70s Interior Design: Do’s and Don’ts of the Era’s Iconic Chic Style

How to Pull Off Lush and Super-Comfy 70s Home Decor  

When it comes to decor, the first two decades of the twenty-first century have been pretty empty: sparse rooms, bare floors, and white everything has dominated the interior design landscape. So, here in 2024, it’s about time for plush, lush, comfortable 70s interior design to come, crash-landing into our lives like a Star Man – bringing fun and color. But wait – before you head off to the vintage stores to scoop up absolutely everything from the 70s section, there are a few tips and tricks to bear in mind if you want to do this thing in style. Here’s our definitive list of dos and don’ts for this nifty vintage trend. 

70s Interior Design: What to Do With Gusto!

Here’s your official green light for the best in retro living…

Cool Geo Patterns

One of the most fun things about the seventies revival is the geometric 70s wall decor and fabric designs you can splash about the place. If you feel dedicated, go full-on with geometric wall decor – just one or two walls work fine if you feel shy – or if you are still experimenting, go for a shorter-term option, such as cushions and fabrics. Make sure the pattern size scales with your room so you don’t feel too disoriented! When it comes to colors, you can stick with classic retro shades of brown like caramel, chocolate, and latte – warm, calming, and, if you remember the seventies the first time around, very nostalgic!

Photo by Max Rahubovskiy from Pexels

Insight – Color is Everything: Tones like rust, avocado, earthy brown, and mustard yellow defined the 70s color palette. Consider pieces with these colors to create a subtler 70s atmosphere.

Soft fabrics

If there is one thing the seventies were great at, it was hugging you every time you sat down in front of the latest episode of Columbo. We are delighted at the return of soft, luxurious fabrics like corduroy and velvet – so inviting at the end of a long day. If you don’t want to change all your current furniture, you could find cushions and throws or even an on-point seventies bean bag to take the harder edges off your modern decor. But if you really want to indulge, a corduroy sofa is the ultimate in cozy, vintage living.

Rattan 

Easy-going, practical, and stylish – rattan was a popular furniture style in the seventies for a great reason. Rattan is named after a type of palm tree but has become shorthand for the fabulous furniture, shelving, and seating crafted from it for centuries, culminating in a rattan boom in the seventies. It can be anything from bamboo, cane, and willow, and as a result, it feels natural and exotic.

The key thing with 70s interior design, though, is not to overdo it – choose a rattan chair here, a shelf there – even go focal with a rattan coffee table centerpiece if you like – but do mix it up with other textures. When living with this fabulous stuff, regularly run a feather duster over its textured surface to stop the dust from settling into the grooves.

Photo by Katie Polansky from Unsplash

Insight – Think About Art: Along with your 70s furniture and decor, consider art pieces that will help maintain the vibe you’re going for. This can be as simple as posters or it could be paintings and prints that capture the spirit.

70s Decor: What Not to Do…

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing – here is what we recommend avoiding when doing 70s interior design.

Headache-Inducing Rooms

So, we have established that geometric 70s wall decor and unique patterns look great. Our advice is, don’t go too crazy with different colors and prints that cause a headache – you can use a little twenty-first-century understatedness in the mix. A combination of styles works amazingly, like a neutral wall with a piece of art that bursts with warm, retro earthy tones; perhaps add a faux animal print rug to your wooden floorboards – or why not introduce a bold design to your ceiling with a fab lampshade (what could be more retro than a giant lampshade?). The significant part of this mix-and-match approach is that you can have fun, experiment with some essential items, and build from there!

Shag Pile Carpet

This one has split opinions across the online interior design community – some people love the decadence of a soft rug under their feet after years of laminate flooring. Still, some feel that this is a step too far. For us, a shag pile carpet is something to avoid – certainly when it comes to the whole floor – unless you have the time and tools to keep this longhaired creature preened and clean, stick to a shorthaired geometric patterned or animal print rug. But if you want to feel like a true 70s-style Ron Burgundy legend, you could opt for a cozy little faux-sheep-skin rug before the fireplace and see how you get on. 

For More Info: Fresh Floor Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Remodel

Clutter 

Now that fifty years exist between us and the 1970s, we can use a little modern thinking to keep things in check. One of the things we are more enlightened about in 2024 is clutter. Thanks to many books and articles about decluttering your home for a much more fulfilled life, we can say a firm ‘no’ to anything that doesn’t make us happy or has no meaningful purpose. The seventies trend for nick-nacks can stay in that decade as far as we are concerned – we no longer have the time or the inclination to spend days cleaning fiddly items or feeling outnumbered by ornaments that do nothing for our feng shui.

Photo by Mick Haupt from Unsplash

Insight – Older isn’t Always Better: Vintage style doesn’t necessarily mean choosing vintage items. Older items can add character to your home but can be expensive and break easily. Look for 70s-inspired pieces rather than items from the 70s!

Interior Design Trends 2024: It’s all about vintage

In the end, seventies decor is about fun, being bold, being comfortable, and doing it your way – but if you can take one piece of advice away today, it would be to start with one essential item and build up. The great thing about the seventies home style was its desire to have fun in the company of other people – so bring friends around to lounge with you on your soft throws, have a drink next to your rattan coffee table, and feel like the retro-cool cat you are!

Related Article: Making the Most of Slow Decorating

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