Bette Midler's 80s NYC Apartment Featured a Granny Chic Seat

bette midler on a gray background — (Image credit: Mark Sagliocco/WireImage via Getty Images)

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Shop The Rocking Chair Edit

Nostalgia is defining our interiors in 2026. Silhouettes from the '70s, '80s, and '90s have slipped back into the design mainstream, and homeowners are turning to spaces decorated by their parents or grandparents for inspiration. At Homes & Gardens, we're looking to Bette Midler.

An archival photo of the talented actress in the living room of her New York City apartment in 1984 highlights a granny chic furnishing we're absolutely loving right now: the rocking chair. Once associated with Southern porches, rocking chairs have gained widespread appeal in 2026 as a fun, retro accent piece.

Bette's pick is especially striking, featuring a curved bamboo base that adds instant character and whimsy to her living room (Wayfair's Milano rocking chair has a similar look). It's the ideal cohesive complement to her floral rug and hardwood floors.

Shop The Rocking Chair Edit

Whether you like Bette's look or prefer something a bit more traditional, a rocking chair is the perfect accent to bring a sense of whimsy into your living room seating layout. These are our editors' picks for recreating the look.

Similar Look

Exceptional Rocking Chair by Thonet

Steeped in Viennese design history, this chair is the ultimate study in fluid, architectural curves. Originally introduced by Michael Thonet in the late 19th century, it's a designer pick for if you want to bring a true design icon into your home.

Breathable Cotton

Chairvogue Solid Wood Casual Rocking Chair

This modern iteration of Bette's natural-materialed chair swaps bamboo for thick, ergonomic cushions upholstered in a brown cotton-linen blend. However, it perfectly preserves that crucial 'artfully sculptural' silhouette that makes her piece so beautiful.

Set of 2

Rocking Wicker Chair

To translate Bette's stunning setup to a patio, woven wicker offers a natural alternative. The rocking chair's popularity in 18th-century America was tied to porch culture, making all-weather wicker a seamless evolution for bringing that silhouette outdoors.

Eucalyptus wood

Birch Lane Brayson Rocking Chair

Just as Bette's chair relied on fluid wooden lines and open texture to keep a room feeling airy rather than cluttered, this piece uses a solid eucalyptus frame paired with reinforced nautical-grade rope across the seat and back. It's a beautiful alternative.

Vintage look

Outdoor Rocking Chair

For an accessible way to capture the look, this white wooden rocking chair translates iconic rocking-chair heritage into a durable centerpiece that will look just as lovely outdoors. With this ultra-classic piece, it's hard to go wrong.

Martha Stewart by Polywood Chinoiserie Rocking Chair

This stunning indoor-outdoor chair is the most comfortable place to sit back and slow down. Built with durable lumber, it’s designed to handle changing weather conditions year-round, making a lasting statement at the front of your home.

Now is the perfect time to invest in a stylish rocking chair, as these pieces are emerging as a major interior design trend for 2026. We've seen the resurgence of hanging chairs and other whimsical seating options as an extension of the prioritization of experiential design. Rather than only something that looks good, homeowners are now craving furniture that complements their lifestyles. Rocking chairs are great because of the movement they bring in your space, hence our interest in Bette's piece.

The resurgence of 'grandma chic' style also coincides with the trend towards vintage and upcycled furniture. Millennials and Gen Z shoppers are looking for ways to bring new life to historical furnishings.

Designer Rebecca Hughes explains: 'Designing with antiques and vintage pieces is about creating a dialogue between past and present. For example, an antique mirror with its unique patina adds depth and history, opening up a space with subtle elegance. A well-chosen side table, with a rich wood grain and organic character, sets the tone for the entire room. And vintage art prints add unexpected pops of colour, injecting personality into a space. Incorporating these treasures elevates design from decoration to legacy.'

To find these character pieces like Bette's '80s armchair, designer Laura Hammett advises: 'Online auctions are a great way to find one-of-a-kind antiques, but specificity is key. Use targeted search terms based on material, era, and style – I once found the perfect piece for our home by searching for a ‘19th Century French Louis Philippe Commode’ on eBay.'

'Take your time with research: review provenance and condition reports carefully and request extra images or videos if needed,' she continues. 'Set a firm budget to avoid impulse decisions. The best pieces are worth waiting for – I’ve spent months searching for the right bobbin leg table or antique clock, and those finds are what truly make a home feel layered and lived-in.'

A vintage rocking chair has the capability to completely transforma a room, as demonstrated by Bette Midler. This look has never been more popular.

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Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.