14 Backyard Features Every 70s Home Had
Back in the 1970s, backyards weren’t just outdoor spaces — they were extensions of the home where real living happened. Families practically lived outside during warm months, and homeowners went all-out creating these elaborate outdoor retreats. The features that showed up in these backyards, everything from practical necessities to pure fun, pretty much defined what suburban life looked like during the disco era.
Take a stroll through any neighborhood from that time, and the similarities between backyards would blow your mind. Here is a list of 14 backyard features that practically every 70s home had.
Above-Ground Pools
Nothing said “we’ve made it” quite like an above-ground pool sitting in the backyard. Sure, these blue-walled circular or oval pools ate up tons of yard space, but nobody cared.
They came with basic aluminum sides, vinyl liners, and not much else — maybe a ladder and cheap skimmer if you were lucky. Families would camp out around these things all summer long because they cost way less than digging up the yard for an in-ground version.
Wooden Swing Sets
Every dad in America seemed to have the same weekend project: building a massive wooden swing set from scratch. These weren’t the tiny metal things you see today but serious lumber constructions that could handle anything kids threw at them.
Multiple swings, maybe a trapeze bar, sometimes even a slide bolted to the side. The constant creaking of those chains became the background music of childhood summers.
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Redwood Decks
Redwood decking was expensive, but homeowners splurged on it anyway because it actually held up against weather and bugs. Most of these decks hugged the ground with simple rectangular layouts — built-in benches running around the edges were pretty standard.
That deep reddish-brown color looked amazing when it was fresh, though it faded to gray if you didn’t keep up with the maintenance.
Concrete Patios
Before anyone knew what a paver was, concrete ruled the patio world. Contractors would show up, pour a big rectangular slab, run a broom across it for texture, and call it done.
Some homeowners got creative later, painting the whole thing in those earthy 70s colors or trying their hand at stenciled patterns with concrete stain.
Charcoal Grills on Wheels
The round kettle grill on wheels was basically required equipment for any self-respecting homeowner. These came in those classic 70s colors — avocado green, harvest gold, or safe black for the conservative folks.
Saturday afternoons meant dad wrestling with lighter fluid and charcoal while the whole neighborhood filled with that distinctive barbecue smoke smell.
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Lawn Chairs
Those folding lawn chairs with the woven plastic seats showed up everywhere. Aluminum frames kept them light enough to drag around, while the colorful webbing came in wild stripe combinations that somehow worked with the era’s aesthetic.
Despite looking uncomfortable, these low-riding chairs were actually perfect for lounging by the pool or deck.
Outdoor Ashtrays
Big standing ashtrays were fixtures in most backyards back then — different times, different attitudes. These usually had sand-filled bases and little notches around the top for holding things.
Made from ceramic, metal, or glass, they were supposed to be decorative as well as functional. Hard to imagine now, but they were considered essential entertaining accessories.
Tiki Torches
Want to make your suburban backyard feel exotic? Stick some tiki torches around the patio. These bamboo or metal poles with their flickering flames created an instant atmosphere for evening parties.
The way they swayed slightly in the breeze made everything feel more tropical, even if you were just grilling burgers in Ohio.
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Vegetable Gardens
Most families had some kind of vegetable patch tucked into a corner of the yard. Nothing fancy — just neat rows of tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and herbs surrounded by chicken wire to keep the rabbits out.
Growing your own food made practical sense, and plenty of families actually grew enough to make a dent in their grocery bills.
Clotheslines
Hanging laundry outside was still normal in the 70s. Most backyards had lines strung between posts or from the house to a tree.
The weekly routine of hanging sheets and towels became second nature, and nothing beat that fresh-air smell you just can’t get from a dryer. Many setups used pulleys so you could hang everything from the comfort of your back porch.
Badminton Nets
These portable sets were perfect for family fun because you could set them up anywhere there was open grass. The lightweight poles made assembly easy, and badminton was gentle enough that grandparents could play with grandkids.
Plus, the whole set was cheap enough that most families could afford to have one sitting in the garage.
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Aluminum Awnings
Those retractable awnings were lifesavers during brutal summer heat. Hand-cranked models extended from the house to shade patios and decks, usually featuring bold striped fabric in colors that matched everything else from that era.
The whirring sound of someone cranking out their awning became the unofficial start of patio season.
Picnic Tables
Heavy wooden picnic tables anchored most backyards, built like tanks to survive years of family gatherings. The attached bench design meant seating for six or eight people, and these things were solid enough to handle birthday parties, holiday meals, and everything in between.
They basically became outdoor dining rooms during good weather.
Outdoor Thermometers
Big decorative thermometers found spots on deck railings, patio posts, or house walls where you could check them from inside. These often had colorful backgrounds and showed both Fahrenheit and Celsius readings, sometimes with cute weather sayings or graphics.
Checking the temperature became part of the morning routine for planning the day’s activities.
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The Era That Made Backyards Matter
Looking back, those elaborate 70s backyards captured something special about how families lived then. These spaces brought neighbors together, gave kids room to roam freely, and created gathering spots that pulled families away from their TVs.
Modern backyards might have fancier materials and high-tech features, but the 70s figured out the basics of outdoor living that we still follow today. That decade proved your backyard could be just as important as your living room — maybe more so during those long summer evenings when nobody wanted to go inside.
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