The 70s decade has made a huge comeback in interior design with several signature styles and elements coming back into trend. From bold colors and patterns to natural elements and minimalism, this blog post explores the top 10 major 70s design trends that are popular once again.
- Bold Colors and Geometric Patterns
- Macrame Plant Holders
- Rattan and Wicker Furniture
- Terrazzo Floors and Surfaces
- Boho Chic Style
- Floor Plants
- Brass and Gold Accents
- Shag Rugs
- Brown Color Palette
- Minimalist Furnishings
The Comeback of Retro 70s Interior Design
The 1970s design era has made a major revival over the past few years. Many signature elements from 70s home décor have circled back into mainstream trends recently. From bold, psychedelic patterns to earthy bohemian styles, several iconic aspects of 70s interior design have become unexpectedly popular again. Much of this retro comeback links back to a rising appreciation for maximalism, eclecticism, and embracing playful vibrance within home interiors. After years filled with neutral, muted minimalist design schemes dominating the interior world, people have started craving more personality and flair. The funky 70s design decade offers plenty of statement details perfect for sparking joy and liveliness. Beyond just a spark of fun retro nostalgia, 70s trends also align with other rising interior preferences like incorporating more plants, natural materials, textures, and globally-inspired designs. The 70s embraced each of those concepts wholeheartedly. With a blending of bold artistic expression, global patterns and cultural motifs, plentiful houseplants, macrame, rattan, wicker, and other natural materials, 70s style endorsed several elements already circulating back into mainstream interior design. As many home decorators and designers turn to decades past for fresh inspiration, the 1970s offer an abundance of daring styles and charming vintage allure worth revisiting. From a resurgence of terrazzo floors to the comeback of shag pile rugs, let’s explore some of the biggest 70’s inspired interior design trends.
1. Bold Colors and Geometric Patterns
Easily one of the most quintessential 70s design elements, bold colors and graphic prints have flooded back into home interiors recently. Psychedelic patterns, optical illusions, mod shapes, and vibrant color combinations epitomized so much of the eye-catching maximalist style prominent in the 70s. Interior designers today have reignited appreciation for embracing vivid colors, dynamic patterns, and geometric designs within living spaces. Many modern homes now sport wallpaper or painted murals with kaleidoscopic shapes, optical illusions, or Memphis style patterns as an ode to far-out 70s style. Likewise, bright colors like burnt orange, mustard yellow, avocado green, fuchsia, and turquoise blue make bold statements across all types of decor from furniture to throw pillows. The 70s penchant for combining contrasting bright colors also inspires more daring and eclectic color pairing instead of playing it safe with neutral schemes. If you adore attention-grabbing colors and graphic prints, channel your inner 70s flower child and experiment with striking geometric wallpaper, brightly colored furniture pieces, or rainbow-hued woven accents.
2. Macrame Plant Holders
Macrame enjoyed immense popularity back in 70s interior design, often spotted hanging from walls or ceilings to hold plants. Almost fifty years later, the bohemian style craft has circled back in vogue once more. Adorning living spaces and porches with handmade macrame continues rising exponentially in modern homes. The textured, natural fiber art pairs nicely with hanging ferns, ivy, spider plants, cacti, and other varieties blooming in macrame baskets or wall hangings. Beyond the decorative allure, the comeback of macrame also ties to increased desire for more houseplants and focus on vertical gardening. With many homes having limited horizontal space, utilizing walls and high shelves for extra greenery makes sense. Macrame provides an excellent vessel for building out a vertical indoor garden with its array of beautiful woven holders. The bohemian handicraft also harmonizes beautifully with other earthy interior additions like rattan furniture, woven wall hangings, linen fabrics, and wood accents. To bring more 70s character into your interior design, try adorning your home with living wall panels, hanging macrame shelves, or macrame plant holders in windows or porches for peaceful greenery.
3. Rattan and Wicker Furniture
Natural fiber furniture continues its strong comeback thanks to 70s nostalgia and appreciation for biophilic design. Pieces made from rattan, wicker, bamboo, jute, and other organic materials align with greater desire for environmental sustainability and bringing nature’s textures indoors. The 70s incorporated plenty of these natural handmade furnishings which have circulated back into mainstream popularity. In particular, both rattan and wicker styles provide artisanal texture and warmth to living spaces with their beautiful woven patterns. Light and airy curved silhouettes typical of 70s rattan furnishings feel chic yet relaxed. These organic pieces add bohemian personality and cozy charm perfect for breezy boho interior motifs. Beyond chairs and settees, rattan and wicker pendant lights or room dividers infuse more sculptural definition. For peaceful tropical inspiration, try rattan peacock chairs, woven hamper baskets, or a handcrafted wicker hammock. The textural allure and sustainable properties of these natural fiber pieces make rattan and wicker smart sustainable options for 70s-inspired interiors.
4. Terrazzo Floors and Surfaces
Among the strongest 70s inspired design trends rising into the spotlight again is terrazzo. The speckled material comprised of concrete matrix mixed with chips of marble or quartz enjoyed immense favor as flooring in the decade of disco. Recently, terrazzo has adorned everything from floors to walls to furniture with its funky flecked aesthetic. Designers today utilize more eco-friendly approaches for modern terrazzo but still achieve the same vibrant, artsy vibe. Vivacious colors like ruby red, emerald green, cobalt blue, and sunshine yellow capture attention when applied across floors, kitchen backsplashes, bathroom vanities, tabletops, and beyond. The colorful aggregate material aligns with 70s penchant for bold hues and visually interesting surfaces. For far-out floral inspiration, try laying peaks of yellow and pink terrazzo floors. Or install a vibrant blue backsplash with flecks of teal and pearl for oceanic energy similar to all the sunken, curved conversation pits iconic in 70s interior design magazines.
5. Boho Chic Style
The rise of boho chic décor today links to 70s affection for global bazaar inspiration and handcrafted textural details. Flowy macrame hangings, Indian block print pillows, Kilim rugs, and rag woven baskets epitomize the earthy richness prominent in 70s interiors. Boho style also heavily embraced living walls with abundant greenery, akin to 70s favor for indoor plants. Many modern designers bring in these globe-trotting details like tasseled poufs, ceramic garden stools, or hand-painted pottery for free-spirited refinement. Accents like beaded curtains, cowhide rugs, and embroidered tapestries maintain 70s nomadic charm. Try laying Turkish Kilim rugs as energetic floor coverings or displaying colorful hookah pipes and mosaic garden lanterns for exotic flair. The bold patterns, artisanal craftsmanship, and globally eclectic accents in boho décor beautifully revive the wanderlust-infused essence of 1970s style.
6. Floor Plants
Houseplants already dominate huge popularity in contemporary interior design. Yet the modern houseplant obsession mirrors strong 70s feelings for indoor gardening and keeping abundant floor plants. During the “Me Decade”, homes spotlighted houseplants everywhere from hanging ferns to potted palms to the iconic mounted wooden slab with cascading spider plants prevalent in 70s designs. The 70s craze for houseplants links to greater desire for bringing nature indoors along with believing in the mental and even spiritual benefits of keeping living plants in the home. Their peace-sign era leaned into holistic wellness and the serenity houseplants can foster. For similar reasons, modern interior design still celebrates welcoming more indoor plants that uplift spaces with natural energy, fresh oxygen circulation, and living positive vibes. Try accenting your interior with an iconic 70s wooden slab wall planter, curating a lush fiddle leaf fig next to breezy palm fronds, or lining bookshelves with cheerful succulents. As long as houseplants keep thriving in popularity, they nod to 70s interior penchant for embracing indoor gardening.
7. Brass and Gold Accents
Glam touches of metallic shine tie back to 70s flair for splashing shimmering accents across interiors. Gold and brass décor elements like geometric sconces, sculptural pendants, or gilded table legs catch light beautifully. Luxe metals pair strikingly with many other 70s interior trends too like accompanying vibrant jewel-toned velvet furniture, terrazzo surfaces, or even houseplants for sophisticated biophilic allure. Lean into posh 70s glitz by installing a brass palm tree floor lamp, laying a marble and brass geometric coffee table, or topping a console table with Art Deco inspired malachite table lamps for retro flair. Metallic pizzazz easily harmonizes with other playful 70s patterns and textures too.
8. Shag Rugs
Shag rugs have danced back into the limelight again thanks to 70s revival adoration. As one of the most iconic interior items from the decade, plush shag pile carpets feel irresistibly cozy and nostalgic. The textured floor coverings exude free-spirited flair in an array of colors from graphic black-and-white to bright rainbow hues perfect for polychromatic spaces. Fluffy shag rugs have a playful kitsch quality while still offering visual interest with all their height variations from long to short fibers. They sprinkle personality across floors in ways sleek, flat rugs cannot. Play up a shag rug’s pop art quality by positioning one underneath a sharp black-framed bubble chair. Or try a bright purple one housing a woven egg chair for ultra 70’s lounge space. Lean into their funky vibrancy by coordinating colors with equally daring wall murals or furniture choices.
9. Brown Color Palette
While many design lovers first think of bright colors and patterns regarding 70s style, earthy hues like brown also widely permeated décor in the decade. Warm woody tones like chocolate, caramel, tan, cedar, and walnut colored furnishings and finishes brought natural depth and coziness to interiors. The earthy color palette often intermixed with those iconic greens like sage, avocado, and moss for balanced, livable designs. In current interiors, shades of brown enjoy renewed interest for their flexible warmth and textural qualities. Chocolate brown plays well neutrally while still offering more soul than basic beige. Designers might pick caramel-hued beds or walnut-stained nightstands as warmer alternatives to stark gray and white schemes. Accent out a living space in lush 70s style with an olive chevron area rug, macrame woven wall hangings in mocha hues, woven rattan barrel stools, and terra cotta vases full of trailing ivy. Keep finishes relaxed with cedar beams, unfinished teak furnishings, or matte pottery. The 70s favored textures and tactile allure stand out beautifully in earthy, brown color schemes.
10. Minimalist Furnishings
While many visuals of 70s interiors showcase bright colors and cheeky graphic prints, the decade also seeded affection for pared-back minimalism. Japandi style finds roots in 70s interior design through muted palettes, clean lines, and ample negative space as an artistic style flourished. Modern furnishings today embrace those streamlined, uncluttered qualities popularized back then. However, 70s style minimalism maintained warmth through natural materials and bringing nature indoors rather than stark, cold aesthetics. For similar balanced designs now, try open wood plank shelving staggered elegantly on walls and flooded with cascading spider plants. Use Japandi style swivel armchairs around a live edge hairpin coffee table. Opt for muted neutral fabrics like stonewashed linen paired with rattan furnishings. The 70s emphasized simplicity as a calming contrast to maximalism. When pared down through softer textures and hints of greenery, minimalist spaces channel beautiful 1970s energy.
Hire Interior x Design for 70s Inspired Interiors in Gurgaon
If you love the funky charm of 70s interior design and want to incorporate those vibrant retro details into your home, Interior x Design offers exceptional 70s inspired interior design services in Gurgaon. Their talented team of designers fully understand the iconic styles and elements that made 70s décor so artistic and livable. They can blend the best spirit of 70s patterns, textures, colors, and shapes into holistic interior design schemes customized specifically for your unique personality and home architecture. From swinging macrame hanging planters to kaleidoscopic geometric murals, Floor x Design helps translate your favorite far out 70s trends into a coherent design narrative. They also incorporate eco-conscious principles for sustainability so you can rock timeless 70s style and align with today’s environmental considerations. For groovy 70s inspired interior design in Gurgaon that sparks creativity and feels like home, contact Interior x Design today! Their passionately creative designers adore channeling retro flair into one-of-a-kind interiors.
