Most of us have cringe-worthy pieces of décor in our homes that we’d prefer not see again. For some, these intriguing artifacts may find fresh life with individuals who have never experienced them before. However, the orange, red, brown, and yellow velour Western sofas we grew up with have little resale value due to their plain ugliness. While there is a tiny group of antique collectors that appreciate this kitsch design, most people (even vintage furniture junkies) find it to be obnoxious.

These sofas from the late 1960s and early 1970s were often printed with prairie, western, or pastoral themes in big gaudy patterns that 99% of antique collectors avoid. Unlike Mid-Century Modern, these couches have become misfits in the realm of antique furniture. Whereas a decent antique couch from an ordinary producer might sell for hundreds of dollars these days (or a designer like Milo Baughman for thousands), this type often ends up on the curb with no purchasers.

The aesthetic, which many associate with comfortable family rooms, has recently become the target of ridicule. Images of these couches appear when you search “ugly couch.” This kind of couch has also been the topic of several memes, such as the one below. In an interview with Collector’s Weekly, Pam Krueber of Retro Renovation said that this design evoked a Western feel.

With their stiff fabric and wooden arms or wagon wheel backs, these couches were a return to the colonial style that had swept the country in the 1950s, one of several Mid-century design fads. Add to that the popularity of TV programs like Gunsmoke, Davey Crockett, Petticoat Junction, and Little House on the Prairie, and you have a formula for a plethora of Western-themed home décor.

It seems to reason that individuals who like these TV shows would want a taste of that aesthetic in their homes, however updated for the present period it was. Other popular aspects, such as wood paneling, fire-brand décor, and Early American accents, would continue to dominate more traditional houses well into the 1970s and 1980s. Styles varied from Old Mill and cuckoo clock patterns to more palatable simple flower motifs, the latter of which has found a happy home in several vintage-decorated houses.

These strong sofas were designed to last a lifetime and often featured scratchy, but incredibly durable synthetic fabric, which is why there are still so many around despite a dearth of customers. The loud patterns aren’t for everyone these days, but they bring back a lot of memories for those of us who grew up with them. These couches are inextricably tied to fond memories of watching Westerns on a wooden console TV, with the nap of the velour burrowing into your flesh (if not to stylish decor).