How to Tastefully Use 1970's Decor in Your HomeEugene Chrinian

How to Tastefully Use 1970's Decor in Your Home

▪ Many have disparaged the unique decor of the 1970s, which ranged from thick shag rugs to avocado green-and-gold kitchens. The designers of the ‘70s also loved garish wall coverings, brassy accents, orange, and brown, and trendy homeowners likely slept on waterbeds, sat in peacock chairs, and suspended their houseplants in handmade macramé hangers.

▪ Modern homeowners have spent decades removing all remnants of the ‘70s from their homes, but a few of the ‘70’s redeeming trends are making a comeback in home decorating. Read on to learn how to incorporate them into your home.

Bringing Back Brown

▪ The ‘70s were an era of wood paneling, tan leather sofas, and copious amounts of wood veneer, giving many rooms an overall brownish tinge. Brown is never out of style, but it’s possible to pay homage to the ‘70’s love of the color in a way that suits modern sensibilities.

▪ A tan leather sofa, for example, can add a tasteful, vintage feel to a room when combined with more modern elements. Keep the floors bare or covered with a simple rug, and throw in up-to-date colors and simple patterns. Wood paneling has come a long way in four decades, which means you can replace the highly varnished pine of the ‘70s with rustic planks or shiplap.

Wide-Open Spaces

▪ The 1970s brought us the open floor plan, which turned kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms into free-flowing spaces. This concept survived long after many ‘70’s decor trends went by the wayside, and it has remained a popular design technique.

▪ Today’s open floor plans take the floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors of the 1970s a step further, often blurring outdoor and indoor living. Many homes now feature elaborate outdoor living spaces, such as outdoor kitchens and large porches or decks, that flow naturally from the home’s interior.

The Return of Geometry

▪ The 1970s replaced curves with sharp edges, ushering in an era where geometric shapes dominated style. Today’s designs have toned down the bold, big shapes of the ‘70s, incorporating smaller, more detailed versions into everything from wallpaper to throw pillow covers.

▪ If you aren’t ready to fully go geometric, try a subtler approach such as a round footstool paired with a neutral sofa or a modern print that incorporates simple shapes and up-to-date colors.

Color without Clash

▪ The 1970s were all about a rainbow mix of big prints, colors, and textures, which often didn’t match. This mash-up could create a sensory overload from too many statement pieces competing for the eye’s attention.

▪ When 1970s-inspired items stand on their own, they can add beauty and excitement to any decor. The key is to balance a room with neutrals. Retro-patterned wallpaper works well behind a simple, single-colored sofa with clean lines. If you love crazy ‘70’s prints, you can contain them to pillow covers rather than use them to upholster large furniture pieces.

Reinvent the Rainbow

▪ In the 1970s, rainbows were the thing. You could find them everywhere from striping down the sides of polyester pants to crossing a child’s bedspread. Technicolor was in, and there was no better way to incorporate all the colors in this trend than with a rainbow.

▪ While decorating with rainbows still isn’t for the faint hearted, these multicolored designs are finding their way back into homes in a variety of creative ways. A rainbow can be subtly painted on parallel boards of a wood floor or incorporated into a retro wall print. More bold designers don’t have to hold back—large rainbow wall decals, rugs, and curtains are all on the market.

Sink the Space

▪ Sunken living rooms came in vogue before the 1970s, but by the time this decade rolled around they graced homes across the country. While they once screamed “1970s,” installing a sunken living room in a modern home can create a cozy, intimate space.

▪ Retrofitting a sunken living room takes a large space to start with, which likely will be found in a house built in a more recent decade. Resist covering it with shag carpet—sunken spaces with wood floors and filled with cozy sofas, rugs, and pillows make for an updated look.

Discipline Your Tribute

▪ Whatever 1970’s trend you choose to reinvent, decorators recommend employing a moderate approach. Be sure to offset any ‘70’s decor with an un-‘70’s twist, such as using copious amounts of blue or furniture with modern lines.

▪ You could also pay tribute to the decade with a single item, such as a large, framed print harkening back to the heyday of ‘70’s posters or one eye-catching, psychedelic throw pillow. If you keep the ‘70’s influence in check, it can be a trendy and modern influence on your overall home design.