40 Things Every House in the 70s Had That No One Sees Today

James Loftus - August 7, 2021

Doesn’t it feel like the 70s were a more relaxed and perhaps even mellower era? Disco ruled the airwaves, Jaws terrified movie audiences, and roller skating was all the rage. Houses were one-story ranch-style, or split level and filled with never-before seen design choices (most of which have been never seen again). Regardless of whether they were good, bad, or simply tacky, home interiors of that time were undeniably distinctive. A little nostalgia is never a bad thing, so let’s step inside the time machine and into a typical 70s pad. Just a warning, you might want to put on your sunglasses first!

Linoleum Floors

Woman Drinking Coffee at a Salon — Image via Getty Images

In the 70s, patterned linoleum was the go-to choice for kitchen and bathroom flooring, widely favored by working mothers for its resilience and effortless maintenance.

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Bean Bag Chairs

Teenagers sitting on bean bag and record albums — Image via Getty Images

Bean bag chairs were an essential addition to any 70s home, and no basement was truly complete without a few of them scattered around. Sure, they were comfy, but how did anyone ever get out of them?

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Wood Paneling

Retro Televison in Wood Paneled Room — Image via Getty Images

While you may still come across wood paneling today, it’s not the same as the popular beadboard or shiplap styles. In the 70s, wood paneling was typically crafted from materials other than real wood and featured an unmistakably artificial grain pattern.

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Crocheted Blankets

1970s Crochet Background — Image via Getty Images

These throws were crocheted in a repeating “granny” square pattern, using colors that clashed. Typically fashioned from rough wool, these blankets were more suitable for being thrown over the back of a couch than for snuggling under during a movie night.

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Lava Lamps

Jack Daniel's Motel No. 7 Preview on November 10, 2015 — Image via Getty Images

While the mesmerizing lava lamp rose to prominence in the 60s, it remained a popular fixture well into the late 1970s.

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Shag Carpeting

70's Orange Shag Rug, Close UP — Image via Getty Images

When it comes to interior design trends of the 1970s, wall-to-wall shag carpeting in bold, attention-grabbing hues like bright orange stands out as the most iconic.

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Huge TVs

In the 1970s, televisions used to be bulky pieces of furniture that not only served the purpose of watching shows like The Brady Bunch but also provided a surface for displaying knickknacks. It is quite a contrast to the flat and lightweight televisions that can be mounted on walls today.

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Statement Stone Fireplaces

1970s era living room — Image via Getty Images

This design trend, typically made of rough rock and occupying an entire wall, could easily blend in with the décor of a hunting lodge.

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Alarm Clocks

In the pre-digital era, individuals used to wake up to alarm clocks featuring flipping numbers. These clocks were available in the trendy fake wood veneer or vibrant hues reminiscent of the 1970s, and produced a satisfying clicking noise.

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Patterned Paper

Vintage old radio on sixties, seventies wallpaper and furniture — Image via Getty Images

In case the walls of the 1970s were not covered in wood paneling, they were adorned with paper displaying striking geometric patterns in contrasting, vivid hues.

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Sunken Living Rooms

Sunken seating area and exposed stone fireplace of Palm Springs home — Image via Getty Images

The 70s were a neighborly time, and conversation pits were meant to encourage socializing. The seating areas were situated slightly lower than the rest of the room, creating a snug and welcoming atmosphere, provided that your guests didn’t trip and hurt themselves getting to them.

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Floating Stairs

The floating staircase was a prominent feature on the stylish set of The Brady Bunch. Despite Mr. Brady’s profession as an architect, the stairs still appeared somewhat perilous.

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TV Dinners

Turkey, mashed potatoes and peas dinner on tray in front of TV — Image via Getty Images

Although many of us still indulge in eating while watching TV, do we do it with elegance, using precisely-sized molded plastic trays designed to hold our TV dinners?

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Rattan Furniture

Spacious living room with orange and blue accents — Image via Getty Images

In the 1970s, rattan furniture, which was previously limited to outdoor patios and similar areas, became a popular addition to living rooms and other indoor spaces. It did go rather well with all the macramé and ferns that started turning up everywhere…

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Floral Sofas

Christmas season — Image via Getty Images

Similar to wallpaper, upholstery in the 1970s was characterized by large, vibrant, eye-catching designs that were as busy as a bee in a sunflower field. But where wallpaper tended toward geometric shapes, furniture fabric was all about the florals.

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Push Button Phones

1970's Vintage phone with receiver off hook — Image via Getty Images

The push-button phone of the 1970s bridged the gap between the rotary phones of the past and the cell phones of today. It seemed lightning fast to dial compared to its predecessor.

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Stereo Systems

Stereo Equipment in a Living Room — Image via Getty Images

In the 70s, stereos were whole systems, some so intricate they rose in towers, up the wall. The contemporary equivalent, a small speaker that plays music from cell phones, cannot match up to it.

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Macramé Everything

Stylish and minimalistic boho interior of living room with wooden furnitures, gray macrame, rattan and elegant accessories. Botany home decor with a lot of plants. Bright and sunny space. Template. — Image via Getty Images

Macramé, which involved knotting cords together, was extremely popular in 1970s households and was utilized for various purposes ranging from potted-plant holders to decorative owl-shaped wall hangings.

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Colonial Furniture

A mirror in a hall. — Image via Getty Images

Perhaps due to the patriotism surrounding the Bicentennial, Colonial-style furniture experienced a resurgence in popularity, showcasing turned wood and other classic elements reminiscent of our ancestors’ preferences.

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Fringe Elements

A lamp on a side table — Image via Getty Images

Fringe was a trendy fashion element in the 1970s, not only as a hairstyle but also as a decorative feature on vests, ponchos, and more. Fringe turned up on lampshades, too, where it diffused light and helped create a mellow vibe, man.

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Radios

Vintage 60's 70's Clock Radio with floral wallpaper background orange — Image via Getty Images

In the era before internet and satellite radio, people in the 1970s listened to only AM and FM radio, using devices specifically designed for this purpose.

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Funky Lights

old-fashioned tv — Image via Getty Images

Hard to believe these weird little lamps with the colored filaments that glowed lit up everyone’s rec room back in the day, but they did.

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Pod Chairs

Der legendäre Ball Chair, auch Egg Chair genannt, in der BMW Welt in München — Image via Getty Images

No matter what you refer to them as – ball chairs, pod chairs, egg chairs, or globe chairs – these seats were exceptionally comfortable and snug.

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Popular Pottery

Whether due to the emergence of ceramic artists or the availability of kilns for hobbyists, pottery had gained popularity long before Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze got muddy with wet clay in Ghost. During the 1970s, ceramic lamps, vases, and various other items were prevalent in every home.

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Chrome Finishes

Property Interiors — Image via Getty Images

Despite the prevalence of earthy tones and hippie-inspired décor, the 1970s also embraced shine, particularly when it came to chrome. Chrome accents on furniture such as kitchen chair legs, coffee tables, and lamps added a touch of Studio 54-style glamour to the home.

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Typewriters

Undoubtedly, it’s more convenient to use the backspace key to correct an error, rather than resorting to whiteout. However, doesn’t anyone miss those clunky typewriters from the 1970s, even a little?

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Pyrex Dishes

Vintage Pyrex Mixing Bowl with Cake Ingredients — Image via Getty Images

While plain old see-through glass is still available, Pyrex casserole dishes and mixing bowls were available in vibrant and playful colors in the 1970s that added an element of festivity to your dining table.

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Record Players

music with vinyls — Image via Getty Images

Vinyl records, it’s sad to say, peaked in the 70s when ambitious “concept albums” like The Eagles’ Hotel California were released. However, according to experts, the sound produced by analog equipment is much warmer and richer than what can be achieved through digital means.

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Dark Tones

Close Up, Color Image of Retro Plaid Textile — Image via Getty Images

The muted, flat shades that were so popular in the 70s have endured, but it’s rare to see rooms nowadays adorned with colors like rust, sand, brick, harvest gold, and avocado all together. That’s probably a good thing, since taken together they tend to get a little…depressing.

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Exposed Brick

Renovated 70s architectural apartment with angled roofline — Image via Getty Images

Exposed brick was such a hit in the 70s that it seemed like everyone was living in a converted warehouse. Add in an angled roofline and its twice the time trip back.

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8-Tracks

With the exception of bell bottoms, there is little that is so iconically 70s as the 8-track. The plastic analog tape cartridges of the past are now long gone, and even Fleetwood Mac’s Greatest Hits is said to be the last 8-track from a highly successful band ever produced, but the legend lives on.

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Textured Walls

In the 70s, walls were adorned with various textures such as flocked or foiled paper, as well as textured plaster, creating an inviting ambiance that made you want to reach out and touch them.

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Vinyl Tablecloths

In the 70s, vinyl tablecloths weren’t just for outdoor use; they were commonly used to cover kitchen and dining room tables. Their easy-to-clean surface made them perfect for wiping up spills like Kool-Aid.

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Electric Slides

During the 70s, it was a customary practice to invite neighbors over for a slide show presentation of their vacation pictures upon their return.

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Rec Rooms

70s rec rooms were often located in basements, with dim lighting and perhaps even a bit of dampness, but the atmosphere was perfect for playing games like spin the bottle and stealing your first kiss.

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Concrete Patios

There was a certain look to patios in the 70s that has never been replicated. Back in the 70s, a simple patio consisted of a concrete slab, a few lightweight plastic lounge chairs, and perhaps a small grill, all made complete once Mom had applied a healthy coating of baby oil.

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Pendant Lights

In the 70s, glass pendant lamps with huge globes were the ultimate kitchen trend, especially when they came in orange.

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Fondue Pots

In the 70s, fondue pots were a popular choice for entertaining guests. However, the fun could quickly turn into a disaster if someone accidentally spilled melted cheese on themselves.

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Massive Coffeemakers

In this age of Keurig, it’s hard to believe that people in the 70s used such bulky machines to make coffee.

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Super 8s

In the pre-cell phone and pre-digital video camera era of the 70s, families would capture their everyday moments on Super 8 film and play it back on a cool home movie projector, often causing embarrassment to all involved.

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