From Shag Rugs to Earthy Hues: 70s Interiors Are Trending Again
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Retro, 70s-inspired interiors are making a comeback with worldwide Google searches for ‘retro home’ increasing by +43% in the last three months and ‘70s interior’ increasing +22%.
The iconic 70s style was defined by vibrant, earthy colours and garish florals. Experts say the key to emulating this retro trend is drawing on the warmth, colours and shapes, but how can you do this without making your home look like a time capsule?
Hannah Thistlethwaite, interior expert at Heals, shares her advice on leaning into the trend and adding a modern retro flair to your home.
Hannah says, “When drawing inspiration from past interior styles, you need to make sure you strike the right balance, capturing the charm and character of the era, without your home looking dated. To keep your home looking current and timeless, you need to layer the subtle retro details into your modern backdrop for a playful, yet chic nod to the style.”
Tip one: Lean into warm, earthy tones
“When we think of 70s interiors, warm, earthy tones come to the forefront. Rich oranges, earthy browns and olive greens are staples in this retro colour palette, and these are the colours you’ll want to inject into your home. You don’t have to go crazy and paint your walls, instead, drip feed these cosy tones into your home with soft furnishings and textiles. Accent cushions, throws, and rugs are perfect for bringing some colour into your space. When doing so, keep larger furniture neutral to keep things feeling fresh and balanced.
“If you’re in the market for new furniture, then opt for warmer woods, those with subtle orange undertones keep your space feeling warm and inviting, playing into the cosiness of the 70s interior style.”
Tip two: Soften the edges
“70s interiors rarely involved sharp edges and harsh lines, things were a lot softer, so this is something to be considered. The trick here is not to overwhelm your space, you don’t want to add retro shapes anywhere you can. This can be overkill. Instead, choose one or two statement pieces to add retro flair in a more stylish and minimal way.
“‘Curved sofas’ has seen a +47% increase in searches over the last three months, and these are a great starting point for keeping the space soft – almost emulating the feel of a 70s conversation pit – whilst acting as a point of focus within your space.”
Tip three: Deepen your space with texture
“Adding texture to your space will add a ton of depth to your space, and draw in the tactile nature of 70s interiors. As with the colours and shapes, again, you don’t want to overdo it. To keep the space elevated, try layering textures sparingly – nodding to the trend, to retain a more modern take. Think shag rugs, rattan velvet, corduroy and smooth vinyl – all really common textures in 70s interiors that can be seamlessly added to your space.”
Tip four: Play with prints, carefully
“We all know and love 70s floral and geometric prints. Often garish and bold, these prints can very quickly make a modern home look dated, so incorporating them has to be done with care. The trick is to go small. Adding in small pops of the popular prints is a subtle and tasteful way to nod to the 70s trend. Things such as wall art are a great way to invite playful patterns into a space without being overwhelming.
If you are feeling brave and want to go a little bolder, then a printed rug with a muted colour palette can also work, just keep this as the focal point of the room and avoid adding any more patterns that could make the space feel busy and chaotic.”
Tip five: Lighting will set the ambience
“70s interiors isn’t just a look, it is a feeling, and the best way to achieve that is lighting. Lighting can play a really important role when it comes to interiors, making or breaking the atmosphere. The 70s were low-lit and cosy, lighting was warm, making the space feel both homely and inviting. This is exactly what you want to replicate.
“‘Layered lighting’ has seen a huge +698% search increase in the last three months, alongside the 70s revival, and this is exactly how you’ll create the cosy retro feel. You want to start by removing any harsh white bulbs and swapping them for warm yellow bulbs. Low-hanging lights or arched floor lamps with coloured glass shades will offer a warming glow to your space, creating that iconic 70s atmosphere, whilst tabletop mushroom lamps will provide authentic 70s style in a timeless way.”
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