14 Top Picks to Bringing Back 1970s Interior Design

What comes to mind when you think of 1970s interior design and decorating? We imagine that lava lamps, wood-effect and muted tones are high up there when conjuring up nostalgic thoughts of 1970s interiors.

For better or worse, the majority of us will have had some experience with 1970s design holdovers – through our childhood home or that of our grandparents – and we may also have been happy to have seen the muted brown tones, garish decor and psychedelic wallpapers confined to the 1970s. However, recent trends have seen 1970s-inspired design choices rise to the forefront once again.

What About the 1970s Was Fashionable?

The 1970s, as a direct holdover from the swinging 60s, was a time of funk, expression and abstraction, but with a slightly more mature flavour. Bold and eye-catching, but with an appreciation for function, cosiness and an acknowledgement of budgetary constraints, 1970s interior design was a definitive period of design and decor philosophy.

A period of unrestrained creativity, but an era that refined many of the vibrant elements and abstract artistry of the 60s, the 1970s was a time of unbridled boldness tempered with economic conservatism: many of the teenagers who were deeply involved in the flowery subculture of the 1960s had grown up, begun professional careers, created businesses and started their own families: smart sensibilities combined with youthful exuberance are very clear to see when looking at 1970s interior design, style and fashion.

Everything about the 1970s was meticulously designed to incorporate the fun, functionality and fashion of the time. Designers thought they were creating articles of the future, whilst maintaining the echoes of the past. Bean bag chairs, rattan furniture, patterned wallpaper and macramé were popular and fashionable for the time as they contributed to the autumnal, rustic colourways that were expected but complemented the economic austerity of the 1970s.

Is 1970s Interior Design Making a Comeback?

In a world where we now place more importance on environmental consciousness and a society that is somewhat burnt-out on the plastic, synthetic, urban style of the 1990s and early 2000s, homeowners are increasingly looking towards interior design that is inspired by the rustic, more naturalistic colour pallet of the 1970s.

Incorporating a 1970s sheen to your home interior decor can create a warmer, more lived-in and personalised feel as well as a less off-the-shelf, monolithic, designed-for-television design that looks great, but doesn’t feel welcoming or meant to be used as a living arrangement.

Are 1970s interior design quirks making a comeback in 2022? The answer to that question is a resounding yes.

14 Quintessential 1970s Interior Design Staples and Quirks

So, if we are to say that 1970s style is coming back and in a big way, what interior design cues can you take from that decade and use to spruce up your home? Here are 14 of our top pics.

1. Autumnal, Warm, Muted Colour Palette

It is impossible to talk about key interior design concepts from the 1970s without starting on the most fundamental of characteristics: the dark, rustic colour tones. The colourways didn’t just affect the living area or kitchen; instead, the entire home was laden with dark and muted tones, from dull pink downstairs toilets to an avocado-covered bathroom.

Although bathrooms have, thankfully, avoided a return to green, autumnal tones have noticeably made a comeback.

2. Lava Lamps

The marginal comeback of lava lamps that we saw back in the late 90s and early 2000s was, perhaps, a bit too soon to be considered anything more than a novelty. In 2022, the lava lamp can be seen as a great accompanying alternative to the common, traditional fluorescent lamp.

Why would a lava lamp offer a distinct advantage in 2022? Consider that we are now bombarded with bright lights from mobile phone screens, bright point-of-sale displays, more flat-screen TV sets than we know what to do with. With this in mind, the more subdued lighting emitted by the humble lava lamp can allow you to more easily relax, whilst looking infinitely cool doing so.

3. Rattan Furniture

Though rattan furniture may look as though it is intended to be consigned to patio duty, it became a staple in homes across the country during the 1970s. Complementing the earthy tones common at the time, lightweight but durable, comfortable and easy to relocate when conducting housework and chores, rattan furniture is highly versatile and went extremely well when paired with our next entry.

4. Macramé

The art of tying cords of fabric into hanging knots was hugely popular back in the 1970s. Not only did they provide a low-cost, super-creative way to personalise one’s home, but also added practical functionality for the hanging of houseplants and other decorative ornaments.

5. Fringe Elements

Fringe as a fashion and design statement was the go-to during the 1970s. Not only was a decent fringe appreciated as a hairstyle, but fringe also appeared on absolutely anything it could be attached to clothing, furniture, lampshades – nothing could escape the influence of elemental fringe aesthetics.

6. Globe Drinks Cabinet

Almost a cliche at this point, anybody familiar with spy movies – such as James Bond or famous lampoon, Austin Powers – will have seen drinks cabinets that are shaped like a model of the earth. A feature common to many homes across the UK during the 1970s, the globe drinks cabinet was typically used for spirits, gins, mixers and glass receptacles that were en vogue at the time.

7. Exposed Brick Walls

You will undoubtedly have seen exposed internal walls have made a comeback. The exposed brick wall can add an earthy, elemental feature wall that breaks up the design of your living whilst evoking nostalgic feelings of a freer, less restricted time in your life.

8. Floral Sofas

Popular 1970s upholstery was psychedelic to say the least: a far cry from the commonly muted, one-tone furniture of today. Complementing the loud, geometric wallpaper of the 1970s as much as it clashed, floral sofas were big and beautiful but easy to clean and prioritised comfort and longevity over appearance. They are begging you to sit down and get comfy.

A floral sofa would be the perfect accompaniment to your muted living room or glass room, adding a fine, but limited, sense of character and a dash of colour and adventure.

9. Stone Statement Fireplaces

Similar to the exposed brick walls that were hugely popular during the 1970s, these statements of intent were typically made from rough cuttings of rock and took up a large part of a room, offset by a feature fireplace.

10. Pendant Lights

Kitchens of the 1970s needed a good light source, particularly with all of the rustic tones and wood panelling. Pendant lights were huge orb light bulbs that emitted a great amount of lumination across the kitchen, allowing house parties and family get-togethers to be held without a hitch.

11. Psychedelic Wallpaper

A mainstay of the 1960s and 70s, you may wish to consider looking into some funky, psychedelic wallpaper – at least for a feature wall. With a few rolls of paper, wallpaper inspired by the bombastic colour usage of the 1970s can instantly refresh a room and give it the lease of life it needed, whilst giving you that zing of energy you required.

12. Colourful Kitchen Appliances

Do away with the monochrome kitchen utensils and embrace red, orange and duck-egg blue, inspired by 1970s interior design and kitchen mainstays. A surefire way to add some seasoning and a splash of colour to an altogether uniform kitchen design.

13. Retro-Inspired Patterns

If a psychedelic setup is too much, perhaps the use of geometric shapes will be your gateway to the world of the 1970s. Instead of loud colours, you may wish to incorporate artistic takes on geometric shapes, but via more subdued colourways.

14. Bathroom Glow

Instead of the gloomy avocado, bring the bold tones of the 1970s into your bathroom and start your day the right way. Combining bright pastel colours with geometric patterns can lean on the vintage influences of the 1970s, but the vibrancy of the swinging 60s.

Why not take a look at our article on 1980s interior design?

If you are looking to spruce up your home with plastering, suspended ceiling installation, or need some ideas as to how to incorporate some 1970s interior design elements with your living space, give AB Drylining a call, we are more than happy to assist you.