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Creating a 70s Kitchen: 21 Tips for a Funky and Fabulous Space

Creating a 70s Kitchen: 21 Tips for a Funky and Fabulous Space

Take a step back into the past and visit the 1970s kitchen, and you’ll find yourself immersed in a time when avocado green wasn’t just a trendy color, it was a lifestyle choice!

This was an era when the kitchen served as the heart of the home, proudly featuring harvest gold appliances that gleamed like the setting sun over a shag carpet horizon!

Sure, some might call the decor choices bold – or even borderline questionable – but that’s because they haven’t experienced cooking next to a burnt orange fridge and disco music blasting on the stereo!

There was a charm to these spaces, a delightful clash of patterns, textures, and materials that practically begged you to put on a polyester apron and whip up a gelatin salad!

These kitchens were more than functional, they offered a funky flavor of an era that truly embraced the idea that ”more is more.”

1. Colorful Retro Kitchen

The 70s were all about color, so don’t be afraid to bring various shades and patterns into your kitchen if you’d like to achieve the 70s style!

This stunning kitchen takes inspiration from classic diners, popular in the 70s!

2. Stick to Earthy Shades

While the 70s loved color, maybe you don’t! If you’re not too keen on bold interiors, this earthy palette will float your boat!

Avocado green, burnt orange, and cream white will be your go-to in 70s-inspired kitchens!

3. Retro Flooring

Surprisingly, retro flooring isn’t as wild as the rest of the space!

Sure there are patterned tiles, but simple white square tiles were the blueprint in 70s kitchens!

4. Put In Bright Tiles

If you want to make your kitchen pop, put some colorful tiling in between your lower cabinets and upper cabinets!

You can even continue that pattern on the floor!

5. Use Complementary Colors

Here we have bright blue cabinets contrasting with a burnt orange on the walls and on some accent pieces!

Together they create a harmoniously chaotic space exuding 70s vibes!

6. Florals Are a Must

70s are quite famous for their hippie movement and birthing the Flower Child, so it makes sense you’d want to put in a lot of florals!

Whether that is through plants and flowers, or picking out furniture pieces and decor with floral patterns!

7. Bright Green Cabinets

The 70s loved color, and they especially loved green!

Green has also become a popular choice for kitchen colors today, so we guess history really does repeat itself!

8. Why so Blue?

If you’d like a cooler tone in your kitchen, blue will definitely help out!

Pair the blue cabinets with a white countertop and some dainty tile and you’ll be good to go!

9. Wood Kitchen

Wooden cabinets were probably the most popular cabinet choice in the 70s, in all wood patterns and shades! You can’t go wrong with these!

They will instantly warm up the space and give it a retro look!

10. Modernized Wooden Cabinets

Now, many people don’t like the look of wooden cabinets, and most of them don’t even look retro, they just look old!

This kitchen features modernized wooden cabinets that pair well with the carpet and wooden ceiling, giving an ode to the 70s!

11. Get Some Statement Lighting

Light fixtures are usually the last thing we think about when decorating a space, but with 70s kitchens it’s a crucial step!

Make sure you opt for funky lighting fixtures like globe lights and various other forms of pendant lights!

12. As Minimalistic as It Can Get

Keep your 70s-inspired kitchen as minimalistic as you can so you can highlight the retro pieces you have acquired and curated over the years!

13. Mix Modern and Retro

If you’d like for your space to look like it’s from this decade, incorporate both modern and vintage pieces!

This space features lots of darker wood, which was all the rage back then, and a modern dining space, fitting today’s trends!

14. All In One

70s kitchens most often had breakfast nooks where they would eat all of their meals! The dining room was formal and mostly reserved for guests!

This was useful and extremely practical for families on the go!

15. Small 70s Kitchen

Just because we see tons of spacious kitchens from magazines and old photos, doesn’t mean the kitchens were huge!

Like today, most 70s kitchens were small, so if you’re trying to give your tiny studio a makeover, don’t worry! Your kitchen won’t suffer!

16. Luxe 70s Kitchen

This luxury 70s kitchen features wooden cabinets and grain countertops for a retro vibe, with a plush carpet and lounge seating!

17. Pastels Are Your Friends

If you’re not a fan of bold bright colors, don’t worry! Pastels were also very popular during the 70s so you’ll be able to tailor your retro kitchen to your liking!

This modern interpretation of a 70s kitchen features sage green cabinets, peach-colored walls, and some dark wood on the island!

18. Invest in Retro Furniture and Appliances

If you want to achieve a retro look, you’ll need retro furniture and appliances!

You can either scour local flea markets for gems that need some loving, or splurge on retro-inspired pieces!

19. White 70s Kitchen

When we say that white kitchens are timeless, we are always able to find proof! This white kitchen dates back to the 70s, yet it still feels like you’d be able to fit it in today’s time!

Retro cabinets with wooden trim really bring us back in time!

20. Incorporate a Kitchen Island

A kitchen island will change your space entirely, no matter how big or small! They rose in popularity during the 70s due to extra prep space and dining space!

Paired with a cool laminate finish throughout the whole kitchen, we get a groovy 70s space just like that!

21. Mix and Match Textures

The 70s kitchen loved mixing in lots of different colors, patterns, materials, and textures! The lines were blurred between what goes and what doesn’t!

Don’t be afraid to bring different materials and textures into your space!