I’m Re-Creating This ’90s Tech Trend in My Kitchen Right Now
Before the ’90s, there was no such thing as a smartphone, and cell phones had yet to reach commercial popularity. The most common way to get in touch with someone was to walk into the room where your landline phone was placed. (In my house when I was growing up, this was the kitchen.)
While they still exist, landlines are rarer than they used to be. They were corded or wireless, and often mounted to the wall. Honestly, some days I wish I could transform my smartphone into a landline — and as it turns out, you can turn your iPhone into a wall-bound phone again if you have the right tools on hand.
How to Turn Your iPhone into a Landline Phone
In a video shared on TikTok, the company Odd Form Ceramics showed off a ’60s-inspired glazed ceramic creation that you can affix to a wall and “park” your phone in. “We made this wall-mounted phone holder for charging or parking your phone to avoid doomscrolling,” they write. The ceramic looks decorative, and perfectly fits a smartphone.
Due to the storage pocket’s shape, your phone screen will be almost entirely covered up while it’s in there. You’ll only be able to see a small sliver of it at the top, giving you just enough room to see what time it is (or how much time has elapsed during a phone call) and how much your phone is charged. It has two small holes at the top, so you can easily screw it to your wall or hang it up using thin nails. There’s also a hole at the bottom of the pocket for you to plug your charger or headphones through it when in use.
Some Funky Phone Storage Pockets to Shop
In the video, Odd Form Ceramics says this phone holder “was requested by a friend, but now we want to make more for ourselves too!” You can get the floral-patterned ceramic phone pocket on the website for $44.99 apiece — each one is handmade and designed to fit “all iPhone sizes.”
There are other ways to leave your phone hanging on the wall. Etsy has plenty of fun options, like a pink and orange striped phone pocket made from quilted cotton with a hole at the top for hanging that’s a bit more renter-friendly, as it doesn’t require a drill to install it to your wall. It also doesn’t have a slot at the bottom for a charging cord, but this minimalist 3D-printed phone holder does (and this plastic storage cup too!). They also come in many colors and include adhesive tape for easy install.