-air broadcasts. The adjustable metal rods could be twisted or raised or angled whenever a channel came in poorly. Someone might move the antenna while someone else shouted directions from the couch. Once in a while, the picture cleared for a minute and then went snowy again. Models from brands such as RCA, Philips, and others often represented the simple technology. Also, some antennas had a circular loop for UHF channels, which was important for stations that carried cartoons, sports, and newer networks. Even in the 1990s, the small antenna reminded families that TV signals were not always perfect.

6. A Television Stand or Cabinet

A TV usually found its proper place in the living room on a television stand or wooden cabinet. Some families had solid oak-colored units with shelves underneath for tapes, game cartridges, books, or remote controls. These stands looked like they were specifically made for a bulky CRT TV. The furniture also served as a useful storage area. Game controllers were tucked away in drawers, magazines were plopped on the lower shelves, and loose cables were gathered behind the unit. A child could be sitting right in front of it on the floor, and the adults further back. The stand made the TV the centerpiece of the room. The cabinet also hid wires from common view.

7. A Video Game Console

The VCR and cable gear were often found sharing the TV area with a video game console. Systems like the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and Nintendo 64 plugged directly into the television with cords that seemed impossible to organize. Cartridges or controllers could be kept close by, and the switch from cartoons to games could be made in minutes. On a weekend afternoon, kids might crowd around the screen for Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog, or Mario Kart 64. The TV corner came alive with the console. It became not just a place to watch shows, but a space to socialize. That change made the room a natural place for family meetings.

8. Game Controllers and Connection Cables

The area around the television was typically a jumble of game controllers and connection cables. The Super Nintendo, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, or Nintendo 64 controllers were all different shapes, buttons, and cords, so it was not always easy to keep them organized. Sometimes families would loosely fold the cables and put them in a drawer, basket, or box. As a game was about to be played, someone looked for the right controller and followed the cable toward the console. The Nintendo 64 controller, with its weird three-pronged shape, could be especially confusing for little siblings. They also demonstrated the rapid growth of home entertainment over the decade.

9. A Cordless Telephone

The cordless telephone was another common sight in many 1990s homes, near the television. Companies such as Panasonic, AT&T, and Uniden sold models that let family members answer calls without being tied to a telephone on a wall or table. The base station frequently sat on a nearby cabinet or end table, close enough to reach during a program. If the phone rang, someone could answer the phone without having to leave the room. The setup also created a small problem: misplaced handsets seemed to disappear into cushions, bedrooms, or kitchen counters. The phone maintained the connection of the TV area to the rest of the house. It was close enough for quick answers.

10. A Table Lamp

Often a table lamp was placed next to the television, especially in living rooms where families didn’t want to sit in complete darkness. Fabric-shaded lamps, ceramic bases or brass-colored details spill a warm pool of light around the viewing area. The lamp could provide a more relaxing room for an evening movie. And more contrast for a bright screen in a dark room. The lamp also had some practical functions. It lit up magazines and remote controls and bowls of snacks that had been set around it. It had nothing to do with the technology of television, but it helped define the atmosphere around the screen. The soft light of it made normal evenings more comfortable.

11. A Crocheted Doily

Often a crocheted doily or decorative runner sat beneath the television or on the nearby cabinet. Usually, handmade pieces were from relatives and had recognizable patterns like flowers, shells, or geometric shapes. The fabric protected polished furniture against dust and minor scratches and also added decoration. The doily lay flat under the set, and framed photographs or small ornaments filled the shelves nearby. The children soon learned that the ornaments were not to be moved about cavalierly. The television was still the center of entertainment, but the doily meant that the area also contained the family’s sense of order and pride. The room had a distinctly domestic air, due to its handmade look.

12. A Houseplant

In households where the living room was decorated with greenery, an empty corner, particularly near the television set, was often taken up with a houseplant. Depending on the household, typical options were pothos, philodendrons, spider plants, and peace lilies. The plant softened the hard lines of a big CRT television and its bulky stand. Sometimes leaves reached for a window to get light, or vines trailed down a shelf or cabinet. The plant was normally watered during the weekly cleaning. It made the television corner feel less technical and more lived-in. A simple plant between cables and tapes and furniture and remote controls brought a quiet piece of everyday nature to the space.

13. A Stack of Magazines or Newspapers

For those times when no one could agree on what to watch, a pile of magazines or newspapers would be sitting beside the television. Families might have copies of Reader’s Digest, People, Sports Illustrated, or local papers on hand. During a commercial break, a person may read an article, check sports scores, or thumb through ads while waiting for a program to start. Magazines gave the younger viewers something to read when an adult had the remote control. The television remained the main draw, but there was reading material for a comfortable fallback. It was useful as a viewing area even when the screen was off. The stack also showed the changing interests of the family.

14. A Small Change Bowl or Tray

A little bowl or tray for loose change often found a permanent home near the television. Coins, spare keys, buttons, batteries, and other small objects were thrown into it by families. The contents were various, but the container rarely remained empty. A quarter picked up by someone searching for the remote might find a pile of pennies under it. The tray was not an entertainment device, yet it found its way into the daily clutter of the television area. It was like a common household habit of putting useful little things where they were. It quietly collected the smallest necessities of the room. It was usually close at hand.

15. A Universal Remote Control

Sometimes a universal remote control was added to the growing pile of remotes by the television. Families bought models from companies such as RCA to operate more than one appliance, including the TV, VCR, and cable box. The concept was simple: One remote to do the work of many. In practice, programming the buttons could be confusing, especially when the instruction booklet vanished. But the remote did offer a way to cut down on the clutter of having so many separate controls. It usually was on the coffee table or television stand and became one of the most handled things in the room. Losing it could mean every program gets delayed because no one wanted to get up and change the channel manually.

16. Compact Stereo Speakers

Families seeking better sound might place a small stereo speaker or compact audio system next to the television. Companies like Sony, Panasonic, and JVC sold compact systems that were easy to fit into living rooms. Some households listened to the television through the speakers, while others switched to the radio or cassette player when the music was the choice for the night. The arrangement gave the television corner more flexibility. A family could watch a sitcom, listen to a favorite station, or play a cassette without leaving the room. Next to the enormous CRT screen, a pair of speakers made the room feel like a small personal media center.