Home Design Flashback: The 1970s vs. Today

Home Design Flashback: The 1970s vs. Today

Plastic, vinyl and shag carpet…oh my! The 1970s had home trends all their own. If I had to describe the 70s in one word it would be groovy. Check out these top 70s home trends and how they compare with today’s styles:

Color Me Bright –

Well, I don’t know that I would personally describe the 70s color trends as great—but they were definitely bold.  Bright yellow, oranges, browns and plaids were all the rage and the brighter the better, with bonus points for pairing two of them together!  Avocado green walls with orange furniture…whew, that was groovy!   Harvest Gold and Avocado colored appliances were very in (and some of them even still work today!) Some of the “it” colors from the 70s are still popular today, but most often they are seen as standalone colors, not paired with each other—such as a bright yellow front door on an all-white house.

Look at that perfect shade of Avocado Green..haha! Photo Credit: Ugly House Photos

This is how I imagine rich people lived in the 70s. Not quite Avocado, but definitely 70s. Photo Credit via Ugly House Photos

Oh, the Patterns –

Wallpaper was very much a trend—from borders to wallpaper accent walls, and the more the better!  The patterns ranged from bright and busy floral patterns (with matching bedding and draperies, of course!) to woodsy mural-like scenes.  Mushrooms were definitely a favorite, for some reason (this really baffles me).  Wallpaper has been out of style for years, but is making a slow comeback with modern subdued color tone-on-tone prints and textured papers. No matter what decade you are in, one thing remains true when it comes to wallpaper: you will curse the wallpaper on two days—the day you put it up and the day you take it down.

Wallpaper Patterns for Days…Whoa! Sadly, no mushrooms in this one. Photo by Myself on location in Palestine TX recently.

Oh…my…plaidness….I’m at a loss for words! Photo credit via Ugly House Photos

Shag & Wood –

No article about the 1970s home design features would be complete without mentioning both shag carpet and wood paneling.  Both were very popular in the 1970s and were the height of trendy tastes.  Wood was in fashion, but not like it is today.  If you could clad it in paneling, that was the thing to do and the more shag carpet, the better; and the brighter, the groovier!  Built-in wood desks, bunk beds and seating areas were popular as well.  We generally scoff and roll our eyes at these expired trends now, but just think—we may be doing the same thing to granite countertops in 20 years!

This is the ultimate in 1970s luxury…bright colors, wood, textured shag carpet AND a sunken living room (also pretty sure its a split level design)…the 70s Holy Grail! Image via Woon Home.

Goodness, Groovyness!

It’s interesting to look back at what was hot and how it is so not now. Today’s hot trends may be just the same in the blink of an eye—but change is what keeps life interesting.   I’m not gonna lie, I’m grateful that most of these trends never became “classic”, but I suppose there’s a chance that orange shag carpet could one day be the “it” floor again.
 
 

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Lisa E. Priest loves a good throwback and is an East Texas REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com.