When you look back on the way we decorated our homes in the ‘70s, some of our decisions seem bizarre. They looked great at the time, but now they feel outdated and often plain strange. Just to show exactly what we mean, here are vintage home decor choices from the ‘70s that barely anyone makes anymore.
Macramé Wall Hangings
Everyone had macramé wall hangings in their home during the 70s; it was a beloved art form that brought a bohemian touch to any interior. However, the intricate knots and fringes don’t appeal to today’s minimalist tastes. People now prefer simpler, cleaner wall art that fits with versatility amongst other decor styles.
Harvest Gold Fixtures
Alongside avocado green, harvest gold was another color dominating 70s kitchens and bathrooms. Sinks, bathtubs, and tiles often featured this warm yellow hue, but it’s rare to find these days. Modern design trends lean towards whites, grays, and neutrals, making harvest gold fixtures undesirable in contemporary homes.
Waterbeds
There’s no denying that waterbeds felt trendy and luxurious in the 70s, but they were incredibly impractical. They were prone to leaks, the water was unhygienic, and they were almost impossible to move, and the sound of sloshing water was common to wake up to in the middle of the night. Thankfully, it seems that they’re gone for good, with memory foam and hybrid mattresses providing superior comfort and support.
Avocado Green Appliances
Back in the 70s, kitchens were filled with avocado-green appliances. This shade of green was very common on refrigerators, ovens, and even dishwashers, but today, we consider it to look pretty gross. Homeowners much prefer more neutral or stainless-steel finishes, although concerningly, the BBC reports that avocado-green might be making a comeback.
Shag Carpeting
Thick, fluffy shag carpeting was a staple in 70s living rooms and bedrooms; there was something so comforting and cozy about them. They undeniably provided a delightfully soft surface for our feet, but they were quite challenging to clean and maintain. Modern homeowners favor sleek hardwood or practical laminate flooring, leaving shag carpets a thing of the past.
Wood Paneling
Another vintage home decor choice that has lost its popularity is wood paneling, which covered many walls in the 70s in an attempt to provide a rustic or cozy cabin feel. Over time, it became associated with dark, outdated interiors, and these days, homeowners choose brighter, painted walls or wallpaper. Wood paneling is even considered detrimental to the value of modern homes.
Beaded Curtains
If you didn’t have beaded curtains in the ‘70s, it suggested you were square. They served as stylish room dividers or doorways, and all the hippies loved them. Eventually, everyone started to agree that the constant clattering of beads and their tendency to tangle made them annoying and impractical, leading people to use standard doors nowadays that provide better privacy and convenience.
Rattan Furniture
During the ‘70s, rattan furniture was popular for its lightweight and natural look, but despite its charm, it often didn’t hold up well over time, becoming brittle and worn. The furniture trends of today focus on durability and comfort instead, with materials like metal, wood, and high-quality upholstery leading decor trends.
Bold Geometric Patterns
Thanks to the psychedelia of the era, the 70s embraced bold geometric patterns in wallpapers, fabrics, and rugs. In hindsight, these eye-catching designs were often overwhelming and clashed with other decor elements. Current interior design trends would never use them; instead, they choose subtle patterns and solid colors to create a more harmonious and balanced space.
Sunken Living Rooms
Also known as conversation pits, sunken living rooms were a fashionable architectural feature in the 70s. While they did create a cozy vibe for a seating area, they posed all sorts of safety risks and were just impractical. Most homeowners now stick to open, level floor plans for versatility and ease of movement.
Popcorn Ceilings
Everyone in the ‘70s loved popcorn ceilings thanks to their textured appearance, which was excellent at hiding ceiling imperfections. Unfortunately, they also collected dust and were a nightmare to clean. These days, they’re rare to see, with trends shifting toward smooth, flat ceilings for their cleaner, more modern look.
Mirrored Walls
One of the most bizarre home decor choices of the ‘70s was mirrored walls installed in homes to create the illusion of more space and add a glamorous touch. In hindsight, they make us feel sick, and stumbling across one today gives a room an outdated and tacky vibe. Today’s interiors focus on large windows instead, along with smaller, strategic mirror placements, enhancing light and space without overwhelming the decor.
Vinyl Furniture
Another decorative trend from the 1970s that has thankfully disappeared is vinyl furniture. While it was undeniably a cost-effective and durable option, its vinyl layer would crack and peel rather quickly. These days, our modern furniture makes use of more durable materials instead, such as leather or high-quality fabric upholstery that offers comfort, style, and longevity.
Orange and Brown Color Scheme
For some strange reason, orange and brown were the dominant color scheme in the 70s, and it was included in just about everything. These days that would feel completely bizarre, with the earthy palette being considered outdated and unappealing. Homeowners prefer lighter, more versatile colors like blues, grays, and neutrals to create a fresher and more inviting space.
Velvet Furniture
In hindsight, the only thing worse than vinyl furniture was velvet furniture, a staple of any ‘70s home. At the time, its plush texture and rich colors seemed glamorous, but it was seriously challenging to maintain and clean. If you discovered velvet in any form within a modern home, you’d instantly feel thrown back into the era of hippies.
Mushroom Lamps
Everyone loved mushroom-shaped lamps in the ‘70s, which were usually made of plastic or ceramic. We still hold a soft spot for them, but their unique shape and bright colors just don’t fit with today’s more streamlined and sophisticated lighting designs. Contemporary homes prefer minimalist fixtures that blend seamlessly with their surroundings, which, while boring, is far more practical.
Lucite Furniture
Acrylic furniture, otherwise known as Lucite, was once celebrated for its modern, transparent look. It’s strange how things change, because these days, there’s nothing modern about it. It easily scratched and showed wear very quickly, so today, homeowners go for furniture that combines durability with aesthetic appeal, moving away from easily damaged materials like Lucite.
Metallic Wallpaper
The only thing more sickening than mirrored walls was metallic wallpaper, yet another bizarre home decor trend from the ‘70s. As the name suggests, this added a shiny, reflective quality to 70s interiors, but it also felt cold and overly flashy. Thankfully, people moved away from this trend pretty quickly, moving to floral wallpaper in the ‘80s, and eventually, the plain, minimalist painted walls of today.