Seventies Furniture’s Back — Can You Handle It?
What a Time to be Alive 🕺.
Ahh the Seventies — the decade of festivals, mullets, tie dye, ponchos, free spirits and bell bottom pants. And the great news is, ALL of these trends are making their way back into mainstream fashion. Okay maybe not all of them… thankfully it’s pretty safe to say that the mullet will not be making a comeback any time soon.
Music in the Seventies (literally!) rocked. Swedish pop band ABBA graced the charts, Glam Rockers (AKA Slade) graced the Top of The Pops stage, the 1977 Royal celebration took place with street parties being thrown far and wide and the Sex Pistols released one of the most famous albums of all time; God Save The Queen.
But what about the interiors? Trust me, they didn’t disappoint…
Earthy Tones
When you think of the Seventies, you may think bright, neon colours and psychedelic patterns right? It was actually pretty much the opposite! Seventies colour schemes were relatively toned down in comparison to the sixties. Avocado Green and Harvest Gold were important colours (especially in appliances), and were frequently mixed with more gentle versions of sixties orange. Primary colours, often seen in the more futuristic pieces of the period (such as moulded plastic furniture), added a playful element to the overall palette of the decade.
Back to Nature
The Sixties was the real start of the flower power era and this continued well into the Seventies, really cementing the move back to nature. However, instead of bold psychedelic prints, it was a period of Victorian inspired pattern in order to appeal to the mass markets. Nature not only inspired the fabrics, it was also seen in the furniture. The rise in popularity of Boho saw an influx of the use of natural materials such as bamboo and wicker. Macrame (a form of textile which is produced using knotting, rather than weaving or knitting techniques) was commonly seen in most interiors and contributed to the natural look of the Seventies.
The Shaggy Rug
In the Seventies, the shag-pile rug was the coolest of the cool, the height of luxury and comfort. Initially brought over from the middle east, these carpets graced the UK homes in the late Sixties and early Seventies, fitting hand in hand with the, shall we say, “more out there” fashion sense of the day. And now it’s making a comeback after the the Noughties affair with hardwood flooring, bringing warmth and texture back into our lives!
Lets go Boho
From peacock chairs to Moroccan rugs, this hippie inspired movement is soaring back into fashion. We are seeing a huge increase in both wicker and bamboo furniture being sold across the UK. When trying to achieve this look, add lots of natural elements and bright colours. Hanging plants, hand knotted rugs and light wooden furniture are three key elements to complete the Boho look. For plants, Ikea has a great selection, for both furniture and rugs visit your local auction, or have a browse online and see what you can unearth!
Flower power!
People were certainly not afraid of prints in the 1970’s. Large, bright flowers, plaid, paisley and other abstract graphic patterns were on everything from walls to bedspreads. The flower trend is very much like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it, and if you are one of the many people who do love it — embrace it! If you prefer something a little more subtle, then why not invest in a Seventies dinner service? J & G Meakin produced some amazing sets which can be bought for as little as £150.00, less than half the price you’d have to pay for a modern equivalent!
So it’s obvious you can’t keep a stylish decade down — no matter what they used to say about the Seventies! And if you love this era as much as I do, embrace this returning trend in your own home. Be savvy with your buying and be careful with clashing colours or fabrics! Invest in true period pieces and try to buy design classics or named pieces, these are the pieces which could prove a sound investment for you in the future. Most of all though, have fun experimenting with different colours, patterns and materials! 😁👍
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My name is James Broad, antique & curio enthusiast turned entrepreneur. I buy, restore & sell beautiful things for homes & commercial interiors. For more information, check out my About Me page; for products, have a look at my Inventory & for anything else, well, just click on the big CONTACT button.