Old Home Tech That Has Made a Comeback

The following contribution is from another author.

New innovative home gadgets are constantly being introduced to the market – and many of us are still buying into this tech. But a lot of us are also starting to bring old tech back into our homes. Sometimes there can be a charm – or even some practical benefits – in embracing the old, and rejecting the new. Below are a few examples of old home tech that is making a comeback. 

Candles

Candles were once a primary form of lighting. As electric lighting became more commonplace in homes, candles began dying out. But recently they’ve been making a huge comeback – not so much as a form of lighting, but as a natural form of air freshener. The scented candle market is huge and is expected to keep growing. Compared to chemical air fresheners, many are organic and do not release the same levels of toxins into the air, making them as popular (if not more). Candles can also provide a natural ambient glow that is appealing to many people. Compared to harsh LED lighting, they can create a warmer and more relaxing atmosphere in homes in the evening. 

Fireplaces

The invention of central heating prompted many people to stop using their fireplaces at the beginning of the 20th century. However, fireplaces are starting to become popular again – largely due to their aesthetic appeal. Gas fireplaces and electric fireplaces tend to be the most common option and can be connected to central heating systems. A lot of people in older homes are also putting old fireplaces back into use with gas inserts. This prevents historic fireplaces from being neglected without the hassle of attending to a real wood fire. You can get a fireplace estimate through many companies online. 

Brass plumbing

The first faucets in homes tended to be brass. Stainless steel taps would take over in the mid 20th century, leading to brass taps becoming passe. However, brass is now back in a big way. Brass fixtures tend to stand out when paired with neutral-colored kitchen and bathroom decor. Although more expensive than steel, brass also has the same corrosion resistance and durability as steel and can be more malleable – allowing for more unusual designs. Brass vintage tap designs and brass industrial tap designs are particularly popular in modern bathrooms. 

Projectors

As TVs get more expensive, a growing number of people are starting to consider alternatives. Projectors seem to be the best solution and can help to create an authentic home cinema feel. Modern projectors use smart technology to link up with your digital devices. This allows you to stream movies and TV shows on your laptop or smartphone, which are then mirrored onto the projector. A big benefit of projectors is that you can adjust the size of the projection and use them at different ranges. This allows you to use projectors practically anywhere – from your bathroom to your backyard. 

Record players

Vinyl sales originally decreased with the advent of new mediums like cassettes, CDs, downloads and streaming. However, they’ve made a huge comeback and as a result record player sales are also booming. Why is this the case? The process of putting on a record and reading the liner notes has a charm, and old records have become valuable collectibles. On top of this, buying records financially benefits artists more, and there’s no risk of not being able to listen to your favorite artist again if they decide to remove a project from all streaming platforms.

DVD players

DVD player sales plummeted as downloads and streaming became more popular. However, sales have been picking up again, suggesting that DVDs are seeing a resurgence. This is for similar reasons as to the vinyl revival – people want to own physical versions of movies and TV series again. Streaming platforms are continuously adding and removing films and series. Owning DVDs provides the security of being able to rewatch shows and movies at any time, plus there is still a charm to having a physical collection. 

Rotary phones

The rise of cell phones quickly made traditional landline phones defunct. But this hasn’t stopped younger people buying traditional handsets. There are still benefits in being able to provide a separate home phone number and there is a retro charm to many vintage handsets. Rotary phones in particular have started to see an increase in sales. It’s likely that they’re mostly used as ornaments by the majority of buyers, but there’s also a sense of fun in turning the dial to ring someone.