What Was the Worst Decorating Trend from the Year You Were Born?

One of the most notorious decades in home decor, the ’70s proved to be an interesting time. From plush textures to psychedelic themes, our homes got really interesting in the ’70s!

1970 – Shag Carpeting

A classic of the era, shag carpeting was around before the ’70s and is still being sold today, though perhaps not in the same eye-piercing shades of brown, green, and yellow.

1971 – Faux Wood Paneling

If there was a home that escaped this trend during the ’70s I have yet to see it! From basement rec rooms to living rooms and beyond, this stuff was everywhere!

1972 – BROWN

At what point do you reach saturation of a color? Well, the ’70s were trying to find out! Swaths of brown covered any type of home furnishing, making rooms across the country feel overly dark and overly…brown.

1973 – Puce Green

Right up there with avocado, puce is a quirky color that gained a lot of traction for a short time. Thank goodness we moved on from this!

1974 – Bath Sets

1975 – Wicker Furniture

While there’s nothing wrong with a piece or two of wicker, but in the ’70s it seemed just about every kind of furniture came in wicker- from chairs to dressers to beds to plant stands. If you wanted you could have decked out a whole house in the stuff- and some people did!

1976 – Tapestry Wallpaper

1977 – Round Beds

1978 – Hooked Rugs & Wall Art

Whether you bought them pre-made or jumped on the DIY bandwagon, these hooked rugs were pretty common back then.

1979 – Faux Tiffany Style Lamps

And one more for good measure!

1980 – Braided Rag Rugs

The colonial design influence was felt deeply in the early ’80s. Modern homes got the homespun treatment with braided rugs, rocking chairs, and kerosene lamps à la Newhart.

There may be a few of these home decor trends that will forever be dear to your heart, but many of these styles were just too over-the-top. A little splash of vintage style can go a long way because these looks were very, very potent! But, that’s also what made them so memorable.

While each year’s decor has its ups and downs, there’s one decade that’s so distinct it deserves its own page. Take a deep dive into the home fashions of the ’70s that are truly unforgettable!