Everyone Had These Kitchen Trend Features in Their Homes in the 1970s
The ‘70s kitchen was the land of avocado-green fridges, wood paneling, and wallpaper that could make your eyes dance. Back then, kitchens were style statements, and everyone wanted in on the hottest trends. Let’s take a trip back and revisit 35 kitchen trends everyone copied.
Avocado Green Everything
Were you even cooking in the ‘70s if your refrigerator, stove, and even your blender were not avocado green? This earthy shade was a kitchen staple. It offered a modern and natural feel, but in truth, it just made everything look like guacamole.
Harvest Gold Appliances
Right behind avocado green was harvest gold, the warm, mustard-like colour that infiltrated all kitchens. Fridges, dishwashers, ovens, and other appliances all came in gold. The idea was to bring warmth and cheer into the heart of the home. This meant kitchens looked like they were permanently stuck in autumn.
Wood Paneling
The ‘70s had one design motto: “If in doubt, cover it with wood.” Paneling covered walls, cabinets, and sometimes even ceilings. Kitchens ended up looking like rustic log cabins, even if you lived in the suburbs.
Shag Carpeting
Who thought wall-to-wall shag carpet belonged in a kitchen? The ‘70s did. Imagine cooking spaghetti and hoping you don’t spill sauce into your orange shag pile. Hygiene nightmare aside, it was comfy on the feet and considered chic until people realized vacuums don’t love pasta sauce.
Patterned Linoleum Floors
If shag wasn’t your thing, linoleum was your friend. Bold swirls, faux tiles, and dizzying geometric patterns turned floors into groovy art installations. Easy to clean and inexpensive, linoleum was the low-maintenance alternative, although it sometimes made you dizzy if you stared at it for too long.
Wallpaper Explosion
Wallpaper was the way to make a statement. No wall was safe from wallpaper. Florals, paisleys, and even fruit-themed designs covered kitchens from top to bottom. The louder the better. You couldn’t escape it, and no one wanted to.
Open Shelving With Macrame Accents
Open shelves were another staple of ‘70s kitchens. They were the perfect way to show off your mismatched dishware and were often accompanied by macrame plant hangers. These shelves meant everything got dusty, but everyone wanted that casual vibe.
Built-In Banquettes
Why sit at a regular dining table when you could slide into a vinyl banquette? Built into the wall with wipeable surfaces, these booth-style seating nooks gave kitchens a diner feel with their vinyl cushions and solid wooden bases. Families loved them because they saved space and were fun.
Hanging Pot Racks
The ‘70s were when cookware officially became décor. Pots and pans dangled proudly from racks positioned above the stove, suggesting you were a serious cook, even if all you made was Hamburger Helper. It was stylish in a funky, cluttered kind of way.
Brick Backsplashes
Exposed brick was everywhere, real or fake. A brick backsplash gave off a sturdy, farmhouse feel. And even though it wasn’t easy to clean, it was trendy. It was the ultimate way to say, “I’m cooking in style.”
Hanging Plants Everywhere
If your kitchen didn’t look like a mini jungle, were you even trying? Hanging plants in macrame holders popped up in every corner. They added “fresh air” vibes, even if they were usually half-dead spider plants.
Dark Wood Cabinets
The darker the cabinets, the better. Mahogany, walnut, or anything that looked like it belonged in a smoky library ended up in kitchens. It made the room feel like a cave, but that was part of the charm. Everyone wanted that moody “grown-up” look.
Tile Countertops
The ‘70s were all about tiny ceramic tiles. Usually brown, orange, or harvest gold with grout that collected everything. It wasn’t practical, but those colorful squares felt “continental” back then, and everyone wanted to feel a little fancy.
Wicker and Rattan Accent
From baskets to chairs, wicker and rattan infiltrated kitchens as if they owned the place. Just throw in a fruit bowl or bread basket, and your kitchen felt like a tropical paradise. That was the idea, anyway.
Chunky Kitchen Islands
Big kitchen islands were all the rage in the '70s, and they were often wrapped in butcher block. They weren't sleek and slim like we have today; they were chunky and heavy, but everyone had to have one, even if it barely fit.
Orange Everything
If green and gold weren’t enough, orange came in to finish the look. Countertops, mixers, and blenders were set in a bright, unapologetic orange. It didn't matter that it made a kitchen look like Halloween all year round; people continued to copy the trend.
Fluorescent Lighting Panels
Goodbye, warm light fixtures; hello, enormous fluorescent panels. Kitchens looked like office break rooms, complete with buzzing bulbs. Everyone thought they were futuristic, and so these glowing ceiling grids became wildly popular.
Wall-Mounted Can Openers
Convenience was key, and nothing said “fancy kitchen” like a can opener bolted to the wall. No drawer clutter, no fuss, just industrial-looking practicality. It may seem silly now, but back then, having one felt high-tech. Practically every kitchen had one hanging near the counter.
Bold Curtain Patterns
If the wallpaper wasn’t busy enough, the curtains definitely were. They had giant flowers, polka dots, or geometric prints that demanded attention. Sometimes, the curtains even matched the wallpaper for maximum impact. Subtlety wasn’t a thing in the ‘70s, and everyone copied this “louder is better” vibe.
Pine Everywhere
Pine was the material of the moment, and no one questioned it. Rustic pine furniture, pine cabinets, pine shelves, you name it, someone made it out of pine. The idea was to give kitchens a country-chic look even in suburbia. It was affordable, accessible, and popular.
Microwave Madness
By the late ‘70s, microwaves were the “it” appliance. They were bulky, boxy, and sometimes avocado green, and they promised to cook anything in minutes. Families marveled at reheated leftovers and quick popcorn. The microwaves were expensive, but once one neighbor got one, everyone else suddenly needed this futuristic magic box in their kitchen.
Spice Racks Galore
Mounted on walls or spinning on countertops, spice racks served as both storage and decorative elements. Never mind that half the jars contained dusty expired paprika. A full rack made you look worldly and adventurous in the kitchen, even if your idea of exotic cooking was adding garlic salt to spaghetti.
Earth Tone Palettes
Beige, brown, and burnt orange ruled the color charts. Kitchens went full earthy chic, like a tribute to dirt and clay. The vibe was supposed to be natural and grounding, but everything just looked permanently dusty.
Built-In Radios
Music in the kitchen was cool, and what better way to enjoy it than with a built-in radio? Tucked under cabinets or mounted on walls, these gadgets brought news, disco, or easy listening right where you were cooking.
Over-The-Top Fridge Decor
It became a “thing” in the ‘70s to cover every inch of fridge space. Fridges evolved from appliances to bulletin boards. They had magnets, calendars, and stickers all over them. Families displayed school art, grocery lists, and notes to each other. Suddenly, plain white (or avocado) fridges had way more personality.
Modular Kitchens
“Mix and match” applied to kitchens back then. Modular cabinets and counters let you piece together your dream space without calling a carpenter. It was DIY before DIY was cool. Although it was a little bit clunky, it was very popular.
Faux Stone Countertops
Granite was too expensive, so faux stone became the star. Think laminate counters designed to look like marble or slate. From afar, it looked luxurious, but up close? Not so much. It gave the illusion of glamour on a budget, and that was enough for most homeowners.
Hanging Fruit Baskets
Bananas, apples, and oranges had their own stage, hanging in multi-tiered wire baskets from the ceiling. They were functional and decorative, and saved counter space while making kitchens feel lively. Of course, half the time the fruit just sat there until it went bad. Still, these baskets were a household staple.
Plaid Everywhere
In the ‘70s, plaid marched into kitchens. Curtains, tablecloths, and even chair cushions came in bold plaid patterns. Red and green, blue and brown; people were rocking different color combinations in their dining nooks. It was cozy, cheerful, and almost impossible to escape.
Rolling Kitchen Carts
Rolling carts were the Swiss Army knives of the ‘70s kitchen. Need extra counter space? Wheel it over. Serving snacks in the living room? Roll it out. They were handy, affordable, and stylish in a utilitarian kind of way.
Oversized Range Hoods
Why settle for subtle when you could have a giant, statement-making range hood? These chunky hoods often matched appliances in avocado, gold, or copper. They looked futuristic and industrial, even if all you cooked was boxed mac and cheese.
Formica Countertops
Formica was the undisputed king of affordable countertops. It came in bold patterns or “stone-inspired” designs and promised durability. Did it scratch easily? Definitely. Did people care? Not really. Everyone loved it because it made a kitchen makeover cheap and cheerful. It also looked very modern at the time.
Appliance Garages
Toasters, blenders, and mixers all had their own little hideaway compartments called "appliance garages" with sliding doors. It was an attempt to declutter, but people just left the doors open. Still, every new kitchen wanted one to look neat and tidy.
Sunburst Clocks
Back in the ‘70s, nothing said chic like a huge sunburst clock on the kitchen wall. These clocks were practically works of art. Whether gold, wooden, or plastic, they brought groovy flair to the space.
The Kitchen Phone
Long before smartphones, the kitchen phone was the family hub. Often mounted on a wall, with a cord that stretched halfway across the room, it was where gossip was shared and dinner was interrupted. Everyone had a telephone in their kitchen, and those who didn’t wished they did.
