Decorating a 70s Living Room

If you're looking to decorate your home in a 70s style, you'll be happy to know that it's not just you who is out of step. The hippie movement made its mark on everything from fashion to literature and music. During the decade, it was a popular style among young adults and the baby boomer generation.

In the 1960s, hippies wore long, flowing dresses and sandals. They had beards and mustaches and often wore multi-ethnic clothing. Many of them participated in anti-war and environmental campaigns. Hippies gathered at outdoor music festivals throughout the country.

One of the most prominent events of the decade was Woodstock, a three-day music festival held in rural New York State. Another was the Gathering of the Tribes, a San Francisco event that began the summer of love. Some of the most famous hippies of the time were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and the Beatles.

Other notable moments in the decade include the murders of Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. These deaths shocked a lot of people. Likewise, the Altamont Speedway concert, a free concert by the MC5, was an embarrassment for many.

Despite its controversies, the 70s was a distinctly laid back decade. A lot of baby boomers dreamed of emulating the hardcore movements of their youth, and the hippie culture of the era was a key part of that fantasy. Nevertheless, many of these same boomers had little overt connection to the hardcore movements.

While there were some notable changes from the 1960s to the 1970s, the mainstay of the decade was the hippie lifestyle. For many, it was all about embracing their inner child and thinking outside the box. This included decorating.

The biggest trend was a return to bright, bold colors. It was also a craze for pattern play. Psychedelic designs were a big hit, but you didn't have to invest a ton of money to create a funky hippie abode.

However, you shouldn't go overboard with the pattern play. Bold, psychedelic designs can overwhelm a room, so a more modest display will be more apt. Also, keep your floors and walls free of clutter.

In general, the best way to incorporate the 70s into your decor is to mix and match vintage pieces with more modern accents. That's a fancy way of saying that you can use items like family treasures or vintage rugs to spruce up your space.

Another '70s home decorating idea was to decorate your living room with an oversized greenery. You can find fronds online or at craft stores. Using them can fill up an empty corner. Similarly, a rattan swing can be hung indoors or on a screened porch.

Among the most impressive hippie innovations of the decade were the use of natural materials such as wicker, bamboo, and geodes. Many hippies used holistic medicine and adopted vegetarian diets.

Although the 70s was an era of freedom, it was also a time of violence. At least one mock funeral was held in the city of San Francisco. Despite the death of a number of hippies, the counterculture movement continued.