Did you enjoy life in the seventies? Do you remember the avocado kitchens and orange carpets? If you didn't experience seventies fashion in person, perhaps you've seen it on television while watching "The Brady Bunch" or "The Partridge Family". The seventies was a fun decade and many great decorating trends originated during that time. If you want to give your home a unique look, considering decorating with 70's inspired retro style.
Retro decorating isn't confined to black lights, lava lamps, or mushroom covered wallpaper. Decorating in 70's style is defined by the hippie mentality of freedom of expression. Give your room a retro feel by creating interesting combinations of textures and colors. Think outside the box! You don't have to decorate with burnt orange or avocado green to create a retro style. Just add a few basic 70's elements into your favorite colors schemes.
Floor Lava Lamps
Begin by looking for furniture that is reminiscent to the 70's. Look at second hand stores or specialty shops to find funky egg chairs that hang suspended from the ceiling. You could also get a great Bean Bag chair, which were hugely popular during the 70's. Don't settle for cheap knock-offs. Get a quality bean bag chair made with durable fabric in a fun color. You should also make sure it has sturdy feeling so it doesn't go flat after a lot of use.
Next, you will need to invest in a great retro area rug. The 70's style was defined by shag carpet, but you don't have to replace your existing flooring to get the same effect. Look for an area rug made in the retro shag style and choose a color that works with the rest of your room. Jewel tones are a popular color for shag rugs, but avoid these when you decorate in 70's style. Instead, go for dark oranges, light browns, or even get a rug in the infamous avocado green.
After you select the perfect furniture and area rugs, you should look into curtains. The 70's were a time for unconventional designs. Steer away from traditional fabric drapes and choose beaded curtains. Hang several layers of beads together until you get the desired thickness and hang them all from a curtain rod over your window. You could also hang beaded curtains in doorways or as a substitute for closet doors. Make sure you use window blinds if you choose to cover your windows with beaded curtains. This will give you some privacy without sacrificing your sparkling retro style.
Finally, add some fun 70's accessories to complete the look. Lava lamps are the perfect choice and you can find them in a variety of colors. Consider making an entire display form mini lava lamps in various colors. You could also frame remnants of 70's fabric or hang actual paintings on the walls that date back to the 70's. Hang a disco ball from the ceiling or replace regular light bulbs with black lights. Get creative and watch your retro design come alive with 70's style.