Ever wonder how much thought goes into the design of everyday objects? Well, we did the research and found out: a lot.
And that makes sense, right? In the early days of the Industrial Revolution, when materials were harder to come by and people owned maybe one pair of jeans, or a single pair of boots, not only did newly introduced products need to be of the highest quality, but in order to stand the test of time, they needed to be well planned, down to the smallest detail.
Only later would the world come to appreciate abstract shoe designs (like Yeezys) and jeans that you buy with holes already in them. And that’s why many items we use in everyday life lean heavily on function, and far less on form.
Of course, efficient design is very much a part of modern manufacturing too, and though we may not be familiar with many of the tiny features of everyday objects and what they do, believe it or not, those brushes on the escalator aren’t for shining your shoes, and the holes in pasta spoons are there for a reason. (Don’t worry, we explain that.)
As always, we’ve cited our sources at the bottom of the article, if you want to fact check us, but suffice it to say, we’re not making this stuff up.
Now, without further ado, here are the most mind-blowing hidden features of everyday items:
🧠 Pom-Poms on beanies…
First off, yes, they are officially called “pom-poms” — just like the things cheerleaders use! Second, these pom-poms on beanies and other hats aren’t just meant to be fluffy and cute. French sailors used to wear hats with pom-poms so that they wouldn’t bump their heads on the ceilings of the ship when sailing through rough waters. 🧠
👖 The tiny little buttons on your jeans…
Also knowns as “rivets,” these little magic buttons are designed to make your favorite pair of jeans last longer. How? Well, they’re placed strategically in the areas that are most likely to rip from continuous rubbing (like in the dryer) or strain (like from everyday wear and tear.) They keep those jeans in good shape so that you don’t have to constantly spend your time trying to find that ‘perfect’ pair of jeans once yours wear out. 👖
♨️ That drawer under your oven isn’t for storage…
Have you been using that drawer for storing pots and pans? Possibly that bread-maker you never use? Well, that’s not what it’s for. Turns out manufacturers originally made that drawer for keeping food warm until people were ready to serve it. It’s a warming oven! I bet you didn’t know that. I know I didn’t. Guess it’s time for me to go clean out all my pot lids and the Turkey tray I only use at Thanksgiving. ♨️