The record crackles softly as the needle drops. A warm orange lamp glows in the corner, casting a shadow on the wall. Nothing in the room is new, yet everything feels intentional. Scenes like this aren't just snapshots of the past. They are becoming the future of design and technology.
The idea of retro tech and decor is making a comeback, offering a comforting feeling and a break from the overwhelming feelings of modern tech and decor.
One of the clearest examples is the reappearance of small kitchen televisions, the kinds that once sat on countertops in the late 90s and early 2000s. These compact TVs weren't made for binge watching; they were made for background comfort.
Nowadays, people are thrifting these compact-sized TVs, bringing them back for the same reason they were created: to hear the soft hum of the morning news or an old cooking program while they make dinner, or just for the nostalgic feeling.
TikTok user @dani.hubbard shared their journey of thrifting a small TV to turn it into a kitchen TV.
“Your sign to thrift a kitchen TV,” the text on the video said.
“I’ve not left my kitchen since,“ the caption said.
Music followed a similar path. Although there are very modern streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music, some listeners are turning back to vinyl records, cassette tapes, and CD collections.
Younger generations like Generation Z are rediscovering ways to listen to music and its unique flair and aesthetic. For Gen Z who indulge in physical media, this is their investment into owning their favorite pieces of musical media. This brings back music ownership, along with the nostalgic experience that comes with opening and playing physical media, such as the sound of taking it out of its case and the record spinning, or the tape clicking, will be forever something that digital music can't replace or fully capture.
TikTok user @deej.luvs.musiqshowcases her extensive vinyl collection with the caption “Heard we going Vinyl for Vinyl.” She showcases vinyls from artists, such as Rihanna, Aaliyah, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Tyler the Creator, Lana Del Rey and Aaliyah.
The desire for warmth and personal expression is also reshaping interior decor. People are bringing back things like wood tones, patterned wallpaper, vintage linens and glassware into their homes.
Home decor is starting to become expressive again. British Vogue“Lived-in interiors” is a rising trend for 2026. Instead of perfectly sterile white and gray living rooms, homes are turning into soft lamps, mismatched thrifted furniture and vintage art prints.
Tuscan decor is another retro-inspired style making a quiet but mighty comeback. This style focuses on warmth and stones, wood and elements from the 2000s.
Although the 2000s version of Tuscan style leaned heavily on dark reds, its modern revival feels softer and more authentic. People are bringing it back because it captures something many modern interiors lack: a sense of warmth, hospitality and lived-in beauty.
This style embraces natural textures and colors like olive green, deep gold, burnt orange and warm browns. It's a way of creating that cozy feel and stepping into a more country villa, where things might feel a little simpler.
TikTok user @mermaidsjournal showcases the vibe and feel of the ideal Tuscan home, with brown couches, a kitchen with soft lighting and red tones. The video is captioned with “If my future home doesn’t look like this, I don’t want it.” The video has received 52.1K likes on the platform, showing a renewed interest in the aesthetic.
The retro wave is touching everyday technology, with one of the more spurring returns being the rise in flip phones. Young people are using this to lower screen time, eliminate the stress of the online world and to feel more present in the real world.
Some even said theactof opening and closing a flip phone carries a certain drama and nostalgia. With a flip phone, people can call and text, but cannot tempted to doomscroll for hours.
TikTok user @keysevelisha showcases the flip phone she personalized with gems and a phone case. The video is captioned with “in my Y2K flip phone era.”
All of these trends share a common thread: they make modern life feel less rushed and more intentional.
The idea of retro design and technology invites us to slow down, choose carefully, and appreciate moments that might otherwise go unnoticed, whether it's placing a needle on a record, texting on a flip phone or letting something play on a kitchen TV.
