The list of things every 1970s house needed is a trip down memory lane. You’d remember these classic home design elements if you lived through the decade. There’s no doubt that these furnishings defined 1970s American homes.
The most popular flooring trend in the 70s was the furry, comfortable ‘Shag carpet.’ Most houses had it wall-to-wall, and everyone loved running their toes through the thick fibers of rug that came in bold colors like orange.
The 70s offered homeowners huge TVs. You’d better have enough floor space because these TVs were inside heavy wooden cabinets. The TV was furniture in the 70s, and many times the top of it was used for knick-knacks and decor items.
Another home staple was the statement stone fireplace. It usually took up the whole wall in a home and consisted of rough rock similar to a hunting lodge. The fireplace was the centerpiece of the 70s living room.
The most technological home item may not have been the alarm clock, but it was essential. The alarm clock sported numbers that flipped down when the minutes changed. They came with a fake wood veneer or a selection of bright 70s colors and made a cool clicking sound.
Patterned wallpaper covered the walls of every 70s home. In fact, a job as a wallpaper installer was very popular in this decade. The paper had big and bold geometric shapes in bright and contrasting colors. Some papers even made a mural of an island scene! Many homes had a sunken living room that would cause you to step down into a conversation pit meant to encourage socializing. Along with this trend, floating stairs also completed the 70s home, as seen in the ‘Brady Bunch’ TV home.
No 70s home would be complete without TV dinners. The molded plastic trays were the perfect size to hold a full-course meal. You could eat it while sitting on your rattan furniture after you watered your ferns! Or turn on your giant stereo system, housed in a large wooden cabinet, sit on your floral sofa, and call someone on your push-button phone in true 70s style.
