Decorating Guides
Can 1970s Decor Don’ts Be Turned Into Do’s?
Mixed plaids, wood paneling, BarcaLoungers and more are finding their way into chic updated spaces
I’ve been watching I’m Dying Up Here, a Showtime series that centers on a comedy club in Los Angeles in the 1970s. As a Gen-Xer, I remember the era from a child’s perspective, and a lot of the decor was so bad that I still remember it. Through a nostalgic lens, though, there are elements of it that can be brilliant — with just a few design-savvy tweaks.
Orange and brown. This color combination dominated living rooms, dens, bedrooms and kitchens in the ’70s. Some of the photos make you swear you’d never dare combine the two. But they can also be incredibly chic together.
Ways to update:
Ways to update:
- Use ample amounts of cream tones.
- Mix in light, warm grays.
- Choose the right hues — for the browns, deep chocolates, gray-browns; for the oranges, try pumpkin, paprika or burnt sienna.
- Pay attention to textures; try velvet, leather, suede and cowhide.
Wood-paneled basement rec rooms. Dark paneling and peel-and-stick floor tiles were a big part of DIY basement finishing in the decade. But in a space that doesn’t get much natural light, the approach made for an even darker room that wasn’t particularly inviting.
Ways to update:
Ways to update:
- Use a lighter wood and finish — oak, pine, birch and grayish driftwood-like colors are good choices.
- Use soothing, bright, happy colors on furniture and accessories.
- Use light paint on other elements such as drywall and fireplaces.
Square Pepto pink bathroom tiles. Actually, the 4-by-4-inch pink tile trend started before the 1970s, but due to a lack of the renovation fever we now all seem to have, plenty of the tiles were still around. Pairing them with lovely brass and a streamlined modern sink updates the look.
Ways to update:
Homeowners Give the Pink Sink Some Love | Find pink bathroom tile
Ways to update:
- Use squares smaller or larger than 4 by 4 inches.
- Play with finishes — brass, wrought iron or pewter can change up the look.
- Stick with bright white for fixtures such as sinks and bathtubs.
Homeowners Give the Pink Sink Some Love | Find pink bathroom tile
The BarcaLounger. It’s a trademarked term that refers to cushy reclining chairs from Barcalo Manufacturing Co., which later became BarcaLounger. But it also was a household term and an icon. It was a big, bulky space hog and we all fought over who got to sit in it — because you cannot deny the comfort of one of these babies. Today’s recliners are much more stylish. And they’re still always the chair everyone wants to sit in.
Ways to update:
Browse recliner chairs
Ways to update:
- Choose a recliner that’s less bulky and more streamlined.
- Use updated fabrics.
- Consider options like a classic club-chair-inspired recliner (seen here) or something like a midcentury modern Milo Baughman.
Browse recliner chairs
Going mad for plaid. If you Google “70s decor,” you’ll see rooms that make you dizzy with their mix of crazy-colorful and clashing plaid patterns. Here, designer Betsy Burnham updated the look by choosing plaid’s less-busy cousin gingham for the curtains and wall covering, balancing the scales of the patterns and keeping them in a simple palette.
Ways to update:
Ways to update:
- Calm the patterns down.
- Stick with a limited color palette.
- Play with scale.
Op Art-inspired decor. While the look often came in a dizzying array of the aforementioned browns and oranges, black and white was also a classic graphic combo.
Ways to update:
Ways to update:
- Embrace high contrast.
- Stick with a playful balance of black and white.
- Try mixing in a classic pattern. (Here, the classic black and white is simply reversed.)
Tell us: Which elements from 1970s decor would you be willing to give a whirl and which ones are a hard pass? Or is the memory of that plaid on plaid on plaid rec room still too fresh? Please share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
Is Your Home Ready for a 1970s Revival?
10 Tips for Scoring Deals at Estate Sales
More
Is Your Home Ready for a 1970s Revival?
10 Tips for Scoring Deals at Estate Sales
Ways to update: