The 1970s had some of the most memorable living room features. Textured walls, shag carpets, and designing spaces to house family reunions are some of the characteristics of living rooms from this decade. Sit back and relax while we remember features from this decade that created warm memories.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. The Beloved Console TV
- 2 2. Shag Carpeting in Bold Colors
- 3 3. The Macramé Plant Hangers
- 4 4. Wood Paneling Everywhere
- 5 5. The Family Record Player
- 6 6. The Conversation Pit
- 7 7. The Beanbag Chair Corner
- 8 8. The Afghan Throw Blanket
- 9 9. The Magazine Rack
- 10 10. The Lava Lamp Corner
- 11 11. The Family Board Game Cabinet
- 12 12. The Hanging Swag Lamp
- 13 13. The Vinyl Recliner
- 14 14. The Decorative Wall Clock
- 15 15. The Floor-Standing Ashtray
- 16 16. The Terrarium Display
1. The Beloved Console TV
When the living room was partially divided from the other rooms and had a large wooden TV console, many considered this a luxury. The wooden console was a piece of living room furniture, and it usually had some family photos displayed on it. Remember when we had to sit on the floor to watch the Carol burnett show and all the other prime time shows? Those living room TV sets didn’t have remote controls. Each family member had their own spot.
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2. Shag Carpeting in Bold Colors
70s household vacuum cleaners were like small motor units. They would get stuck in the shag carpet of the room. Those long fibers made cleaning the carpet require some effort. They were so long that we could literally rake our fingers through them, and of course, avoid any mom and dad restrictions while watching TV.
3. The Macramé Plant Hangers
Now iconic, the macramé plant hangers of the ’70s showcased healthy spider plants, wandering jews, and other houseplants. These twine masterpieces provided a natural element and bohemian touch to the home. Hanging from the ceiling, these creations were made by our moms, who spent hours on the elaborate dangling patterns.
4. Wood Paneling Everywhere
The rich, dark wood of the ’70s featured a real or faux wood veneer that provided a sophisticated, cozy, and den-like feel to the living room. This classic touch of faux wood design, paneling, and shiplap combined with clever lighting showcased the ideal setting for family gatherings and entertainment.
5. The Family Record Player
Family evenings were complete with music from our beloved record players. The warm, scratchy tones of the tube amplifier provided a soundtrack that no digital music can replicate. We listened to everything from John Denver to ABBA, and spent hours selecting records and delicately placing the needle.
6. The Conversation Pit
Some fortunate homes featured the ultimate architectural element of the seventies: the sunk conversation pit. This sunken living room area was a cozy little world with pillows and all for family discussions. It was our own unique world within the room.
7. The Beanbag Chair Corner
Who could forget that squishy, soft vinyl adult sized and kid sized bean bag chairs and how every 70’s living room had to have at least one? Who didn’t want to lay on a large, squishy couch sized matchbox filled with tiny foam balls? Saturday morning cartoons were even better when you could lay in a bean bag that came in 3,218 colors and listen to the relaxing sound of the beads crunching as you moved.
8. The Afghan Throw Blanket
Those homes also had colorful, hand crocheted blankets that grandma made draped over the couch. The designer of a blanket with the cheery harvest gold, brown and orange zig zig pattern? Yeah, that one’s Grandma. Each blanket is an instant classic and completly 70’s so warming up for family movie night became even more snuggly with a hand made crochet afgan. Grandma put a lot of grandma love into the blankets and it showed.
9. The Magazine Rack
A wooden and or brass magazine rack filled with copies of Reader’s Digest, National Geographic, and TV Guide, and other periodicals that were 5 years old at the newest sat right next to Dad’s chair and was maybe the ndivison of pre-70’s internet. Each month a new copy of the encyclopieda of world knowledge was placed into the bin and it was the only source of info, news, and psycho crime drama in the entire house.
10. The Lava Lamp Corner
A living room that didn’t have a lava lamp was not a living room. Orange and red blobs were a fav for everyone as the hypnotic glowing blobs of pure lava fun would rise and fall creating new shapes every 4 seconds and the strange shapes float like molasses in a jar. The lava lamp was the only light source when late night tv shows were on.
11. The Family Board Game Cabinet
Video games became popular long after our family entertainment center turned into a cabinet store for board games. The cabinet was filled with Monopoly, Sorry, Life, and Yahtzee, which had seen better days from our numerous family game nights. The cabinet had engravings and carvings and appeared to be Danish modern.
12. The Hanging Swag Lamp
Swag lamps were the most sophisticated lamps from the 70’s and with their long chains and warm glass shades were the most versatile. They were usually placed over the dining table so the light they emitted would improve the room and the people in it. The glass was either textured or smooth and was always a 70’s color, such as grey, avocado, amber, and smoke.
13. The Vinyl Recliner
Dad’s chair was a reclining chair with a faux leather covering and was always placed at the best angle for viewing the television. These chairs came in a variety of colors but were always deep shades like burgundy or olive green. The seat would squeak when someone sat down and the lever on the side was worn down from countless adjustments. Anyone who was not Dad was not allowed to sit in Dad’s throne.
14. The Decorative Wall Clock
Starburst clocks and sunburst clocks were more than just devices for telling the time, they were also decorative. They were made of either gold or dark wood and had decorative rays extending outwards from the center in every direction, covering several feet of wall space. They ticked so quietly that it became part of the room’s ambiance.
15. The Floor-Standing Ashtray
A long time ago when we didn’t know as much about negative impacts of smoking, tall pedestal ashtrays were seen as ‘high class’ furnishings for any living room. Their weighted bases made of brass or chrome made them useful during the bridge club meetings and dinner parties. A few even had a sort of arm that would sweep the ashes down to an covered compartment.
16. The Terrarium Display
Those beautiful glass terrariums were like tiny worlds encased in glass. They were often displayed on coffee tables or side tables. They brought a bit of woodland magic to our homes with their little ferns and moss. Some included small ceramic mushrooms. Others had colored sand layers or tiny figurines among the greenery.
