1. Bean bag chairs for crumpled comfort
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Back before we could all complain too much about our posture, bean bags were just the cool way to sit – and even though they’ve very much made a comeback, nothing beats those retro-style fabric patterns with a ton of them thrown in the ‘rec’ room for you and your friends!
2. Lava lamps for your zen 70’s vibe
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We know not to look directly at a lightbulb, but the lava lamp was the exception – you could not only comfortably watch this lamp for hours, but you were encouraged to. Seriously, we need this trend to come back because with all the smart lights these days, even they can’t create the vibes a lava lamp did!
3. Crocheted granny square blankets
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All crocheters these days will do granny squares to make retro blankets, but back then they were just ‘blankets’. There was no in between – there was always a spare bed in the other room with one of these blankets on it, and it was always one passed down through the generations and prized beyond measure!
4. So much wooden panelling
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In the 70s, you either had to combat with extremely textured walls, garish wallpaper or wooden panelling on every inch of wall! It was good news if you enjoyed that winter cabin vibe, but if you didn’t… well, even painting over them wasn’t going to do much.
5. Shag carpeting (including the walls!)
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Say what you like about wood panelling, but it definitely wasn’t bad as shag carpeting. Some rooms even had it up the walls or on the ceiling; and let’s not even talk about shag carpet that was in the bathroom (including up the side of the bath…). It made home cleaning in the 70s a lot of fun…
6. A TV so chonky it doubled as a coffee table
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We obviously wouldn’t encourage putting things on the top of your TV, especially not liquids, but back then it was a free for all because it was just an extra shelf! These days you couldn’t even dream of using that ultra thin TV frame for extra storage to display your knick-knacks.
7. Alarm clocks you could physically smack for waking you up
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Complete with number flip design! Because there was nothing more satisfying in the 70s than launching your alarm clock onto the floor before the time of beeping iPhone alarms! And you best hope the power didn’t go out during the night and reset the clock… Fun times.
8. Floating staircases: a health and safety nightmare
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We understand why they might be appreciated in terms of architectural design, but really – being a kid in the 70s and running up and down these things was an assault course in itself. Not to mention they were the worst after a scary movie when you didn’t want something to grab your legs!
9. A huge stone surround for the fireplace
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Most homes in the 70s had a big fireplace, and it was usually always accompanied by a huge stone surround, usually going up the whole chimney breast. Most people these days would want a feature wall around the fire, but the 70s didn’t give you much choice about it with those massive bricks!
10. Push button landlines: a time before touchscreens!
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The 70s were still all about using old-fashioned landlines hooked up to the house line, and usually in different rooms so you could eavesdrop on your sibling’s friend calling up. The push buttons replacing the rotary phones was something new – and rather satisfying to push, let’s be honest!
11. Huge stereo systems to wake the neighbours
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If there’s one thing the 70s were known for in the UK, it was good music – and you had to blast it out on the family’s huge stereo system in the living room, that your dad usually hogged. An official Leaning Tower of Stereo, it was also complete with huge speakers to finish the look.
12. Fringes: seriously, they were everywhere
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We aren’t talking about 70’s hairstyles, we’re talking about fringe fabric that was everywhere in a 70s home! Fringed lamps were the done thing, fringes along the bottom of the sofa fabric were the norm, and fringes along cushions and bedsheets could be found in every bedroom.
13. Fibre optic lamps: before they were cool
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Fibre optic has definitely made a comeback in modern times, especially with Christmas trees and festive lighting. But back in the 70s, they were just regular lamps – and even then, they seemed ahead of their time! Just like lava lamps, fibre optic lamps were truly magical in a 70’s family living room. And fun to touch!
14. Pod chairs to feel like a Bond villain
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70’s seating was truly elite – first we had bean bags, then we had these? There was nothing better than snuggling up in your own pod chair with a book, feeling like you were protected from every side, or spinning it around the other way so you could scare your sibling on the way to the kitchen.
15. Clunky typewriters to wake the whole house
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Retro typewriters and keyboards are making a comeback, and with good reason! Is there anything more satisfying than those clunky buttons? Provided you don’t have a roommate or family member to disturb – or even a neighbour with sensitive hearing – you’re good to go.
16. Record players
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If you didn’t have a tower stereo – or maybe you had one as well – you definitely had a vinyl player in the 70’s, as well as a huge collection of dusty records on a shelf. Every home in the 70s had to have at least one player that either one family member would hog, or you’d all neglect because life gets busy!
17. A drawer full of cassette tapes
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And, of course, vinyl wasn’t the only music offering in the 70s – everyone had at least one drawer full of their most treasured hits on cassette tapes, and especially since these were a go-to for playing in the car before the time of Bluetooth, or even CD players in the family runaround.
18. Ceramic fondue pots for family meals
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The 70s also seemed to be very big on fondue – and ceramic fondue pots at that. Whether it was your New Year’s tradition to have family fondue, or maybe your grandparents just had a ceramic pot they always like to use, many happy memories were made over a delicious helping of melted cheese!
19. Video recorders you could never be bothered to carry around
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Before you could make TikTok edits embarrassing your family with the latest trends, you had to depend on a camera that weighed more than your own body weight to make home movies, or perhaps your own video diary (or audition tape if you wanted to make it big in Hollywood).
20. Coffeemakers bigger than your kitchen
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Coffee makers have certainly gone through many designs over the years, but we’re relieved coffee is still as much a big deal now as it was in the 70s! The trouble with coffee machines back then was that they weren’t sleek and compact like they usually are these days. You had to have a whole kitchen counter spare to fit one of these bad boys!
