14 Design Trends From the ’70s You Still See Today
The 1970s were a vibrant decade that left an indelible mark on interior design and architecture. While bell-bottoms and disco balls may have faded into nostalgic memories, many elements from this era continue to influence our homes, public spaces, and visual culture. The bold choices and experimental styles that defined the decade have proven remarkably resilient, evolving rather than disappearing completely.
Here is a list of 14 design elements from the 1970s that have maintained their relevance and continue to appear in contemporary spaces decades later.
Sunken Living Rooms
The conversation pit or sunken living room remains an architectural feature that captures imagination and creates intimate gathering spaces. These lowered seating areas, typically surrounded by steps, were designed to encourage face-to-face interaction in an era before smartphones and endless scrolling.
Today’s architects have reimagined this concept with modern materials and cleaner lines, while preserving the communal spirit that made these spaces so appealing originally.
Macramé and Fiber Art
The textured, handcrafted appeal of macramé has made a significant comeback. Originally adorning 1970s walls as plant hangers and wall decorations, today’s fiber art maintains the bohemian spirit while incorporating contemporary color palettes and more refined techniques.
Modern makers have elevated this craft from its hippie origins to sophisticated art pieces that add warmth and dimension to minimalist spaces.
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Earth Tones
The iconic burnt orange, harvest gold, and avocado green color scheme that dominated 1970s interiors has returned, albeit in more subtle interpretations. These warm, natural hues have been refreshed with complementary neutrals and more balanced applications.
Today’s designers incorporate these earthy colors through accent walls, furniture pieces, and textiles rather than the all-encompassing color schemes of the original era.
Houseplants Everywhere
The 1970s houseplant explosion never truly disappeared, but it has certainly experienced a renaissance. Spider plants, ferns, and the ever-popular monstera have reclaimed their status as essential design elements.
Modern plant parents continue the tradition of turning living spaces into indoor jungles, though today’s approach often features more curated collections displayed in contemporary planters rather than the sometimes chaotic greenery of the ’70s.
Rattan and Wicker Furniture
The natural, airy quality of rattan furniture has transcended its ’70s associations to become a design staple. What was once exclusively casual patio furniture has evolved into sophisticated indoor pieces.
Contemporary designers incorporate these materials into sleeker forms that maintain the organic texture while dropping the bulkier silhouettes of the original era.
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Open Floor Plans
In the 1970s, the ground-breaking idea of demolishing walls to make open, multifunctional areas started to gain popularity. Modern home design is still characterized by this basic move away from segmented living.
Today’s open concepts often include thoughtful zoning through furniture arrangement, lighting, and subtle level changes—a refined evolution of a trend that transformed how we experience domestic spaces.
Conversation Pits
The conversation pit, which was different from but connected to underground living rooms, was especially designed to create cozy seating configurations. The purpose of these comfortable, inward-facing furniture groups was to foster interaction and dialogue.
Although it usually sits at floor level rather than below it, the modern interpretation keeps the emphasis on encouraging interaction while establishing distinct social zones within larger open areas.
Wood Paneling
Wood paneling, which was formerly used to cover entire walls with thick, dark sheets, has been updated for modern settings. Lighter woods, vertical orientation, and partial wall treatments are more common in today’s applications, which provide warmth without having the cave-like vibe of its forerunners.
Although the execution has gotten more sophisticated and architectural, the organic feel is still appealing.
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Geometric Patterns
Bold, repeating geometrics adorned everything from wallpaper to carpeting during the ’70s. These eye-catching patterns have returned in more controlled applications—throw pillows, area rugs, and accent walls rather than entire rooms.
Modern interpretations often feature updated color palettes and varying scales that reference the original aesthetic while feeling fresh and deliberate.
Track Lighting
Originally revolutionary for its flexibility, track lighting systems have evolved from their clunky beginnings to become sleek fixtures in contemporary design. Today’s versions maintain the functionality of adjustable, directional lighting while incorporating more elegant profiles and improved technology.
The fundamental concept of adaptable overhead lighting continues to solve practical problems while contributing to overall design schemes.
Statement Mirrors
In the 1970s, large, unusually shaped mirrors that were frequently encircled by ornate frames or had smoked glass were focal points of interior design. Dramatic mirrors are still used as focal points in modern interiors, although they usually have more subdued frame and cleaner lines.
The objective is still the same—to increase perceived space and create visual interest—but the method is now more complex.
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Terrazzo
This composite material featuring chips of marble, quartz, or glass set in concrete experienced widespread use in the 1970s before falling out of favor. Its durability and visual interest have brought terrazzo back into contemporary spaces, appearing on countertops, flooring, and even as patterns on textiles and wallcoverings.
Modern applications often feature more controlled color palettes than their vibrant predecessors.
Brass and Gold Fixtures
The warm metallic tones that defined ’70s hardware and lighting have returned to replace the cool silver finishes that dominated intervening decades. Today’s brass and gold elements typically feature matte or brushed finishes rather than the high-polish versions of the original era.
These warmer metals add richness and depth to contemporary spaces when used with restraint.
Shag Carpeting
Perhaps the most iconic flooring of the 1970s, shag carpeting has returned in modified form. Today’s versions feature shorter, denser piles and are typically used as area rugs rather than wall-to-wall installations.
The tactile comfort and visual texture remain appealing, but contemporary applications avoid the maintenance challenges and overwhelming effect of the original full-room treatments.
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Living with Yesterday’s Tomorrow
The persistent presence of these 1970s design aspects is proof of their built-in appeal and flexibility. What was once the peak of cool has now been reinterpreted in response to current tastes so that the most worthwhile aspects are retained and less useful aspects are discarded.
As styles continue to evolve, these aspects remain as reminders that good ideas never truly vanish but rather continue to evolve in order to serve new purposes and preferences while keeping their core essence.
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