From Lava Lamps to Landlines: These 16 Teen Bedrooms Will Transport You to Another Era

Written by Rachel Schneider on May 27, 2025 updated June 3, 2025

A teenage girl sits on her bed, smiling and holding a James Dean magazine, surrounded by posters and a life-size cutout of James Dean on her wall in a 1950s-themed bedroom.

Posters covering every inch of the walls, lava lamps on the nightstand, and beads over the door — these are the things teenage rooms used to be made of. Depending on the decade you spent your teen years in, your room might have looked like any one of these vintage photos.

1. Living Out of a Laundry Basket in 1995

A young woman in jeans and a t-shirt sits cross-legged on a messy bedroom floor, smiling while talking on a corded landline phone. The room has scattered clothes, laundry baskets, and an unmade bed in the background. — HagridsLeftShoe

2. Getting Ready for Friday Night Lights, 1969

A smiling girl in a blue and white cheerleader outfit with "WC" on the sweater stands in a cluttered bedroom with an unmade bed, dresser, and various items scattered on the floor. — dittidot

3. The Desktop Computer and ‘South Park’ Shirt Is Quintessential Late ’90s

A boy in a white t-shirt and shorts sits at a wooden desk with a vintage computer, surrounded by electronics. The wall has a cartoon poster, and the door is decorated with bird stickers and a red sports car image. — UserDeleted

4. Quite the Set Up in 1985

A boy sits at a desk using an old Apple computer in a colorful, retro room with posters, a TV, and art on the wall. He wears a blue shirt and patterned shorts and looks at the monitor intently. — testudo

5. 1950s = Elvis Everywhere

Two young women sit on a bed in a vintage room decorated with numerous posters and photos of Elvis Presley and a horse. They are smiling, wearing rolled-up jeans and white socks, with retro hairstyles and attire. — Till80

6. Christian Bale’s Room, 1987

A boy in a denim jacket and jeans sits at a desk with his feet up, holding a vintage joystick. A retro computer, monitor, cassette tapes, and various hats are on the desk, and a movie poster hangs on the wall behind him. — Ok_Tip_5184

7. Kirsten Dunst’s Room, 1997

A teenage girl in plaid pants sits cross-legged on a messy bed, playing a pink electric guitar in a cluttered bedroom with books, toys, and a desktop computer visible in the background. — _captain__holt_

8. Posters Covering Painted Paneling in the Mid-90s

A young woman sits on a bed in a room decorated with numerous band and musician posters on the walls. She wears a white Guess Jeans t-shirt and looks toward the camera. A clock and bookshelf are visible above her. — MikeyNapoli

9. Chillin’ Like a Villain in the Mid-80s

A person lies in bed with headphones on, covered by blankets. Beside the bed is a wooden nightstand holding a stereo, vinyl records, and boots. The room has wood-paneled walls and a window with green patterned curtains. — cart_adcock

10. ‘The Beatles’ Ruled in 1965

Two teenage girls listen to records in a room covered with Beatles posters and photos, showing their fandom. One girl lies on her stomach, smiling, while the other sits nearby, both enjoying the music. — FNaXQ

11. The Quintessential 1950s Teenage Girl Room

A young woman lies on her stomach on a bed, reading, with her feet up. The room’s walls and mirror are covered with Elvis Presley posters and photos, capturing a 1950s fan’s bedroom. A record lies on the bed nearby. — ILoveRegenHealth

12. All the Heartthrobs

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13. Peace and Love

A person lounges with feet up, reading a book titled "Steal This Book." The room’s wall is decorated with posters, including peace signs and portraits of musicians, and there are patriotic and colorful psychedelic designs. — hcashew

14. Someone Had a Thing for Clint Eastwood

A woman sits on a bed reading a book, with two posters of Clint Eastwood as a cowboy and a San Francisco cityscape on the wall above her. — hcashew

15. The Ultimate Music Fan’s Room in the 1970s

A colorful attic bedroom filled with music posters covering the walls and ceiling, featuring bands like Queen, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd. A single bed has a vibrant Beatles-themed bedspread. Instruments and records are visible. — Issy_Allen

16. Kurt Cobain in His Messy Room, 1985

A person wearing headphones and playing an electric guitar sits on a bed in a cluttered room with clothes scattered on the floor, posters on wood-paneled walls, and a laundry basket nearby. — Iangator

Want more glimpses into life from decades past?

You should check out 15 Vintage Photos of Summer Camp and 10 School Items Every Middle-Class Kid Had in the ’90s. For a look into the toys every kid wanted, be sure to read 10 Collectible ’90s Toys That Increased in Value and 10 Iconic ’80s Toys Worth Serious Money Today.