70s interior design ideas for 2023: sunset shades and natural wood

Like everyone, I have been binge watching Daisy Jones & The Six. While I want to steal Daisy’s wardrobe, my eyes were constantly drawn to the sets and the classic 70s interiors. There is something about the burnt orange shades, velvet textures, and patterned wallpaper that’s just as iconic as the rock music of that time.

The 70s interior design period can seem a little intimidating – the colours are bold and the patterns are even bolder. It has the simplicity of mid-century furniture yet can lean into maximalism. There are a lot of elements to juggle but it can give an overall homely warm feel to a room. However, fear not, we’ve got you covered with top tips from the experts and plenty of inspiration.

“Many of the recent interiors trends are rooted in nostalgia with homeowners looking to add a feeling of warmth and comfort to their interior spaces,” explains Inga Morris-Blincoe, general manager at Lifestyle Floors.

“The 1970s trends in particular are steeped in casual comfort thanks to the use of tactile materials such as bouclé fabrics and macrame. These, alongside colours such as mustard yellow and shades of avocado green, are a great way to add a nostalgic vibe to a space,” adds Inga.

Create a fun moodboard when choosing the colours and textures of your rooms. Tiles from Original Style.

70s interior design: basic colour principles

Interiors stylist at ScS, Vicki Foster, suggests that you should choose saturated sunset shades to get the authentic 70s look. “Transform your home into a 70s space instantly by decorating your walls in warm, bold colours,” she says.

Think warm shades of burnt orange and mustard yellow, plus avocado green, deep purple, dreamy blues and earthy browns. Consider painting the walls in contrasting, but complimentary, colours or brighten up a neutral scheme with a burst of block colour on a feature wall. Alternatively, make a statement with some oversized floral wallpaper, geometric graphics or wavy designs. 

You should start small when introducing bold prints, patterns, and colours. “If you feel shy or want to experiment a little before fully immersing yourself in the trend, incorporate a few framed prints and accent cushions first to see if they suit you,” advises Vicki. 

So, why not put a nostalgic 70s twist on your modern kitchen with the help of patterned flooring and colourful wall panelling? If you’re really feeling colour-confident, then think about painting your units in your favourite retro shade.

Wood is another great tool for getting the 70s interior design just right. To embrace the trend, choose curved furniture made from grainy warm-toned wood, or even create a feature wall using timber wall panelling.

70s interior design ideas: green kitchen with yellow wall
Bring in the classic 70s colours with Annie Sloan paints. Walls are painted in Carnaby Yellow, £55.95 for 2.5 litres, while the kitchen is in Amsterdam Green, from £26.95 for 1 litre.
Orange and wood kitchen
Wood Works Brighton designed the Enugu kitchen around the classic 70s orange and natural wood.
Yellow kitchen with statement tiles that oozes the 70s interior design look
The 70s were not a subtle time for design – lean into it with the help of this burnt yellow kitchen by Naked Kitchens.
Bold orange and beige tiles for the 70s interior design trend
Add a pop of 70s interior design with statement tiles. Sunset Astro Porcelain tiles, from £81.60 per sq m, Porcelain Superstore.

More 70s interior design ideas

Moving into the bedroom and living spaces, wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to revive your space. As mentioned before, opt for 70s-inspired patterns with lots of geometric motifs in sunset hues. Find the right colour palette that works for your aesthetic and coordinate your furniture and furnishings. And don’t forget to add an extra layer of comfort to your room with 70s-style rugs.

Then, in your bathroom, don’t shy away from green – you can achieve a stylish look with the right shade. Plus, it’s one of the most popular colours in 2023. You can either go all-out and wrap the entire space in this nature-inspired hue, or dot accents around the room through tiles, sanitaryware, taps or accessories. Scroll down to get inspired…

Blue and orange wallpaper with matching bed
Be bold with wallpaper and use that as the base for the rest of the room. Sherbert large pill shape geometric wallpaper, £69 per roll, Bobbi Beck.
Geometric wallapper in blue and orange
Dare to go bold? Geometric Rust wallpaper, from £125 per roll, Rockett St George.
70s interior design set up with wicker seats
Wicker was a staple in the 70s and can easily be incorporated into a design with freestanding furniture. Alexander arm sofa and Nixon coffee table, Jonathan Adler.
Blue sofa with a bold orange wall
The mix of orange and blue is a classic combo plus it tones down the earthy tones of 70s interior design. Soho Manhattan Kingfisher, £2499, Scs.
Muted yellow carpet in 70s bedroom
Work from the ground up and add 70s tones with carpet such as the Fairford Kemble design, from Lifestyle Floors.
Green avocado bathroom
Put a modern twist on the avocado bathroom with the right shade of green. Thomas Crapper has a wide selection of timeless bathroom products set to help you achieve this look.

Shopping edit

To help you get the 70s interior design look, we’ve collated some of our favourite products – from bold wall art and cushions to daring lamps. Enjoy!

70s interior design inspiration for your modern home
1. 1970 framed print, £139, Cult Furniture. 2. Seventies Series 1 cotton-linen scatter cushion, £30, Storigraphic. 3. Rattan Peacock chair, £119, Vonhaus. 4. Rattan cabinet in black, £650, Sazy. 5. Sibella table lamp in antique brass with Woodstock lampshade, from £296, Mindthegap. 6. Sand tube table lamp, £199, Lime Lace.

Explore more retro design inspiration and get the modern 80s look here

While this article contains affiliate links, by which we earn a commission, we make sure to only pick products that we love.

About Post Author

You Might Also Like

 

Want to get involved?

[email protected]

Sign up to our newsletter

Want the latest in your inbox?