The 1970s marked a transformative era in interior design, especially within family rooms. Characterized by bold experimentation and a quest for comfort, this decade brought forth some unique, albeit questionable, design choices.
From the charm of vintage aesthetics to the overwhelming gaudy vibe, these trends were a mix of the good, the bad, and the incredibly tacky. As we take a trip down memory lane, let’s explore 24 decor trends that once graced every family room, offering a nostalgic yet humorous perspective on why they are now considered ugly.
1. The Rise of Shag Carpeting
In the 70s, shag carpeting was the ultimate symbol of comfort, covering family room floors in its thick, fluffy embrace. However, these carpets quickly revealed their shortcomings. They matted down underfoot, became havens for dust and pet hair, and required constant vacuuming. The effort to maintain them often overshadowed the comfort they promised.
Homeowners probably spent more time wrestling with their vacuums than relaxing on these carpets. Despite their allure, shag carpets soon became synonymous with high-maintenance living, prompting many to rethink their flooring choices.
2. Overuse of Dark Wood Paneling
Dark wood paneling was everywhere in the 70s, transforming family rooms into cozy dens. While intended to invoke warmth, it often resulted in spaces that felt dark and cavernous. The wood’s rich tones contributed to rooms that looked as if they belonged in a secluded cabin rather than suburban homes.
Many embraced this trend to feel closer to nature, albeit artificially. The overwhelming presence of wood eventually made many rooms feel dated, prompting a shift towards lighter, more modern interiors.
3. Avocado Green and Harvest Gold Appliances
Avocado green and harvest gold appliances were a hallmark of 70s design, infiltrating even family rooms with their bold hues. While these colors were initially seen as stylish, they quickly began to clash with other decor elements.
Attempting to blend with the kitchen, these appliances often stood out awkwardly. Today, they evoke nostalgia with a touch of cringe. Their once trendy appeal now seems garish, reminding us of a time when color coordination was less of a priority. Thankfully, this trend faded, making way for more subtle shades.
4. Macramé Mania
Macramé was the go-to DIY project in the 70s, adorning family room walls with intricate knotted designs. These creations added a touch of boho chic but often went overboard, appearing in places they didn’t belong. From wall hangings to plant holders, macramé was everywhere, its presence both artistic and overwhelming. Families embraced this craft with gusto, sometimes sacrificing aesthetic restraint. Despite its overuse, macramé held a certain charm, symbolizing the era’s spirit of creativity and handcraft. Its resurgence today is more measured, balancing nostalgia with modern sensibilities.
5. Bold, Mismatched Furniture
The 70s celebrated bold, mismatched furniture, resulting in family rooms filled with an eclectic assortment of styles. Floral-patterned sofas mingled with geometric chairs, creating a visual cacophony. This mix-and-match trend aimed for vibrancy but often veered into chaos. Rooms became wild tapestries of color and pattern, delighting some and bewildering others.
Despite the visual overload, these spaces exuded a certain whimsy. Today, mismatched decor is approached with more restraint, favoring cohesion over clashing aesthetics. Nonetheless, the 70s taught us to embrace the unexpected in design.
6. The Love of Orange
Orange was the dominant color of 70s family rooms, infusing spaces with a sense of energy and warmth. What was once seen as vibrant now feels overwhelming, especially in large doses. Rooms bathed in orange hues seemed lively but often bordered on chaotic.
This bold color choice marked the last era where orange held such sway beyond Halloween decor. Despite its decline, orange left a lasting impression, teaching us to approach color with caution. Today, it serves as a reminder of the exuberant spirit of 70s design.
7. Inexplicably Large Furniture
Family room furniture in the 70s often came in massive, overstuffed sizes, dominating spaces with their presence. These enormous sofas and chairs promised comfort but proved impractical for modern living. Capable of seating three people, they still managed to consume entire rooms.
While they embodied the era’s embrace of leisure, their size was often excessive. Today, furniture design prioritizes space efficiency, balancing comfort with practicality. The 70s, however, celebrated an abundance of space, encouraging relaxation in its most grandiose form.
8. Stained Glass Windows in Family Rooms
Stained glass windows found a surprising place in 70s family rooms, adding a touch of class with their colorful patterns. Intended to elevate the aesthetic, they often made rooms feel more like churches or funhouses. The kaleidoscopic effect of the glass contributed to an overall whimsical, if unsettling, atmosphere.
While initially admired for their beauty, stained glass installations soon became relics of a bygone era. New design trends favor simpler, more cohesive elements, leaving stained glass as a charming yet curious footnote in design history.
9. Faux Fireplaces and Mantels
Faux fireplaces, often featuring non-functional stoves or ceramic inserts, became common in 70s family rooms. These features aimed to add coziness but often leaned towards kitsch. Lacking the warmth of real fires, faux fireplaces were more about aesthetic appeal than practicality.
Their presence added a touch of charm, albeit artificial. While they didn’t provide actual heat, they symbolized a desire for comfort and homeliness. Fireplaces have evolved to balance form and function, leaving these faux relics as charming yet impractical memories.
10. Pattern Overload
The 70s embraced a pattern overload, filling family rooms with an array of clashing designs. Floral prints mingled with stripes and plaids, creating a dizzying effect. While intended to be vibrant, these combinations often felt chaotic, resembling circus tents more than cozy spaces.
Design professionals likely cringed at the sight, yet the audacity of pattern play remains a hallmark of the era. The 70s, however, celebrated boldness, forever influencing our approach to design.
11. Bright and Bold Wallpaper
Wallpaper in the 70s was all about boldness, with florals, geometrics, and even metallic finishes gracing family room walls. These choices, once fashionable, now appear out of place amid modern, subtle wall treatments. The wallpaper’s vivid designs added drama but often overwhelmed spaces.
Peeling corners were as common as the wallpaper itself, a testament to its widespread use. Despite its decline, the 70s wallpaper trend taught us to embrace risk in design.
12. Heavy, Ornate Lighting Fixtures
Lighting in the 70s family rooms was often heavy and ornate, featuring chandeliers with intricate detailing or large lamps with fringed shades. These fixtures were both statement pieces and sources of light, dominating the rooms they adorned. Their elaborate designs overwhelmed spaces, occasionally requiring structural support to install.
Despite their grandeur, these fixtures are now seen as relics of excessive design. Modern lighting embraces minimalism, focusing on function and form. The 70s, however, showcased an appreciation for ornamentation, balancing practicality with aesthetic opulence.
13. Glass Coffee Tables with Intricate Bases
Glass coffee tables in the 70s often featured intricate, sometimes bizarre, bases, making them focal points in family rooms. These tables, with their unusual shapes and elaborate designs, demanded attention, even when unnecessary.
While they added a touch of elegance, their size often dominated spaces. Hosting a dinner party atop one wouldn’t have been far-fetched. Today, coffee tables prioritize simplicity and function, yet the 70s taught us to appreciate the interplay of materials and design. These tables remain symbols of an era unafraid of bold statements.
14. Clashing Upholstery Fabrics
In the 70s, family rooms often featured an eclectic mix of upholstery fabrics, from leather to velvet to floral prints. This approach aimed for variety but often resulted in visual discord. The mix of textures and patterns created spaces that resembled fabric stores more than cohesive living areas.
These rooms exuded a certain vibrancy, encouraging a carefree approach to decor. Upholstery focuses on harmony and coordination, yet the 70s’ boldness in fabric choice remains an inspiration for those seeking uniqueness.
15. Heavy Drapes and Curtains
Thick, heavy drapes were a staple in 70s family rooms, often creating spaces that felt closed off and stuffy. These curtains, adorned in bold patterns or colors, blocked light and clashed with other decor elements. While they provided privacy, their overwhelming presence could stifle a room’s atmosphere.
The drapes excelled at blocking sunlight, but their style left much to be desired. Lighter, more airy window treatments prevail, yet the 70s taught us the importance of texture and warmth in design. Their legacy persists, albeit in a more refined form.
16. Large Framed Mirrors
Massive, ornately framed mirrors were a common sight in 70s family rooms, intended to reflect light and create an illusion of space. While they served a practical purpose, these mirrors often became vanity pieces in their own right, overshadowing other elements.
No matter their over-the-top nature, they added a touch of glamour and opulence. Mirrors are now used more sparingly, yet the 70s’ embrace of grandeur remains influential. These mirrors remind us of an era when bigger was better and reflection wasn’t just about light.
17. Leather Obsession
Leather was a material of choice in 70s decor, from couches to wall coverings, lending spaces a rugged, Western vibe. While durable, leather pieces often felt stiff and out of place in family rooms meant for relaxation.
The creaking sound of settling into a leather chair became familiar, adding a touch of humor to the decor. Despite its challenges, leather remains a symbol of luxury. Present day, it is used with more restraint, yet the 70s obsession with this material taught us about the balance between tradition and comfort.
18. Faux Plants Abundance
Faux plants were abundant in 70s family rooms, chosen for their low maintenance appeal. These artificial plants looked surprisingly lifelike, yet their presence created an unnatural vibe. While they didn’t require watering, they added little energy to the space, serving as mere decorative elements.
Despite their limitations, faux plants symbolized the era’s pursuit of convenience. Real plants are now favored for their ability to enhance wellness, yet the 70s taught us to appreciate the blend of nature and design, even if artificially.
19. Sculpted or Abstract Art Pieces
Abstract and sculpted art pieces were prominent in 70s family rooms, intended to convey modern sophistication. These artworks, with their bold shapes and colors, often felt out of place amid more traditional decor.
While many claimed to understand their meaning, the art’s true appeal lay in its ability to challenge norms. Art continues to inspire and provoke, yet the 70s taught us to embrace creativity without constraint. These pieces remind us of an era unafraid to push boundaries and provoke thought.
20. Pop Culture Memorabilia
Pop culture references filled 70s family rooms, from posters to themed decor, creating spaces that felt more like fan havens than relaxing areas. While these items celebrated the era’s icons, they often clashed with more traditional elements.
A Farrah Fawcett poster became as iconic as it was inevitable. Now, pop culture decor is curated with more care, yet the 70s taught us to celebrate passions openly. These items remind us of a time when decor was as much about personal expression as aesthetics.
21. Excessive Brass Use
Brass was a key material in 70s decor, from light fixtures to tables, saturating family rooms with its golden sheen. While once the gold standard, its overwhelming presence often overshadowed other elements.
Despite its excessive use, brass added a touch of elegance and warmth. This trend remains a testament to an era that celebrated opulence and shine in every corner of the home.
22. Elaborate Candle Holders
Elaborate candle holders were considered elegant touches in 70s family rooms, often larger than life. These pieces, though decorative, rarely complemented the casual, comfy vibe of the space. Despite their size, they added a sense of warmth and intimacy.
The abundance of candles created an atmosphere ripe for cozy gatherings. These day, candle decor is simpler, yet the 70s taught us to create ambiance with light and shadow. These holders remind us that even the smallest details can transform a room’s atmosphere.
23. Tacky Wall Clocks
Oversized wall clocks with elaborate designs were a staple in 70s family rooms, often distracting from other decor elements. These clocks, with their gold detailing, served as statement pieces rather than functional items. While they told time, they also told of a penchant for excess.
Clocks are now more subdued, yet the 70s taught us that timepieces can be art. These clocks remain symbols of an era that valued both form and function, blending the two in ways both bold and beautiful.
24. Beige and Brown Overload
Beige and brown dominated 70s family rooms, creating neutral palettes that often left spaces feeling dull and lifeless. Intended as calming, these colors occasionally rendered rooms akin to bowls of oatmeal. Despite their muted tones, they provided a backdrop for bolder elements.
Today, color palettes are more varied, yet the 70s taught us about the power of neutrals in creating balance. These colors remind us of an era that embraced simplicity, even as it explored the limits of design extravagance.