What were the colors of furniture in the 1970s?

What were the colors of furniture in the 1970s?

How good were the seventies? The 70s was a time of invention and impact in furniture design, which has left a mark to this day. We’ve listed some of the most iconic furniture styles of the seventies that were an out and out success during that era. Through Italian design and American popular culture, furniture in the 1970s combined both sophistication and the unique charm of the times. These influences were also evident in the design by IKEA during this period where modern and stylish selections were available by the company to be placed in homes. Some of the product lines that were presented in the 1970s were quite consistent in terms of style and trends that characterized the 1970s. The 1970s stylistic of furniture is still popular in Australia, especially in such cities as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, where one can find a massive number of retro and mid-century furniture, most of which is also made locally. The original designs of the furniture in the 1970s are frequently replicated in the modern versions that reproduce the appearance but change the materials and methods of construction. A spirit of the 1970s that permeated the design of furniture has remained a lingering presence in interior design and links the spaces of the present with the culture of that period.

The 70s Today: Color Trend That Never Tires

Furniture of the 1970s will always appeal. Nowadays we can incorporate its spirit in our rooms without turning it into a film set. A chrome floor lamp, glass coffee table or an ochre velvet sofa can give that without being excessive. Instead of making the space look cluttered, geometric prints on cushions or rugs can make a reference to the period. It is essential to combine the old with the new and come up with a room that feels warm yet has a modern feel. Contrary to being a reminder of the past, 1970s design still remains inspirational to the people who want their homes to be full of personality and style.

The forms of this time were not so much status involved but it was all about comfort and functionality and durability. IKEA was also selling a great variety of products in the 1970s to match different tastes and requirements. You can imagine, redecorate or have a trip to memory lane, with this guide to classic furniture styles of the 1970s.

A Retro, Patterned Couch

Grandma’s crazy, patterned fabric couch was an ideal inclusion to a living room with wood-panelled walls, orange shag carpet, cuckoo clock, a classic 1970s sofa that was the style of the place. These couches were of earthy colors and strong material and they frequently were purchased on lay away in order to last forever. Most of the sofas produced during this period were hand crafted and featured great arts and details. The 1970s culture focused on purchases of heirloom pieces of furniture that was to be used throughout life, both useful and emotional. They were designed to be durable, and these sofas would be used across generations to stay comfortable and beautiful. Sofas of the 1970s are still timeless designs that bring comfort and style together in the interior of the modern world.

Earthy Tones and Hues

Another common colour palette that recurs in photos of the 70s is potentially reminiscent of the exterior and the desert. Typical colour schemes were:

• Rusty or burnt orange
• Avocado green
• Orange-tinted yellows
• Harvest gold
• Warm reds
• Natural stone
• Dark blues
• Barn red
• Autumn brown

Practical materials, including plastic and lacquered particleboard, were also typical of furniture design in the 1970s, which was used to complement its bright and earthy colors. In the period, IKEA offered products that included modern products manufactured using these materials and demonstrated its innovation and price consciousness.

They adored colour and had no fear of using it to fill their whole P.U. homes! The deep blues counteracted the beiges and browns and other colours were similar to carpeted flooring and wood-panelling.

The Famous Bean Bag Chair

Ahh, the beanbag chair. This bag of filler is shapeless and comfortable and was in every house since 1968. These teardrop shaped bags commissioned by Sacco were quickly adopted by young adults. Initially made of quality leather, there are alternatives such as the velvet chair, which gives the same quality and durability with extra comfort and design.

What is so appealing about beanbags? They are cheap, comfortable, stylish and mobile and can be redecorated at a moment’s notice.

Ottomans for Everybody

Without an ottoman, you can not have a beanbag chair and a couch. The majority of living rooms had one, or frequently in front of any sitting space. Sit back, and put your feet on one of these square, useful monsters.

Carpet, Carpet, Everywhere

During the 1970s, carpet was everywhere, and frequently of a radiantly colored and bizarre nature, as was the furniture. Oranges, yellows and browns were usual, and the added advantage was that dirt and stains were not so noticeable.

Wood Panelling (On the Walls!)

Make it natural and unaffected by using wood panelling on the walls of your living room. It gave a solid appearance and touch, uniting all the colours in the room and dulling the funkiness, letting everything look as natural as possible.

Sit on a Futuristic Tulip Chair

The tulip chair surrounded lots of kitchen tables in the 1970s. Being an invention of plastic and aluminium, this plastic invention was conceived in 1956 and ended up in the homes of many people in the 70s. The maturity of the materials gives it the appearance of a single one, having a moulded plastic seat that is bonded to a durable Aluminium bottom. The best-known retro table in the market is the Tulip Table series, which has a one-pedestal base that matches very well with the chairs.

Far-Out, Bold Prints

Make it daring in eclectic and funky prints on your couch, pillows and carpet. Nature scenes, old clocks, excessive floral, animals, outside scenes, geometric shapes, paisley, flannel and others were used in couches. When it was not printed in bold, it was in an emphatic cloth. Combination of the two attracts bonus points!  

Groovy Shag Rugs!

The retro shag carpets were suitable in places where carpet could not be found. These small pieces of long material covered numerous floors, with the normal patterns or colours. Others were modelled in a circular form topped by a giant, golden sun.

Wicker Chair, Wicker There, Wicker Everywhere

In the 1960s and 70s, wicker has been re-popularised. People were crazy about the appearance and the feel of the old vintage wicker that was in the form of chairs,                                                                                         This material was rattan-based and light yet sturdy, and it fitted the colour palette. It was either found in the living room or the patio as outdoor furniture. Another aspect that displayed the adaptability to changing environments and lifestyle in the 1970s was the introduction of modular furniture that could be adapted as the environment and the way of life changed to become more versatile in home decor.

Vintage Furniture Styles of the 1970s: A Sounding Retrospective

History is able to repeat itself. The modern brands will start to use the power of the past and transfer it to the present. The same works with furniture styles of the 1970s. Interior designs of the 1970s still affect the modern interiors in the present combining retro appeal with modern sensibility. The popularity of the vintage furniture of the 1970s is also visible today, since they are regularly used in curatorial collections, as they seem to have a timeless value. The simplicity and functionality of the 1970s design makes it still popular. Retro and vintage furniture are available in lots of stores and redecorating with the original ones is not hard.